How should forms and user input be handled in Salesforce Commerce Cloud?

In Salesforce Commerce Cloud (SFCC), handling forms and user input requires a structured approach that integrates seamlessly with the platform's architecture. Utilizing ISML (Interchangeable Static Markup Language) templates and controllers is the best practice for several reasons:

ISML templates allow you to define the structure and presentation of the forms while providing dynamic capabilities to render input fields based on user interactions or conditions. This templating language is designed to work effectively within the SFCC ecosystem, enabling developers to implement business logic seamlessly.

Controllers in SFCC facilitate the handling of user input submitted through these forms. They manage the request and response cycle, processing the data collected from users, validating it, and then delegating the proper actions based on the application's needs. This could include processing orders, managing user accounts, or interacting with the database.

The combination of ISML templates and controllers ensures that user input is collected, processed, and rendered correctly, maintaining both functionality and security. This approach aligns with SFCC’s MVC (Model-View-Controller) design pattern, promoting maintainability and scalability of the application.

In contrast, using standard HTML forms without processing doesn’t take advantage of the platform's backend capabilities, implementing JSON APIs for submission may complicate the flow when standard