title: Rendering data to a template
summary: Call and render SilverStripe templates manually.

# Rendering data to a template

Templates do nothing on their own. Rather, they are used to render a particular object.  All of the `<% if %>`, 
`<% loop %>` and other variables are methods or parameters that are called on the current object in 
[scope](syntax#scope).  All that is necessary is that the object is an instance of [api:ViewableData] (or one of its 
subclasses).

The following will render the given data into a template. Given the template:

**mysite/templates/Coach_Message.ss**
    
```ss
<strong>$Name</strong> is the $Role on our team.
```

Our application code can render into that view using `renderWith`. This method is called on the [api:ViewableData] 
instance with a template name or an array of templates to render. 

**mysite/code/Page.php**

```php
$arrayData = new ArrayData(array(
    'Name' => 'John',
    'Role' => 'Head Coach'
));

echo $arrayData->renderWith('Coach_Message');

// returns "<strong>John</strong> is the Head Coach on our team."
```

<div class="info" markdown="1">
Most classes in SilverStripe you want in your template extend `ViewableData` and allow you to call `renderWith`. This 
includes [api:Controller], [api:FormField] and [api:DataObject] instances.
</div>

```php
$controller->renderWith(array('MyController', 'MyBaseController'));

Member::currentUser()->renderWith('Member_Profile');
```

`renderWith` can be used to override the default template process. For instance, to provide an ajax version of a 
template.

```php
<?php

use SilverStripe\CMS\Controllers\ContentController;

class PageController extends ContentController
{
    private static $allowed_actions = array('iwantmyajax');

    public function iwantmyajax()
    {
        if (Director::is_ajax()) {
            return $this->renderWith('AjaxTemplate');
        } else {
            return $this->httpError(404);
        }
    }
}
```

Any data you want to render into the template that does not extend `ViewableData` should be wrapped in an object that
does, such as `ArrayData` or `ArrayList`.

```php
<?php

use SilverStripe\CMS\Controllers\ContentController;

class PageController extends ContentController
{
    // ..
    public function iwantmyajax()
    {
        if (Director::is_ajax()) {
            $experience = new ArrayList();
            $experience->push(new ArrayData(array(
                'Title' => 'First Job'
            )));

            return $this->customise(new ArrayData(array(
                'Name' => 'John',
                'Role' => 'Head Coach',
                'Experience' => $experience
            )))->renderWith('AjaxTemplate');
        } else {
            return $this->httpError(404);
        }
    }
}
```