Title: Templates
Author: Justin Tadlock
Published: October 25, 2023
Last modified: December 14, 2023

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# Templates

[ Back to top](https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/templates/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

Welcome to the Templates documentation. In this chapter you will learn how the WordPress
block template system works, how to build custom templates and parts, and include
them in your theme.

Templates are one of the core concepts of building websites, representing the underlying
structure that presents your content in the browser. In many ways, they are the 
most important feature of developing WordPress themes.

## Navigating this chapter

Use the below links to find the topic you are looking for in this chapter. Each 
section of the chapter is set up to offer a straightforward learning path toward
learning how to build templates for those building their first theme. But if you
are already familiar with the foundational concepts, feel free to skip ahead to 
the topic you want to learn more about.

 * [**Introduction to Templates**](https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/templates/introduction-to-templates/)**:**
   An overview of what templating is, how the templating system in WordPress works,
   and a look at the relationship between the template hierarchy, templates, and
   template parts.
 * [**Templates**](https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/templates/templates/)**:**
   How to build custom templates and include them in your WordPress theme.
 * [**Template Hierarchy**](https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/templates/template-hierarchy/)**:**
   How WordPress decides which template to use based on the page the user is viewing.
 * [**Template Parts**](https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/templates/template-parts/)**:**
   How to build template parts and insert them into top-level templates.

First published

October 25, 2023

Last updated

December 14, 2023

[  Previous: Style Variations](https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/global-settings-and-styles/style-variations/)

[  Next: Introduction to Templates](https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/templates/introduction-to-templates/)