Theme Runtime Reference

The theme runtime contract defines valid theme.json manifests, template files, template syntax, and render-context expectations for ZeroPress themes.

Use this page for quick lookup while validating a theme package or reviewing generated starter themes. To learn how to build a full theme, start with Theme Authoring.

Choose The Right Document

• Theme Authoring: practical guide for building a complete theme.
• Theme Runtime v0.6 Long-Form Spec: normative contract details for validators and build behavior.
• Theme Manifest Runtime v0.6 Schema: machine-readable schema for theme.json.

Current Schema

• Theme Manifest Runtime v0.6 Schema

Required Theme Files

theme/
  theme.json
  layout.html
  index.html
  post.html
  page.html
  assets/
    style.css

Optional route templates include:

• archive.html
• category.html
• tag.html
• 404.html

Optional folders include:

• partials/
• assets/theme.js

Manifest Basics

theme.json must use runtime: "0.6".

Common fields:

• name
• namespace
• slug
• version
• license
• runtime
• features
• menu_slots
• widget_areas
• site_meta
• collection_slots
• links

The root manifest object is closed. Unknown root fields are invalid.

features is optional. Omitted feature flags use ZeroPress runtime defaults: comments: false, post_index: true, search: false, and newsletter remains capability metadata without core build behavior.

Template Syntax

Templates support:

• variable paths
• if, else_if, and else
• if_eq, if_neq, if_in, and if_starts_with
• for
• loop metadata
• partials and partial arguments
• template comments

General JavaScript expressions, arithmetic, slicing, and, or, and comparison operators such as > are not part of the runtime syntax.

Comparison helpers use strict comparison and do not coerce types.

Render Context

Every route receives common data such as:

• site
• route
• menus
• widgets
• collections
• taxonomies

Post routes receive post; page routes receive page; listing routes receive structured listing data such as posts.items[], pagination, taxonomy, or archive groups.

Full Spec

The long-form spec remains available at Theme Runtime v0.6.