PrestaShop, one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, switched to the Twig template engine starting from version 1.7, replacing Smarty. This change has raised questions among developers accustomed to working with Smarty. In this article, we’ll explore what Smarty and Twig are, their key differences, and why PrestaShop made the switch to Twig.
What is Smarty?
Smarty is one of the oldest and most popular PHP template engines, designed to separate presentation logic from business logic in web applications. Its main principle is to provide a way to create templates using its own tags and instructions, making template development and maintenance simpler.
Advantages of Smarty:
- Easy to use for small projects.
- Wide ecosystem support within PHP.
- Good performance when using caching.
What is Twig?
Twig is a modern template engine that is part of the Symfony framework, which PrestaShop adopted in version 1.7. It offers more flexible and extendable features compared to Smarty and fits perfectly with Symfony’s architecture. Twig was designed with performance, security, and simplicity in mind.
Advantages of Twig:
- Flexibility and extensibility.
- Built-in security features against XSS and other vulnerabilities.
- Clean and concise syntax.
- Strong integration with Symfony.
Why Did PrestaShop Switch to Twig?
The transition to Twig was part of a broader change in PrestaShop’s system architecture, including the adoption of the Symfony framework, which has been implemented since version 1.7. Twig’s use ensures closer integration with Symfony, simplifies code development and maintenance, and improves performance and security.
Main reasons for the switch:
- Symfony integration: PrestaShop is moving towards Symfony for better modularity and extensibility, and Twig is a natural fit.
- Security: Twig provides built-in mechanisms to make templates more secure.
- Performance: Twig was built for modern speed requirements, using more efficient caching and compiling mechanisms.
- Ease of development: Twig’s syntax is cleaner and more intuitive, allowing developers to write code faster and maintain it more easily.
Differences Between Twig and Smarty
Syntax
Twig uses a more concise and modern syntax, making it easier to read and maintain. Here's how variable output looks in both engines:
Smarty:
{if $product.name}
<h1>{$product.name}</h1>
{/if}
Twig:
{% if product.name %}
<h1>{{ product.name }}</h1>
{% endif %}
As you can see, Twig’s syntax is cleaner and more understandable.
Performance
Twig compiles templates into PHP code, making them execute faster. Twig also supports built-in caching, further speeding up page rendering.
Security
Twig automatically escapes all variables by default, protecting against XSS attacks, whereas Smarty requires manual escaping.
Examples of Using Twig in PrestaShop
Example of displaying a shopping cart:
<div class="cart">
{% for product in cart.products %}
<div class="cart-item">
<h2>{{ product.name }}</h2>
<p>{{ product.price }} {{ cart.currency }}</p>
</div>
{% else %}
<p>The cart is empty</p>
{% endfor %}
</div>
Example of a login form:
<form action="{{ path('login') }}" method="post">
<label for="email">Email:</label>
<input type="email" name="email" id="email" required />
<label for="password">Password:</label>
<input type="password" name="password" id="password" required />
<button type="submit">Log in</button>
</form>
Future Perspectives
The switch to Twig opens up new possibilities for PrestaShop developers, as the system is now more integrated with Symfony. This means access to a wide range of pre-built solutions and modules, making it easier to develop new modules and themes for PrestaShop with cleaner, safer, and more efficient code.
The transition to Twig is a logical step towards a more modern and efficient system that simplifies the life of developers and increases security. If you are already familiar with Symfony, the switch to Twig will be easy for you. For those used to Smarty, this is a chance to work with a more modern and powerful tool.
How do you feel about the Twig template engine in PrestaShop? Share your thoughts in the comments!
