JavaScript String Interpolation: Build a Status Message with Template Literals

The task

Prepare a queue-status message with a calculated remaining count, then deliberately show a literal placeholder for documentation.

Runnable Node 22 example

const assert = require('node:assert/strict');

const completed = 3;
const total = 8;
const message = `Packed ${completed} of ${total}; ${total - completed} remain.`;
assert.equal(message, 'Packed 3 of 8; 5 remain.');
assert.equal('Packed ${completed}', 'Packed ${completed}');
const placeholder = `Use \${completed} in the template.`;
assert.equal(placeholder, 'Use ${completed} in the template.');
console.log(message);
console.log(placeholder);

Expected output and explanation

The first template evaluates the subtraction before inserting its result, so the final message contains five remaining items. The ordinary quoted string leaves its placeholder text untouched. Escaping the dollar-sign sequence inside the template also keeps that sequence literal.

This makes template literals useful for readable text construction, but interpolation is not a validation step. If the inputs are wrong types, the expression can produce an unexpected result before it becomes text. This fixture supplies known numeric counts.

Pitfall to check

Interpolating text does not make it safe HTML, SQL or a shell command. Use the output context’s proper API and handling. This script creates console text only and makes no browser-rendering claim.