> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.varbase.vardot.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.varbase.vardot.com/developers/understanding-varbase/site-templates.md).

# Site Templates

A **site template** is a Drupal recipe of `type: Site`. It is what you choose in the installer's **Choose a site template** step, and it composes a whole site out of smaller recipes: the base recipes, a theme, the pages, and the demo content. Vardot's site templates work on both Drupal CMS and the Varbase project.

A site template is applied **during** the site installation. It is not applied with `drush recipe` on a site that is already installed.

## Available Site Templates

| Site template                                                                          | Description                                                                                                                   | Latest release | Demo                                                                                              |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Varbase Starter](/developers/understanding-varbase/site-templates/varbase-starter.md) | The default site template of Varbase 11, on Vartheme BS5                                                                      | 1.0.4          | [Site](https://demo.varbase.vardot.com/), [Storybook](https://storybook.demo.varbase.vardot.com/) |
| [Educare](/developers/understanding-varbase/site-templates/educare.md)                 | Education site template for schools, universities, academies, and e-learning, on Vartheme BS5 Educare                         | 1.0.5          | [Site](https://educare.demos.vardot.com/)                                                         |
| [Horizon Aid](/developers/understanding-varbase/site-templates/horizon-aid.md)         | NGO and humanitarian site template for nonprofits, charities, foundations, and aid organizations, on Vartheme BS5 Horizon Aid | 1.0.5          | [Site](https://horizonaid.demos.vardot.com/)                                                      |
| [The Rightup](/developers/understanding-varbase/site-templates/the-rightup.md)         | Media, news, and magazine site template for newsrooms, publishers, and editorial teams, on Vartheme BS5 Rightup               | 1.0.0          | [Site](https://rightup.demos.vardot.com/)                                                         |

## Installing a Site Template

* **On Drupal CMS**: all four are listed in the Drupal CMS installer. Create a Drupal CMS project, open it in the browser, and choose the template on the **Choose a site template** step. Each card is **Created by Vardot** and links to Learn more, Demo and Documentation. Varbase Starter's card is named **Varbase**.
* **Scripted or CI installs**: require the template with Composer, then install the site with `drush site:install ../recipes/<recipe>`.
* **On the Varbase project**: require the template with Composer, then select it in the Varbase installer's **Choose a site template** step, which lists every site template recipe in the project. Varbase Starter comes with the Varbase project.

Each template's page has the DDEV steps for all three.

```bash
mkdir my-drupal-site && cd my-drupal-site
ddev config --project-type=drupal11 --docroot=web
ddev composer create-project drupal/cms
ddev launch
```

<figure><img src="https://410909369-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzBcuWLZ87gvtX5vA2YGD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5f662590854e83d1b4d34452e69bf035cbd0f10c%2FSite%20Templates%20-%20Drupal%20CMS%20Installer%20-%20Choose%20a%20Site%20Template.png?alt=media" alt="The Choose a site template step of the Drupal CMS installer, with the Blank, Starter and Byte templates at the top"><figcaption><p>The Choose a Site Template Step in the Drupal CMS Installer</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://410909369-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzBcuWLZ87gvtX5vA2YGD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-77fdb00be6850fb4af9d0860160b066fe2048d65%2FSite%20Templates%20-%20Drupal%20CMS%20Installer%20-%20Vardot%20Site%20Templates.png?alt=media" alt="The Varbase, The Rightup, Educare and Horizon Aid cards in the Drupal CMS installer, each created by Vardot, next to other site templates"><figcaption><p>The Vardot Site Templates in the Drupal CMS Installer</p></figcaption></figure>

## What a Site Template Owns

A site template composes the base recipes and adds what is its own: the theme, the pages, the patterns, and the demo content.

Shared content types come from the base recipes. [Varbase Page Base](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-page-base.md), [Varbase Blog Base](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-blog-base.md), [Varbase News Base](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-news-base.md), [Varbase Events Base](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-events-base.md), and [Varbase Podcasts Base](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-podcasts-base.md) each provide a content type with its fields, its listing, and its Drupal Canvas content templates. A site template does not repeat them.

A site template may still add a content type that only its kind of site needs, and then it owns that content type: **Educare** adds **Program**, and **Horizon Aid** adds **Country** and **Program**. Each template's page lists what it owns.

## Writing Your Own

See [Creating your own recipe](/developers/extending-varbase/creating-your-own-recipe.md).