Creates a compiled template function that can interpolate data properties in "interpolate" delimiters, HTML-escape interpolated data properties in "escape" delimiters, and execute JavaScript in "evaluate" delimiters. Data properties may be accessed as free variables in the template. If a setting object is provided it takes precedence over _.templateSettings values.

Note: In the development build _.template utilizes sourceURLs for easier debugging.

For more information on precompiling templates see lodash's custom builds documentation.

For more information on Chrome extension sandboxes see Chrome's extensions documentation.

// using the "interpolate" delimiter to create a compiled template
var compiled = _.template('hello <%= user %>!');
compiled({ 'user': 'fred' });
// => 'hello fred!'

// using the HTML "escape" delimiter to escape data property values
var compiled = _.template('<b><%- value %></b>');
compiled({ 'value': '<script>' });
// => '<b>&lt;script&gt;</b>'

// using the "evaluate" delimiter to execute JavaScript and generate HTML
var compiled = _.template('<% _.forEach(users, function(user) { %><li><%- user %></li><% }); %>');
compiled({ 'users': ['fred', 'barney'] });
// => '<li>fred</li><li>barney</li>'

// using the internal `print` function in "evaluate" delimiters
var compiled = _.template('<% print("hello " + user); %>!');
compiled({ 'user': 'barney' });
// => 'hello barney!'

// using the ES delimiter as an alternative to the default "interpolate" delimiter
var compiled = _.template('hello ${ user }!');
compiled({ 'user': 'pebbles' });
// => 'hello pebbles!'

// using custom template delimiters
_.templateSettings.interpolate = /{{([\s\S]+?)}}/g;
var compiled = _.template('hello {{ user }}!');
compiled({ 'user': 'mustache' });
// => 'hello mustache!'

// using backslashes to treat delimiters as plain text
var compiled = _.template('<%= "\\<%- value %\\>" %>');
compiled({ 'value': 'ignored' });
// => '<%- value %>'

// using the `imports` option to import `jQuery` as `jq`
var text = '<% jq.each(users, function(user) { %><li><%- user %></li><% }); %>';
var compiled = _.template(text, { 'imports': { 'jq': jQuery } });
compiled({ 'users': ['fred', 'barney'] });
// => '<li>fred</li><li>barney</li>'

// using the `sourceURL` option to specify a custom sourceURL for the template
var compiled = _.template('hello <%= user %>!', { 'sourceURL': '/basic/greeting.jst' });
compiled(data);
// => find the source of "greeting.jst" under the Sources tab or Resources panel of the web inspector

// using the `variable` option to ensure a with-statement isn't used in the compiled template
var compiled = _.template('hi <%= data.user %>!', { 'variable': 'data' });
compiled.source;
// => function(data) {
//   var __t, __p = '';
//   __p += 'hi ' + ((__t = ( data.user )) == null ? '' : __t) + '!';
//   return __p;
// }

// using the `source` property to inline compiled templates for meaningful
// line numbers in error messages and a stack trace
fs.writeFileSync(path.join(cwd, 'jst.js'), '\
  var JST = {\
    "main": ' + _.template(mainText).source + '\
  };\
');