Summary

Using templates in ASP.NET will save you an incredible amount of time in the development of very complicated user interfaces by cutting out the need to do complicated loop structures intermixed with HTML elements and data rendering. This chapter introduced you to the following concepts:

• What templates are

• How to use templates with the DataGrid

• How to use templates with the DataList

• How to use templates with the Repeater

The DataList and DataGrid server controls can support updating, editing, item selection, and the deletion of items rendered by the controls, but that won't be covered in this chapter. Stay tuned for Chapter 10, “Inputting and Editing Data Using the DataGrid and DataList” where we will go into these features in depth. It is noteworthy to mention that the Repeater also can be tweaked to support the above features (editing, selecting, etc.). However, this will not be covered simply because it isn't efficient to reinvent the wheel.