HTML "functions"?

[Dan]

I am wondering if it's possible to duplicate or approximate the way that
Wikipedia uses the "template" namespace using standard HTML.

For example, can I write a <table> with abstract variables into an external
file, then "call" it as needed in my HTML document, passing in the specific
data values as part of the call?

 

[David Dorward]

I am wondering if it's possible to duplicate or approximate the way that
Wikipedia uses the "template" namespace using standard HTML.

For example, can I write a <table> with abstract variables into an
external file, then "call" it as needed in my HTML document, passing in
the specific data values as part of the call?

Not with plain old HTML. There are various processes you can use to generate
HTML with standard sections. I'm fond of template-toolkit.