3. Template syntax
3.2. CDATA sections
3.1. Compiler modes
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3.2. CDATA sections

A CDATA section is a special part of the XML document that is visible by the parser, but it is not processed. It allows to keep XML tags as a static text that will not be parsed. By default, OPT parses the CDATA section , like in XML - the content is displayed with the surrounding delimiters, but not parsed. However, sometimes we do not want that:

<script type="text/javascript">
<![CDATA[
    document.write('Text ]]>{$info}<![CDATA[ - here is some info from the script.');
]]>
</script>

Of course, OPT will destroy such code, because the JavaScript will be full of opening and closing CDATA tags. The problem can be solved with the opt:literal instruction. Now, the CDATA sections are still not parsed, but at least their tags are not rewritten to the output:

<script type="text/javascript">
<opt:literal><![CDATA[
    document.write('Text ]]>{$info}<![CDATA[ - here is some info from the script.');
]]></opt:literal>
</script>

By default, opt:literal produces CDATA tags around its content, so the final result is:

<script type="text/javascript">
<![CDATA[
    document.write('Text SOME SCRIPT INFO - here is some info from the script.');
]]>
</script>

opt:literal can also produce dynamic comment content or be transparent.

JavaScript and CSS content enclosed with CDATA section can cause problems with some older browsers so your code may not work properly. It is recommended to use mode="comment_cdata" attribute on opt:literal instruction to solve this problem. More details can be found in chapter about opt:literal and on Mozilla Developer Center website.

See also:

3.2. CDATA sections
3. Template syntax
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3.1. Compiler modes
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3.3. XML Prolog and DTD