Shortcodes are a way to make Lava simpler and easier to read. They allow you to replace a simple Lava tag with a complex template written by a Lava specialist. This means you can do some really powerful things without having to know all the details of how things work. For example, instead of writing out Lava code to display a Google map with custom pins and styles, you can insert a Lava shortcode where you want the map to be displayed, and let Rock do the work for you. Rock will replace the shortcode with the full Lava code, which will then be displayed as a customized map when rendered by the browser. Shortcodes put the power of Lava in your hands without you needing to be a coding expert. To learn how to create and use Lava shortcodes, check out The Long & Short on Shortcodes.