diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/transform-template/index.js b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/transform-template/index.js
index f28e2cf78ec3..becf987be915 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/transform-template/index.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/transform-template/index.js
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export function transform_template(state, context, namespace, template_name, fla
 	/** @type {Expression[]} */
 	const args = [
 		state.is_functional_template_mode
-			? template_to_functions(state.template, namespace)
+			? template_to_functions(state.template)
 			: b.template([b.quasi(template_to_string(state.template), true)], [])
 	];
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/transform-template/to-functions.js b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/transform-template/to-functions.js
index b109ea334ff6..ecf8151836ae 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/transform-template/to-functions.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/transform-template/to-functions.js
@@ -1,56 +1,24 @@
 /**
  * @import { TemplateOperations } from "../types.js"
  * @import { Namespace } from "#compiler"
- * @import { CallExpression, Statement } from "estree"
+ * @import { CallExpression, Statement, ObjectExpression, Identifier, ArrayExpression, Property, Expression, Literal } from "estree"
  */
 import { NAMESPACE_SVG, NAMESPACE_MATHML } from '../../../../../constants.js';
 import * as b from '../../../../utils/builders.js';
+import { regex_is_valid_identifier } from '../../../patterns.js';
 import fix_attribute_casing from './fix-attribute-casing.js';
 
-class Scope {
-	declared = new Map();
-
-	/**
-	 * @param {string} _name
-	 */
-	generate(_name) {
-		let name = _name.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9_$]/g, '_').replace(/^[0-9]/, '_');
-		if (!this.declared.has(name)) {
-			this.declared.set(name, 1);
-			return name;
-		}
-		let count = this.declared.get(name);
-		this.declared.set(name, count + 1);
-		return `${name}_${count}`;
-	}
-}
-
 /**
  * @param {TemplateOperations} items
- * @param {Namespace} namespace
  */
-export function template_to_functions(items, namespace) {
-	let elements = [];
-
-	let body = [];
-
-	let scope = new Scope();
+export function template_to_functions(items) {
+	let elements = b.array([]);
 
 	/**
 	 * @type {Array<Element>}
 	 */
 	let elements_stack = [];
 
-	/**
-	 * @type {Array<string>}
-	 */
-	let namespace_stack = [];
-
-	/**
-	 * @type {number}
-	 */
-	let foreign_object_count = 0;
-
 	/**
 	 * @type {Element | undefined}
 	 */
@@ -71,89 +39,48 @@ export function template_to_functions(items, namespace) {
 		// we closed one element, we remove it from the stack and eventually revert back
 		// the namespace to the previous one
 		if (instruction.kind === 'pop_element') {
-			const removed = elements_stack.pop();
-			if (removed?.namespaced) {
-				namespace_stack.pop();
-			}
-			if (removed?.element === 'foreignObject') {
-				foreign_object_count--;
-			}
+			elements_stack.pop();
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		// if the inserted node is in the svg/mathml we push the namespace to the stack because we need to
-		// create with createElementNS
-		if (instruction.metadata?.svg || instruction.metadata?.mathml) {
-			namespace_stack.push(instruction.metadata.svg ? NAMESPACE_SVG : NAMESPACE_MATHML);
-		}
-
 		// @ts-expect-error we can't be here if `swap_current_element` but TS doesn't know that
 		const value = map[instruction.kind](
 			...[
-				// for set prop we need to send the last element (not the one in the stack since
-				// it get's added to the stack only after the push_element instruction)...for all the rest
-				// the first prop is a the scope to generate the name of the variable
-				...(instruction.kind === 'set_prop' ? [last_current_element] : [scope]),
-				// for create element we also need to add the namespace...namespaces in the stack get's precedence over
-				// the "global" namespace (and if we are in a foreignObject we default to html)
 				...(instruction.kind === 'create_element'
-					? [
-							foreign_object_count > 0
-								? undefined
-								: namespace_stack.at(-1) ??
-									(namespace === 'svg'
-										? NAMESPACE_SVG
-										: namespace === 'mathml'
-											? NAMESPACE_MATHML
-											: undefined)
-						]
-					: []),
+					? []
+					: [instruction.kind === 'set_prop' ? last_current_element : elements_stack.at(-1)]),
 				...(instruction.args ?? [])
 			]
 		);
 
