Template variables start with a $dollar sign. They can contain numbers, letters and underscores, much like a PHP variable. You can reference arrays that are indexed numerically or non-numerically. You can also reference object properties and methods. Config file variables are an exception to the dollar sign syntax. They can be referenced with surrounding #hashmarks#, or with the special $smarty.config variable. bar} <-- display the object property "bar" {$foo->bar()} <-- display the return value of object method "bar" {#foo#} <-- display the config file variable "foo" {$smarty.config.foo} <-- synonym for {#foo#} {$foo[bar]} <-- syntax only valid in a section loop, see {section} {assign var=foo value="baa"}{$foo} <-- displays "baa", see {assign} Many other combinations are allowed {$foo.bar.baz} {$foo.$bar.$baz} {$foo[4].baz} {$foo[4].$baz} {$foo.bar.baz[4]} {$foo->bar($baz,2,$bar)} <-- passing parameters {"foo"} <-- static values are allowed ]]> See also $smarty reserved variables and Config Variables.