folderweb/app/default/content/articles/2025-10-28-templates-and-customization/article.md
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# Templates and Customization
FolderWeb is built on a simple principle: **never modify defaults, always override**. This guide shows you how to customize your site while keeping it maintainable.
## The Override System
FolderWeb checks for custom files before falling back to defaults:
1. Check `/custom/templates/` → Use custom template
2. Fall back to `/app/default/templates/` → Use default template
This means you can override any part of the system without touching the core files.
## Available Templates
### Base Template
The main HTML structure with header, navigation, and footer.
**Override**: `/custom/templates/base.php`
### Page Template
Wraps single pages and articles.
**Override**: `/custom/templates/page.php`
### List Templates
FolderWeb includes multiple list view variants:
- `list.php` - Simple list
- `list-grid.php` - Grid layout
- `list-card-grid.php` - Card grid with images
- `list-faq.php` - Expandable FAQ format
**Select via metadata**:
```ini
page_template = "list-card-grid"
```
## Customizing Styles
### Add Your Own CSS
Create `/custom/styles/base.css` and it automatically overrides default styles.
Example custom stylesheet:
```css
:root {
--color-primary: oklch(0.5 0.2 270);
--color-background: oklch(0.98 0 0);
--font-body: 'Georgia', serif;
}
article h1 {
color: var(--color-primary);
font-size: clamp(2rem, 5vw, 3rem);
}
```
### Modern CSS Features
FolderWeb's default styles use modern CSS:
- **CSS Nesting** - Scope styles naturally
- **OKLCH Colors** - Perceptually uniform colors
- **CSS Grid** - Flexible layouts
- **Clamp()** - Responsive sizing
- **Logical Properties** - Better internationalization
## Custom Fonts
1. Place font files in `/custom/fonts/`
2. Reference them in your custom CSS:
```css
@font-face {
font-family: 'MyFont';
src: url('/fonts/myfont.woff2') format('woff2');
}
body {
font-family: 'MyFont', sans-serif;
}
```
## Metadata Options
Control content behavior with `metadata.ini` files:
```ini
; Basic fields
title = "Page Title"
date = "2025-10-28"
summary = "Short description"
; Navigation
menu = true
menu_order = 1
; Templates
page_template = "list-card-grid"
; Redirects
redirect = "https://example.com"
; Attachments
pdf = "document.pdf"
```
## Template Variables
Templates have access to specific variables:
### Base Template
- `$content` - Page content
- `$currentLang` - Current language code
- `$navigation` - Navigation items array
- `$pageTitle` - Page title
### Page Template
- `$content` - Article content
- `$pageMetadata` - Metadata array
- `$translations` - Translation strings
### List Templates
- `$items` - Array of subitems
- `$metadata` - Directory metadata
- `$pageContent` - Intro text
- `$translations` - Translation strings
## Creating a Custom Template
Example custom page template:
```php
<?php
// /custom/templates/page.php
?>
<article class="custom-layout">
<?php if (isset($pageMetadata['date'])): ?>
<time><?= htmlspecialchars($pageMetadata['date']) ?></time>
<?php endif; ?>
<?= $content ?>
<footer>
<p>Custom footer content</p>
</footer>
</article>
```
## Best Practices
1. **Never modify `/app/default/`** - Always create overrides in `/custom/`
2. **Use metadata** - Keep configuration in `metadata.ini` files
3. **Leverage CSS variables** - Easy theming without rewriting styles
4. **Keep it simple** - The less custom code, the easier to maintain
## Next Steps
- Explore default templates in `/app/default/templates/`
- Study the default CSS in `/app/default/styles/base.css`
- Check out the [Markdown Guide](/articles/2025-10-15-markdown-guide/) for content formatting