Data Binding & Expressions

Transform static templates into dynamic, data-driven PDF documents with Scryber’s powerful data binding system.

Data Binding Basics - Basic syntax, properties, passing data, data context
Expression Functions - String, math (calc), date, conditional functions
Template Iteration - Template element, , loops
Conditional Rendering - , , inline conditionals
Variables & Document Parameters - <var> element, Document.Params, calculated values
Context & Scope - Data context, parent (..), root (@@root)
Formatting Output - Number, date, currency formatting
Advanced Patterns - Complex expressions, aggregation, best practices

Overview

Data binding is what makes Scryber truly powerful. Instead of hard-coding content, you can create templates that pull data from your application, databases, APIs, or any other source. This series teaches you how to master dynamic content generation.

What is Data Binding?

Data binding connects your template to your data. In Scryber, this means:

Dynamic Values - Display data using `` syntax
Conditional Content - Show or hide sections based on data
Loops & Iteration - Repeat content for lists and arrays
Calculations - Perform math and string operations
Formatting - Format dates, numbers, and currency

Quick Example

Template

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>
<body>
    <div>
        <h1>Invoice #{{invoice.number}}</h1>
        <p>Total: {{invoice.total}}</p>

        <table>
            {{#each invoice.items}}
            <tr>
                <td>{{this.name}}</td>
                <td>{{this.price}}</td>
            </tr>
            {{/each}}
        </table>
    </div>
</body>
</html>

C# Code

doc.Params["invoice"] = new {
    number = "INV-2025-001",
    total = "$1,250.00",
    items = new[] {
        new { name = "Service A", price = "$500.00" },
        new { name = "Service B", price = "$750.00" }
    }
};

Result

A fully populated invoice with all items listed dynamically!

What You’ll Learn

This series covers everything you need to create sophisticated data-driven documents:

1. Data Binding Basics

Basic `` syntax
Binding to properties and nested objects
Passing data from C#, JSON, and XML
Understanding data context

2. Expression Functions

String functions (concat, substring, upper, lower)
Math functions (add, subtract, multiply, divide, calc)
Date functions
Conditional functions (if, choose)
Comparison and logical operators

3. Template Iteration

Using the <template> element
Iterating with ``
Working with and
Nested loops and complex data structures

4. Conditional Rendering

and helpers
Inline conditionals with if() function
`` clauses
Conditional visibility and sections

5. Variables & Document Parameters

Using the <var> element to store values
Document.Params for global access
Variable scope and context
Storing calculated values

6. Context & Scope

Understanding data context
Parent context access with ..
Root context with @@root
Context in nested structures

7. Formatting Output

Number formatting
Date and time formatting
Currency formatting
Custom format strings

8. Advanced Patterns

Complex expressions
Aggregation (sum, count, avg)
Performance considerations
Error handling
Best practices

Prerequisites

Before starting this series:

Complete Getting Started - Basic Scryber knowledge required
Understand HTML - Template structure
C# Basics - For passing data to templates

Key Concepts

Expression Syntax

Scryber uses Handlebars-style syntax for data binding:

<!-- Simple value -->
<p>{{userName}}</p>

<!-- Nested property -->
<p>{{user.address.city}}</p>

<!-- Function call -->
<p>{{upper(userName)}}</p>

<!-- Conditional -->
<p>{{if(isActive, 'Active', 'Inactive')}}</p>

Block Helpers

Block helpers control template flow:

<!-- Iteration -->
{{#each items}}
    <li>{{this.name}}</li>
{{/each}}

<!-- Conditional -->
{{#if showDetails}}
    <div>Details here</div>
{{/if}}

Data Context

Every expression evaluates in a data context:

<!-- Root level: model.name -->
{{name}}

<!-- In each: current item -->
{{#each orders}}
    {{this.total}}  <!-- Current order's total -->
    {{..name}}      <!-- Parent context -->
{{/each}}

Real-World Applications

Data binding enables powerful scenarios:

Dynamic Invoices

<h1>Invoice #{{invoice.number}}</h1>
<p>Date: {{format(invoice.date, 'MMM dd, yyyy')}}</p>

{{#each invoice.items}}
<tr>
    <td>{{this.description}}</td>
    <td>{{format(this.amount, 'C2')}}</td>
</tr>
{{/each}}

<p><strong>Total: {{format(invoice.total, 'C2')}}</strong></p>

Conditional Sections

{{#if customer.isPremium}}
<div class="premium-badge">Premium Customer</div>
{{/if}}

{{#if invoice.pastDue}}
<div class="warning">Payment Overdue</div>
{{/if}}

Calculated Values

<var data-id="subtotal" data-value="{{calc(quantity, '*', price)}}" />
<var data-id="tax" data-value="{{calc(Document.Params.subtotal, '*', 0.08)}}" />
<var data-id="total" data-value="{{calc(Document.Params.subtotal, '+', Document.Params.tax)}}" />

<p>Subtotal: ${{Document.Params.subtotal}}</p>
<p>Tax (8%): ${{Document.Params.tax}}</p>
<p>Total: ${{Document.Params.total}}</p>

Multi-Language Support

{{#if language == 'es'}}
    <h1>Hola, {{userName}}!</h1>
{{else}}
    <h1>Hello, {{userName}}!</h1>
{{/if}}

Common Patterns

Master-Detail Reports

{{#each departments}}
<h2>{{this.name}}</h2>
<table>
    {{#each this.employees}}
    <tr>
        <td>{{this.name}}</td>
        <td>{{this.title}}</td>
    </tr>
    {{/each}}
</table>
{{/each}}

Running Totals

<var data-id="runningTotal" data-value="0" />

{{#each items}}
<tr>
    <td>{{this.name}}</td>
    <td>{{this.amount}}</td>
    <var data-id="runningTotal"
         data-value="{{calc(Document.Params.runningTotal, '+', this.amount)}}" />
    <td>{{Document.Params.runningTotal}}</td>
</tr>
{{/each}}

Conditional Formatting

{{#each products}}
<tr style="color: {{if(this.inStock, 'black', 'red')}}">
    <td>{{this.name}}</td>
    <td>{{if(this.inStock, 'In Stock', 'Out of Stock')}}</td>
</tr>
{{/each}}

Learning Path

Recommended order for this series:

Start with Basics - Articles 1-2 cover fundamental concepts
Learn Iteration & Conditionals - Articles 3-4 for dynamic content
Master Variables - Article 5 for storing and reusing values
Understand Context - Article 6 for complex data structures
Add Formatting - Article 7 for professional output
Apply Advanced Patterns - Article 8 for real-world scenarios

Tips for Success

Start Simple - Begin with basic `` expressions
Test Incrementally - Add complexity gradually
Understand Context - Know where you are in the data structure
Use Variables - Store calculated values for reuse
Check Data First - Ensure data is available before binding
Handle Nulls - Use if() to check for null/undefined values

Next Steps

Ready to dive in? Start with Data Binding Basics to learn the fundamentals of dynamic content.

Already familiar with basics? Jump to:

Expression Functions for calculations
Template Iteration for loops
Variables & Document Parameters for value storage

Related Series:

Getting Started - Prerequisites
Content Components - Dynamic tables and images
Practical Applications - Real-world examples

Begin your journey → Data Binding Basics