Template Literals vs DOM Manipulation: Which Should Beginners Learn First?

Mar 1, 2026

The Problem

When I started learning JavaScript for web development, I got confused by two different ways to create HTML elements:

Method A: Using template literals with innerHTML
Method B: Using DOM methods like createElement, textContent, and appendChild

I found the template literal approach confusing after learning DOM manipulation first. I kept asking: “Which one should I learn first? Do most developers use template literals, DOM methods, or something else before moving to React?”

What happened?

I saw tutorials jumping between these approaches without explaining the tradeoffs. Some showed template literals as the “modern” way, while others insisted on DOM methods for learning purposes. I couldn’t tell which path would actually help me when I eventually wanted to learn React.

Let me show you both approaches:

Approach A: Template literals with innerHTML

const name = 'John Doe';
const email = '[email protected]';

const card = document.createElement('div');
card.className = 'user-card';

card.innerHTML = `
  <h3>${name}</h3>
  <p>${email}</p>
  <button class="btn-delete">Delete</button>
`;

const button = card.querySelector('.btn-delete');
button.addEventListener('click', () => {
  card.remove();
});

document.body.append(card);

Approach B: DOM methods

const card = document.createElement('div');
card.className = 'user-card';

const title = document.createElement('h3');
title.textContent = 'John Doe';

const email = document.createElement('p');
email.textContent = '[email protected]';

const button = document.createElement('button');
button.textContent = 'Delete';
button.className = 'btn-delete';

button.addEventListener('click', () => {
  card.remove();
});

card.append(title, email, button);
document.body.append(card);

I tried template literals first because they looked cleaner. But when I moved to React later, I felt like I missed important concepts. A developer on Reddit confirmed my suspicion: “I always used DOM manipulation and I highly recommend it because when you start learning react and dealing with JSX you will understand the core more.”

How to solve it?

The solution is to learn DOM manipulation methods first, then template literals. Here’s why:

DOM methods first because:

They teach you how JavaScript interacts with the browser directly
React’s JSX compiles to createElement calls under the hood
You learn security concepts like textContent vs innerHTML
Debugging becomes easier when you understand the DOM API

Template literals second because:

They’re useful for building HTML strings quickly
Good for prototyping and simple static content
Best learned after mastering DOM basics

Let me show you the security difference:

// DANGEROUS: innerHTML executes scripts
const userInput = "<script>alert('XSS')</script>";
elem.innerHTML = userInput;

// SAFE: textContent displays as text
elem.textContent = userInput;

// SAFE: createElement creates nodes
const span = document.createElement('span');
span.textContent = userInput;
elem.append(span);

I tested this myself. When I used innerHTML with user input, the script actually executed. That’s why understanding textContent and createElement matters so much.

The learning progression

Here’s the path I recommend:

1. DOM Methods (createElement, textContent, appendChild)
              ↓
2. Event Handling (addEventListener)
              ↓
3. DOM Selection (querySelector, querySelectorAll)
              ↓
4. Template Literals (after DOM basics)
              ↓
5. React (now the concepts make sense)

When I learned DOM methods first, React’s createElement approach felt familiar instead of magical. I understood what React was abstracting.

Why this matters for React

React hides DOM manipulation, but that doesn’t mean you should skip learning it. When I understand the DOM API, I can:

Debug re-render issues in React
Write better event handlers
Understand why React needs a virtual DOM
Optimize performance by avoiding unnecessary re-renders

The key differences

Aspect	DOM Methods	Template Literals
Creates	Actual DOM nodes	HTML strings
Events	Attach directly	Need to query first
Security	Safer with `textContent`	Risk of XSS
React prep	Direct match	Different mental model

Summary

In this post, I explained why beginners should learn DOM manipulation methods before template literals. The key point is that DOM methods build a solid foundation that makes React concepts clearer and teaches critical security practices.

Start with createElement, textContent, and appendChild. Learn how to attach events directly to elements. Only then add template literals as a tool for specific use cases. This progression gives you the mental model you need to succeed with React.

Final Words + More Resources

My intention with this article was to help others share my knowledge and experience. If you want to contact me, you can contact by email: Email me

Here are also the most important links from this article along with some further resources that will help you in this scope:

Oh, and if you found these resources useful, don’t forget to support me by starring the repo on GitHub!