# Marko Best Practices

> Apply Marko syntax and best practices when editing `.marko` files and building Marko components.

- Skill: `marko-js/marko-best-practices` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add marko-js/marko-best-practices`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/marko-js/marko-best-practices/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: marko-js (https://skillmd.com/u/marko-js)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/marko-js/marko-best-practices

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# Marko Best Practices

Marko is a modern UI framework for building web applications. It features a declarative component-based syntax, fine-grained reactivity, and a highly optimized compiler. Marko is designed for both server-rendered and interactive client-side experiences with a focus on streaming, partial hydration, and shipping the smallest possible amount of JavaScript to each page.

## Marko Documentation

The Marko documentation is the source of truth for all Marko-related information. Always refer to the official docs for information about syntax and behavior. Marko changes over time, so prefer fetching current docs over relying on training data.

The [docs index](https://markojs.com/llms.txt) lists every available page with its URL and a short description.

All Marko docs pages can be fetched as markdown by appending `.md` to the URL (<https://markojs.com/docs/introduction/getting-started.md>)

## Marko 6 Syntax

Documentation and this skill target **Marko 6**. Do not use Marko 5 syntax.

## Checklist for New or Edited .marko Files

- [ ] Uses Marko 6 syntax only (no scriptlets, old event syntax, or Marko 5 blocks).
- [ ] `<script>` is never used when state (`<let>` or `<const>`) could accomplish the same behavior.
- [ ] Event handlers use function form: `onClick() { ... }` or a reference, not string names.
- [ ] `<show=cond>` for toggled content that should keep its state; `<if>` destroys and rebuilds.
- [ ] Component stays small and readable; consider splitting large templates.
- [ ] No unnecessary client-side JS; prefer built-in browser APIs and HTML/CSS features over scripts.
- [ ] Props are declared with an exported `Input` interface, and templates are type checked with `mtc` (`@marko/type-check`) — `tsc` skips `.marko` files and reports nothing.