---
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id: 5a014d2e4d041e7ad52a28bb46cb8f1f2be637964c12f9fc3bf518119f53786b
title: What's the Difference Between HML and SML Merge Languages?
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/sales/264-0-0/difference_hml_sml_merge_languages.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.difference_hml_sml_merge_languages.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 5ec89e7bc865939a057399053e44950fdb7cd31c58c9e0a83570e3b0441035df
description: Lightning email templates now use the Handlebars Merge Language.
products:
  - Sales Cloud
  - Cross Cloud
  - Service Cloud Voice
release: "264"
---
# What's the Difference Between HML and SML Merge Languages?

Lightning email templates now use the Handlebars Merge Language.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition">
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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: Lightning Experience</td>

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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <strong>All</strong> Editions</td>

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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
            <p style="margin-bottom:0;">List email not available in: <strong>Personal</strong>, <strong>Contact Manager</strong>, and
              <strong>Group</strong> Editions
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In Summer ‘18, we introduced the Handlebars Merge Language (HML) for email templates in Lightning Experience. If your email template has merge fields with three curly braces ({{{), you’re using an HML email template. If the merge fields have one curly brace ({), or an exclamation mark (!), you’re using a SML (Salesforce Merge Language) email template. Lightning templates created since Summer ‘18 are HML email templates.

An email template can contain one type of merge field language only.

New abilities include:

- Recipient merge fields that work with contact lead, and person account records, in one email template
- ID merge fields that create links to Salesforce records
- More organization-level fields, such as FY Start Month

#### See Also

- [Use the Handlebars Merge Language in Lightning Email Templates, Enhanced Letterhead, and Email Template Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.handlebars_template_language.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use the Handlebars Merge Language—available in Summer ‘18—to add dynamic content to your Lightning and Email Template Builder email templates.")