As your templates grow more complex, you may find yourself repeating long attribute names or writing the same logic in multiple places. The assign tag and the default filter help you keep templates clean, readable, and easier to maintain.

The Assign Tag

The assign tag creates a reusable variable inside your template. Once assigned, you can reference the variable by its short name anywhere else in the template.

{% assign tier = customer.VIPSTAGE %}

After this line, you can use {{ tier }} or {% if tier == "Gold" %} instead of writing out customer.VIPSTAGE every time.

When to Use Assign

• Avoid repeating long attribute names: Replace customer.ECOM_FAVORITE_PRODUCT_CATEGORY with a short variable like fav_category.
• Clean up complex logic: Define your variables at the top of the template so conditions below are easier to read.
• Improve readability: Other team members can quickly understand what data is being used.

Example: Simplifying a Template with Assign

Without assign (harder to read):

{% if customer.VIPSTAGE == "Platinum" %}
  Welcome back, Platinum member!
{% elsif customer.VIPSTAGE == "Gold" %}
  Great to see you, Gold member!
{% else %}
  Welcome! Join our loyalty programme today.
{% endif %}

With assign (cleaner):

{% assign tier = customer.VIPSTAGE %}

{% if tier == "Platinum" %}
  Welcome back, Platinum member!
{% elsif tier == "Gold" %}
  Great to see you, Gold member!
{% else %}
  Welcome! Join our loyalty programme today.
{% endif %}

The Default Filter

The default filter provides a fallback value if data is missing or empty. If the attribute has data, it is shown. If it is empty or null, the default value is shown instead.

Will {{ customer.SUPPORTER | default:'your team' }} get the win today?

• If SUPPORTER = "Tottenham": Will Tottenham get the win today?
• If SUPPORTER is empty or null: Will your team get the win today?

When to Use Default

• Personalization is optional: You want to include a name or preference if available, but the message still works without it.
• A simple value replacement is needed: You only need to swap in one fallback word or phrase rather than change the entire structure of the content.
• You want to avoid blank output: Without a default, a missing attribute renders as nothing, which can leave awkward gaps in your message.

Chaining Default with Other Filters

You can combine default with other filters. The default filter should come first so the fallback value is also transformed.

Hi {{ user.first_name | default: "there" | capitalize }}!

• If first_name = "sarah": Hi Sarah!
• If first_name is missing: Hi There!

Default vs. IF / ELSE: Which Should I Use?

Both default and if / else handle missing data, but they serve different purposes.