---
title: "Templates"
description: Nuxt Kit provides a set of utilities to help you work with templates. These functions allow you to generate extra files during development and build time.
---

# Templates

[source code](https://github.com/nuxt/nuxt/blob/main/packages/kit/src/template.ts)

Templates allows to generate extra files during development and build time. These files will be available in virtual filesystem and can be used in plugins, layouts, components, etc. `addTemplate` and `addTypeTemplate` allow you to add templates to the Nuxt application. `updateTemplates` allows you to regenerate templates that match the filter.

## `addTemplate`

Renders given template during build into the project buildDir.

### Type

```ts
function addTemplate (template: NuxtTemplate | string): ResolvedNuxtTemplate

interface NuxtTemplate {
  src?: string
  filename?: string
  dst?: string
  options?: Record<string, any>
  getContents?: (data: Record<string, any>) => string | Promise<string>
  write?: boolean
}

interface ResolvedNuxtTemplate {
  src: string
  filename: string
  dst: string
  options: Record<string, any>
  getContents: (data: Record<string, any>) => string | Promise<string>
  write: boolean
  filename: string
  dst: string
}
```

### Parameters

#### `template`

**Type**: `NuxtTemplate | string`

**Required**: `true`

A template object or a string with the path to the template. If a string is provided, it will be converted to a template object with `src` set to the string value. If a template object is provided, it must have the following properties:

- `src` (optional)

  **Type**: `string`

  Path to the template. If `src` is not provided, `getContents` must be provided instead.

- `filename` (optional)

  **Type**: `string`

  Filename of the template. If `filename` is not provided, it will be generated from the `src` path. In this case, the `src` option is required.

- `dst` (optional)

  **Type**: `string`

  Path to the destination file. If `dst` is not provided, it will be generated from the `filename` path and nuxt `buildDir` option.

- `options` (optional)

  **Type**: `Options`

  Options to pass to the template.

- `getContents` (optional)

  **Type**: `(data: Options) => string | Promise<string>`

  A function that will be called with the `options` object. It should return a string or a promise that resolves to a string. If `src` is provided, this function will be ignored.

- `write` (optional)
  
  **Type**: `boolean`

  If set to `true`, the template will be written to the destination file. Otherwise, the template will be used only in virtual filesystem.

### Examples

::code-group
  
```ts [module.ts]
// https://github.com/nuxt/bridge
import { addTemplate, defineNuxtModule } from '@nuxt/kit'
import { defu } from 'defu'

export default defineNuxtModule({
  setup(options, nuxt) {
    const globalMeta = defu(nuxt.options.app.head, {
      charset: options.charset,
      viewport: options.viewport
    })

    addTemplate({
      filename: 'meta.config.mjs',
      getContents: () => 'export default ' + JSON.stringify({ globalMeta, mixinKey: 'setup' })
    })
  }
})
```

```ts [plugin.ts]
import { createHead as createClientHead, createServerHead } from '@unhead/vue'
import { defineNuxtPlugin } from '#app'
// @ts-ignore
import metaConfig from '#build/meta.config.mjs'

export default defineNuxtPlugin((nuxtApp) => {
  const createHead = process.server ? createServerHead : createClientHead
  const head = createHead()
  head.push(metaConfig.globalMeta)

  nuxtApp.vueApp.use(head)
})
```

::

## `addTypeTemplate`

Renders given template during build into the project buildDir, then registers it as types.

### Type

```ts
function addTypeTemplate (template: NuxtTypeTemplate | string): ResolvedNuxtTemplate

interface NuxtTemplate {
  src?: string
  filename?: string
  dst?: string
  options?: Record<string, any>
  getContents?: (data: Record<string, any>) => string | Promise<string>
}

interface ResolvedNuxtTemplate {
  src: string
  filename: string
  dst: string
  options: Record<string, any>
  getContents: (data: Record<string, any>) => string | Promise<string>
  write: boolean
  filename: string
  dst: string
}
```

### Parameters

#### `template`

**Type**: `NuxtTypeTemplate | string`

**Required**: `true`

A template object or a string with the path to the template. If a string is provided, it will be converted to a template object with `src` set to the string value. If a template object is provided, it must have the following properties:

- `src` (optional)

  **Type**: `string`

  Path to the template. If `src` is not provided, `getContents` must be provided instead.

- `filename` (optional)

  **Type**: `string`

  Filename of the template. If `filename` is not provided, it will be generated from the `src` path. In this case, the `src` option is required.

- `dst` (optional)

  **Type**: `string`

  Path to the destination file. If `dst` is not provided, it will be generated from the `filename` path and nuxt `buildDir` option.

- `options` (optional)

  **Type**: `Options`

  Options to pass to the template.

- `getContents` (optional)

  **Type**: `(data: Options) => string | Promise<string>`

  A function that will be called with the `options` object. It should return a string or a promise that resolves to a string. If `src` is provided, this function will be ignored.

### Examples

```ts
// https://github.com/Hebilicious/nuxtpress
import { addTypeTemplate, defineNuxtModule } from "@nuxt/kit"

export default defineNuxtModule({
  setup() {
    addTypeTemplate({
      filename: "types/markdown.d.ts",
      getContents: () => /* ts */`
      declare module '*.md' {
        import type { ComponentOptions } from 'vue'
        const Component: ComponentOptions
        export default Component
      }`
    })
  }
}
```

## `updateTemplates`

Regenerate templates that match the filter. If no filter is provided, all templates will be regenerated.

### Type

```ts
async function updateTemplates (options: UpdateTemplatesOptions): void

interface UpdateTemplatesOptions {
  filter?: (template: ResolvedNuxtTemplate) => boolean
}

interface ResolvedNuxtTemplate {
  src: string
  filename: string
  dst: string
  options: Record<string, any>
  getContents: (data: Record<string, any>) => string | Promise<string>
  write: boolean
  filename: string
  dst: string
}
```

### Parameters

#### `options`

**Type**: `UpdateTemplatesOptions`

**Default**: `{}`

Options to pass to the template. This object can have the following property:

- `filter` (optional)

  **Type**: `(template: ResolvedNuxtTemplate) => boolean`

  A function that will be called with the `template` object. It should return a boolean indicating whether the template should be regenerated. If `filter` is not provided, all templates will be regenerated.

### Example

```ts
// https://github.com/nuxt/nuxt
import { defineNuxtModule, updateTemplates } from '@nuxt/kit'

export default defineNuxtModule({
  setup(options, nuxt) {
    // watch and rebuild routes template list when one of the pages changes
    nuxt.hook('builder:watch', async (event, relativePath) => {
      if (event === 'change') { return }

      const path = resolve(nuxt.options.srcDir, relativePath)
      if (updateTemplatePaths.some(dir => path.startsWith(dir))) {
        await updateTemplates({
          filter: template => template.filename === 'routes.mjs'
        })
      }
    })
  }
})
```