Templates are the blocks of HTML code that draws each individual page.

These really have nothing to do with PHP and MySQL but any well designed script should use them. Pity UBB doesn't.

Anyway. If you simply look in your Control Panel You will find a section called templates in the left hand menu. You can add new templates or modify existing ones there. The $words represent variables like the post, user information and other templates. Leave those alone until you know what your doing or you will be in a world of hurt if you delete the wrong one. Simply edit the HTML to your liking and go. I use Homesite to make major changes and copy the code in. You can use whatever your used to.