EJS review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

EJS generates HTML from templates and data using JavaScript scriptlets for control flow and output tags for values. It runs on Node.js and in browsers and can serve as an Express view engine. The fit is clearest for JavaScript teams that want to keep template logic in JavaScript, including teams building async rendering flows. EJS is open source and free, rather than a hosted subscription product.

Its feature set centers on composing and rendering templates: includes support reusable partials, custom delimiters and whitespace controls adjust template syntax and output, and compiled template functions can be cached. The CLI can render template files, while async rendering supports await. Escaped output tags provide HTML escaping by default, and unescaped output is also available. These options make EJS useful for teams that need scriptable templates and direct control over rendering, but require care when choosing between escaped and unescaped output.

EJS does not provide a dedicated layout or block-inheritance system, so projects built around shared layouts and overridable blocks may fit another template engine better. Its documented integration is with Express; teams outside that ecosystem can still use it as a library, but should account for integrating it into their application rather than adopting a hosted service. Choose EJS for JavaScript-centric rendering with includes, CLI support, and async templates; look elsewhere if template inheritance is central to the workflow.

EJS pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Supports JavaScript logic, escaped output, and reusable includes
  • Async rendering with await and caching of compiled template functions
  • Runs on Node.js and browsers, with Express integration and CLI rendering
• Where it doesn't
  • No dedicated layout or block-inheritance system
  • Template logic uses JavaScript scriptlets, which may not suit every team
  • A library to integrate into an application, not a hosted subscription product

EJS fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 29 Oct 2026 · How we research and update