# Do Kustomize input files need special syntax, like Helm's {{ }} placeholders?

Kustomize, Easy (Beginner), Concepts. https://k8wiz.com/uquiz/do-kustomize-input-files-need-special-syntax-like-helms-placeholders

- A. No, every input file is plain Kubernetes YAML
- B. Yes, values are written as {{ .Values.name }}
- C. Yes, variables use the ${var} syntax
- D. Yes, input files must use the .kyaml extension

**Answer:** No, every input file is plain Kubernetes YAML

**Explanation:** Kustomize is template-free. Bases and patches are ordinary manifests you can apply on their own, and the kustomization.yaml describes how to change them. Flux adds ${var} substitution on top, but that's a Flux feature.