-		if (value) {
-			// this will compose the body of the function
-			body.push(value.call);
-		}
-
 		// with set_prop we don't need to do anything else, in all other cases we also need to
 		// append the element/node/anchor to the current active element or push it in the elements array
 		if (instruction.kind !== 'set_prop') {
-			if (elements_stack.length >= 1 && value) {
-				const { call } = map.insert(/** @type {Element} */ (elements_stack.at(-1)), value);
-				body.push(call);
-			} else if (value) {
-				elements.push(b.id(value.name));
+			if (elements_stack.length >= 1 && value !== undefined) {
+				map.insert(/** @type {Element} */ (elements_stack.at(-1)), value);
+			} else if (value !== undefined) {
+				elements.elements.push(value);
 			}
 			// keep track of the last created element (it will be pushed to the stack after the props are set)
 			if (instruction.kind === 'create_element') {
 				last_current_element = /** @type {Element} */ (value);
-				if (last_current_element.element === 'foreignObject') {
-					foreign_object_count++;
-				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	// every function needs to return a fragment so we create one and push all the elements there
-	const fragment = scope.generate('fragment');
-	body.push(b.var(fragment, b.call('document.createDocumentFragment')));
-	body.push(b.call(fragment + '.append', ...elements));
-	body.push(b.return(b.id(fragment)));
 
-	return b.arrow([], b.block(body));
+	return elements;
 }
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{ call: Statement, name: string, add_is: (value: string)=>void, namespaced: boolean; element: string; }} Element
+ * @typedef {ObjectExpression} Element
  */
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{ call: Statement, name: string }} Anchor
+ * @typedef {void | null | ArrayExpression} Anchor
  */
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{ call: Statement, name: string }} Text
+ * @typedef {void | Literal} Text
  */
 
 /**
@@ -161,109 +88,89 @@ export function template_to_functions(items, namespace) {
  */
 
 /**
- * @param {Scope} scope
- * @param {Namespace} namespace
  * @param {string} element
  * @returns {Element}
  */
-function create_element(scope, namespace, element) {
-	const name = scope.generate(element);
-	let fn = namespace != null ? 'document.createElementNS' : 'document.createElement';
-	let args = [b.literal(element)];
-	if (namespace != null) {
-		args.unshift(b.literal(namespace));
-	}
-	const call = b.var(name, b.call(fn, ...args));
-	/**
-	 * if there's an "is" attribute we can't just add it as a property, it needs to be
-	 * specified on creation like this `document.createElement('button', { is: 'my-button' })`
-	 *
-	 * Since the props are appended after the creation we change the generated call arguments and we push
-	 * the is attribute later on on `set_prop`
-	 * @param {string} value
-	 */
-	function add_is(value) {
-		/** @type {CallExpression} */ (call.declarations[0].init).arguments.push(
-			b.object([b.prop('init', b.literal('is'), b.literal(value))])
-		);
+function create_element(element) {
+	return b.object([b.prop('init', b.id('e'), b.literal(element))]);
+}
+
+/**
+ *
+ * @param {Element} element
+ * @param {string} name
+ * @param {Expression} init
+ * @returns {Property}
+ */
+function get_or_create_prop(element, name, init) {
+	let prop = element.properties.find(
+		(prop) => prop.type === 'Property' && /** @type {Identifier} */ (prop.key).name === name
+	);
+	if (!prop) {
+		prop = b.prop('init', b.id(name), init);
+		element.properties.push(prop);
 	}
-	return {
-		call,
-		name,
-		element,
-		add_is,
-		namespaced: namespace != null
-	};
+	return /** @type {Property} */ (prop);
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {Scope} scope
+ * @param {Element} element
  * @param {string} data
  * @returns {Anchor}
  */
-function create_anchor(scope, data = '') {
-	const name = scope.generate('comment');
-	return {
-		call: b.var(name, b.call('document.createComment', b.literal(data))),
-		name
-	};
+function create_anchor(element, data = '') {
+	if (!element) return data ? b.array([b.literal(data)]) : null;
+	const c = get_or_create_prop(element, 'c', b.array([]));
+	/** @type {ArrayExpression} */ (c.value).elements.push(data ? b.array([b.literal(data)]) : null);
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {Scope} scope
+ * @param {Element} element
  * @param {string} value
  * @returns {Text}
  */
-function create_text(scope, value) {
-	const name = scope.generate('text');
-	return {
-		call: b.var(name, b.call('document.createTextNode', b.literal(value))),
-		name
-	};
+function create_text(element, value) {
+	if (!element) return b.literal(value);
+	const c = get_or_create_prop(element, 'c', b.array([]));
+	/** @type {ArrayExpression} */ (c.value).elements.push(b.literal(value));
 }
 
