ERB

ERB (Embedded Ruby) is a templating system that allows Ruby code to be embedded directly within a text document, most commonly HTML. It processes templates by evaluating the embedded Ruby code and interpolating its output into the surrounding text, generating dynamic content efficiently.

Key facts

First appeared
1998
Category
technology
Problem solved
ERB was created to provide a simple, powerful, and natural way for Ruby developers to generate dynamic content, particularly web pages, by seamlessly embedding Ruby logic within static text files. This addressed the challenge of mixing application logic with presentation in a clean, maintainable manner.
Platforms
BSD, macOS, Any platform supporting Ruby, Linux, Windows

Related technologies

Notable users

  • GitHub (large parts of their frontend are built with Rails and thus ERB)
  • Shopify (e-commerce platform heavily reliant on Rails and ERB for its admin and storefront templating)
  • Heroku (platform-as-a-service, many apps deployed use Ruby on Rails and ERB)
  • Airbnb (historically used Ruby on Rails and ERB for significant parts of its platform)
  • Basecamp (the company behind Ruby on Rails, naturally uses ERB extensively)