Hugo's Lookup Order

Hugo Layouts Lookup Rules

Hugo takes the parameters listed below into consideration when choosing a layout for a given page. They are listed in a priority order. This should feel natural, but look at the table below for concrete examples of the different parameter variations.

Kind

The page Kind (the home page is one). See the example tables below per kind. This also determines if it is a single page (i.e. a regular content page. We then look for a template in _default/single.html for HTML) or a list page (section listings, home page, taxonomy lists, taxonomy terms. We then look for a template in _default/list.html for HTML).

Layout

Can be set in page front matter.

Output Format

See Custom Output Formats. An output format has both a name (e.g. rss, amp, html) and a suffix (e.g. xml, html). We prefer matches with both (e.g. index.amp.html, but look for less specific templates.

Note that if the output format’s Media Type has more than one suffix defined, only the first is considered.

Language

We will consider a language code in the template name. If the site language is fr, index.fr.amp.html will win over index.amp.html, but index.amp.html will be chosen before index.fr.html.

Type

Is value of type if set in front matter, else it is the name of the root section (e.g. “blog”). It will always have a value, so if not set, the value is “page”.

Section

Is relevant for section, taxonomy and term types.

Hugo Layouts Lookup Rules With Theme

In Hugo, layouts can live in either the project’s or the themes’ layout folders, and the most specific layout will be chosen. Hugo will interleave the lookups listed below, finding the most specific one either in the project or themes.

Examples: Layout Lookup for Regular Pages

Examples: Layout Lookup for Home Page

Examples: Layout Lookup for Section Pages

Examples: Layout Lookup for Taxonomy Pages

Examples: Layout Lookup for Term Pages