What exactly are 'bits'?
 

Aright folks, I'm in the process of moving all my template modifications into a purdy product to make updating easier. Consequently I've been getting a bit more down and dirty with vB's templating system and one word or should I say suffix that keeps popping up is 'bit', postbit, threadbit, groupinvitebit, etc. So my question is what the hell does 'bit' mean in the context of templating??

I hope I'm not massively retarded, lol.

Parts maybe?
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'maybe'?

Bits is just a naming convention used in regards to templates they are used to displays "bits" of a larger template.

If you need the same html numerous times to display consistent data [like posts in a thread], you would use a template bit [postbit].

I am not sure on their exact definition. Just what I perceive them to be. Like postbit meaning post part or post section.
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Yeah, I thought this but then couldn't really understand the need for the bit suffix because any parent template is denoted using the underscore notation which is why...

...seems to make more sense. So, if it's gonna be used over and over on the same page it would be good practice to call it parenttemplate_customtemplatebit but if it was just a one-off insertion you'd just call it parenttemplate_customtemplate?

I like to do things properly haha, thanks for your help so far :)

Pretty much.