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