---
title: block
description: Defines a template and executes it in place.
categories: []
keywords: []
action:
aliases: []
related:
- functions/go-template/define
- functions/go-template/end
returnType:
signatures: [block NAME CONTEXT]
---
A block is shorthand for defining a template:
```go-html-template
{{ define "name" }} T1 {{ end }}
```
and then executing it in place:
```go-html-template
{{ template "name" pipeline }}
```
The typical use is to define a set of root templates that are then customized by redefining the block templates within.
{{< code file=layouts/_default/baseof.html >}}
<body>
<main>
{{ block "main" . }}
{{ print "default value if 'main' template is empty" }}
{{ end }}
</main>
</body>
{{< /code >}}
{{< code file=layouts/_default/single.html >}}
{{ define "main" }}
<h1>{{ .Title }}</h1>
{{ .Content }}
{{ end }}
{{< /code >}}
{{< code file=layouts/_default/list.html >}}
{{ define "main" }}
<h1>{{ .Title }}</h1>
{{ .Content }}
{{ range .Pages }}
<h2><a href="{{ .RelPermalink }}">{{ .LinkTitle }}</a></h2>
{{ end }}
{{ end }}
{{< /code >}}
{{% include "functions/go-template/_common/text-template.md" %}}