Smarty is a template engine for PHP, facilitating the separation of presentation (HTML/CSS) from application logic. This implies that PHP code is application logic, and is separated from the presentation.

The Smarty design was largely driven by these goals:

• Clean separation of presentation from application code
• PHP backend, Smarty template frontend
• Compliment PHP, not replace it
• Fast development/deployment for programmers and designers
• Quick and easy to maintain
• Syntax easy to understand, no PHP knowledge required
• Flexibility for custom development
• Security: insulation from PHP
• Free, open source