Templates are used to extend the built-in appearence and functionality of the columns.
A column can use templates for view mode and also for edit mode.

When should templates be used?

• In view mode, when you want to convert the data from the database to other elements (e.g. images). Also, you may want to convert the data to other text information (e.g. representing the 'true/false' values from the database to 'yes/no' texts).


• In edit mode, when you need some controls inside the column (other than the default textbox)
  For example, you may need a checkbox, textarea, dropdown, combobox, file uploader etc.
  You can use any HTML/ASP.NET control inside the templates.

How should templates be used?

After you create a template, you need to assign it to the columns you'd like to use that template.
Templates are assigned to columns, using the TemplateID, EditTemplateID and HeaderTemplateID
properties of the Column class.

A template can be used by multiple columns.

Take a look at the online example with templates.
Here is the code for that example:

<obout:Grid id="grid1" runat="server">
    <Columns>
      <obout:Column DataField="SupplierID" runat="server"/>
      <obout:Column DataField="CompanyName" TemplateID="tplCompanyName" runat="server"/>
      <obout:Column DataField="Address" EditTemplateID="tplEditAddress" runat="server" />
      <obout:Column DataField="Country" EditTemplateID="tplEditCountry" runat="server" />
      <obout:Column DataField="HomePage" TemplateID="tplHasWebsite" 
         EditTemplateID="tplEditHasWebsite" runat="server" />
    </Columns>
    <Templates>
            <obout:GridTemplate runat="server" ID="tplCompanyName">
                    <Template>
                            <b><u><%# Container.Value %></u></b>
                    </Template>
            </obout:GridTemplate>
            <obout:GridTemplate runat="server" ID="tplEditAddress" ControlID="ddlAddress" 
                 ControlPropertyName="value">
              <Template>
                <textarea id="ddlAddress" rows="3" class="ob_gridEditControl" 
 style="overflow: auto;"></textarea>
              </Template>
            </obout:GridTemplate>
            <obout:GridTemplate runat="server" ID="tplHasWebsite">
                    <Template>
                            <%# (Container.Value != "" ? "yes" : "no") %>
                    </Template>
            </obout:GridTemplate>
            <obout:GridTemplate runat="server" ID="tplEditHasWebsite" 
                ControlID="chkHasWebsite"  ControlPropertyName="checked" 
 UseQuotes="false">
                    <Template>
                            <input type="checkbox" id="chkHasWebsite"/>
                    </Template>
            </obout:GridTemplate>
            <obout:GridTemplate runat="server" ID="tplEditCountry" 
                ControlID="ob_cbo1Textbox"  ControlPropertyName="value">
               <Template>
                <cbo:Combobox runat="server" ID="cbo1">
                    <Options>
                      <cbo:Option runat="server" Value="Australia">Australia</cbo:Option>             
                      <cbo:Option runat="server" Value="Canada">Canada</cbo:Option>     
                      <cbo:Option runat="server" Value="France">France</cbo:Option>
                      <cbo:Option runat="server" Value="Germany">Germany</cbo:Option>
                      <cbo:Option runat="server" Value="Japan">Japan</cbo:Option>
                      <cbo:Option runat="server" Value="UK">UK</cbo:Option>
                      <cbo:Option runat="server" Value="USA">USA</cbo:Option>
                    </Options>
                </cbo:Combobox>
               </Template>
            </obout:GridTemplate>
    </Templates>
</obout:Grid>

Check also the Templates properties and Columns properties