A few simple terms will help you quickly understand the entire editor environment.
What you will learn
- Distinguish between a template, row, position, and module.
- Understand what the mainbox and componentbox are used for.
- Distinguish a skin from a snippet.
- Read editor instructions without unnecessary technical uncertainty.
Grid mode - Creating a new template from scratch
Edit mode - Finished starter template
Think of a website as a house
A template is the blueprint for the entire house. It determines where the main parts are located and how they look. A row is a single floor or horizontal band. It can be a header, a content section, or a footer.
Inside a row are positions. Think of them as prepared spots for furniture. A Joomla position has its own name, and later the website can insert a specific module into it.
A module is the actual functional element itself: a menu, logo, login, search, cart, or custom content. You can use one type of module multiple times in a template; each placement is an independent instance.
Mini editor dictionary
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Mainbox | The mandatory main structural area of the template. It contains the main content and optional sidebars. |
| Componentbox | The space where Joomla displays an article, category, product, or other component on the live website. |
| Sidebar | An optional left or right side column. |
| Skin | A saveable setting for an element's appearance, such as background, border, spacing, and shadow. |
| Snippet | A reusable content block for the Custom HTML module. |
| Snapshot | A fast, safe preview thumbnail without live Joomla content. |
A position is not the same as a module
A position is an empty spot in the structure. A module is the content you place into that spot. When you remove a position, you may also remove the modules inside it, which is why the editor requests confirmation before performing such an action.