# Templates

### <mark style="color:orange;">`template(route=String, params=Hash)`</mark>

## Usage

```ruby
@reply.template "main/menu", { title: "But, I can help you with this" }
```

### File Location

```
bot/templates/main/menu.erb
```

Templates are found in sub-directories under `bot/templates/` and each sub-directory within has the same name as an existing context in a given project.&#x20;

For example: `bot/templates/`<mark style="color:orange;">`context_name`</mark>`/`<mark style="color:orange;">`template_name`</mark>`.erb`.&#x20;

### File Content

The code in the template must be written between the chars <mark style="color:orange;">`<% %>`</mark>.

```ruby
<%
  @reply.quick_reply(
    title,
    [
      {
        title: "Subscribe",
        payload: "profile/sign_up"
      },
      {
        title: "Follow US",
        payload: :twitter
      },
      {
        title: "Contact US",
        payload: :contact_us        
      }
    ]
  )
%>
```

### <mark style="color:orange;">`params`</mark> argument

The params argument can contain various elements which are accessed as a local variable within the template. In the example above: `title`.

## Arguments

<table><thead><tr><th width="150">Name</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:orange;"><code>route</code></mark><br><em>String</em></td><td><p><strong>Required.</strong></p><p>The template route.</p><p><strong>Formats:</strong></p><ul><li><code>"context_name/template_name"</code></li><li>"<code>template_name"</code> (If the template is in the same context from where this method was been called)</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:orange;"><code>params</code></mark><br><em>Hash</em></td><td><strong>Optional.</strong><br>Parameters that are passed to the template as local variables.</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Template reuse example

In the example below, the "main/menu" template will be called in 3 different situations in the conversation:

1. When the user sends a greeting..
2. When the user thanks..
3. When the app cannot understand what the user has said.

```ruby
class MainContext < Conversation

  def actions

    intent :gretting do
      @reply.text "Hello!"
      @reply.template "main/menu", { title: "How can I help you?" }
    end

    intent :thanks do
      @reply.text "You're welcome!"
      @reply.template "main/menu", { title: "Is there anything else I can help you with?" }
    end

    everything_else do
      @reply.text "Sorry, but I don't understand what you said."
      @reply.template "main/menu", { title: "But, I can help you with this" }
    end

  end

end
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.kogno.io/templates.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.