A template is the type of Joomla! extension that changes the way your site looks. There are two types of templates: Front-end Templates and Back-end Templates.

See also: Component, Module, Plugin

See also: Extension types (general definitions)

[edit] Recommended Reading

[edit] Administrators

[edit] Managing Templates

• Getting Started with Templates
• Templates supplied with Joomla!
• Installing a template
• Accessing the Template Manager
• Switching templates
• Template style   
• Upgrading a Joomla! 1.5 template to Joomla! 2.5

For more administrator information, see Template Management.

[edit] Developers

• Accessibility
• Beez - an accessible default template
• Creating clickable background images using CSS
• Joomla! 1.5 Template Tutorial.
• Joomla! 2.5 Template Tutorial by Rvsjoen.
• Jim Yuzwalk has contributed a useful PDF to Joomla templates (download the example template from [1]).
• Changing the site favicon
• Using Class Suffixes
• Using Firebug With Your Joomla Website
• Understanding Output Overrides
• Creating custom template parameter types
• How are templates executed?
• How to determine if the user is viewing the front page     
• Template parameters
• jdoc statements
• Objects methods and properties available from your template - what you can do with $this
• Find answers to questions about templates in the Template FAQ category Template FAQ

[edit] Frequently Asked Questions

[edit] What types of templates are there?

[edit] Front-end Templates

Front-end templates change the way your site looks to average users. Most of the templates you use will be Front-end Templates. Three Front-end templates come preinstalled with Joomla!: rhuk_milkyway, beez and Ja_purity.

[edit] Back-end Templates

Back-end Templates are much rarer than Frontend Templates. You will probably never need to change your Back-end Template. Back-end Templates allow you to change the way the administrator interface looks.

[edit] Where can I get new templates?

There are some wonderful templates that were made in the template contest. There are also many websites where both free and non-free Joomla! templates can be downloaded.

[edit] How can I create a new template?

If you are interested in creating your own template than there are a few thing that you might want to know before you start. first you will need to know CSS, HTML, and PHP. Joomla! has created a tutorial for those who would like to create their own template.

[edit] More Template Information.

Please see the list of Wiki articles in the Template category and the list of frequently asked Template questions.