 /**
  *
- * @param {Element} el
+ * @param {Element} element
  * @param {string} prop
  * @param {string} value
  */
-function set_prop(el, prop, value) {
-	// see comment above about the "is" attribute
+function set_prop(element, prop, value) {
+	const p = get_or_create_prop(element, 'p', b.object([]));
+
 	if (prop === 'is') {
-		el.add_is(value);
+		element.properties.push(b.prop('init', b.id(prop), b.literal(value)));
 		return;
 	}
 
-	const [namespace] = prop.split(':');
-	let fn = namespace !== prop ? '.setAttributeNS' : '.setAttribute';
-	let args = [b.literal(fix_attribute_casing(prop)), b.literal(value ?? '')];
+	const prop_correct_case = fix_attribute_casing(prop);
 
-	// attributes like `xlink:href` need to be set with the `xlink` namespace
-	if (namespace === 'xlink') {
-		args.unshift(b.literal('http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'));
-	}
+	const is_valid_id = regex_is_valid_identifier.test(prop_correct_case);
 
-	return {
-		call: b.call(el.name + fn, ...args)
-	};
+	/** @type {ObjectExpression} */ (p.value).properties.push(
+		b.prop(
+			'init',
+			(is_valid_id ? b.id : b.literal)(prop_correct_case),
+			b.literal(value),
+			!is_valid_id
+		)
+	);
 }
 
 /**
  *
- * @param {Element} el
- * @param {Node} child
- * @param {Node} [anchor]
+ * @param {Element} element
+ * @param {Element} child
  */
-function insert(el, child, anchor) {
-	return {
-		call: b.call(
-			// if we have a template element we need to push into it's content rather than the element itself
-			el.name + (el.element === 'template' ? '.content' : '') + '.insertBefore',
-			b.id(child.name),
-			b.id(anchor?.name ?? 'undefined')
-		)
-	};
+function insert(element, child) {
+	const c = get_or_create_prop(element, 'c', b.array([]));
+	/** @type {ArrayExpression} */ (c.value).elements.push(child);
 }
 
 let map = {
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js
index aae44d4b3989..97062f04e38d 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js
@@ -204,3 +204,44 @@ export function sibling(node, count = 1, is_text = false) {
 export function clear_text_content(node) {
 	node.textContent = '';
 }
+
+/**
+ *
+ * @param {string} tag
+ * @param {string} [namespace]
+ * @param {string} [is]
+ * @returns
+ */
+export function create_element(tag, namespace, is) {
+	let options = is ? { is } : undefined;
+	if (namespace) {
+		return document.createElementNS(namespace, tag, options);
+	}
+	return document.createElement(tag, options);
+}
+
+export function create_fragment() {
+	return document.createDocumentFragment();
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {string} data
+ * @returns
+ */
+export function create_comment(data = '') {
+	return document.createComment(data);
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {Element} element
+ * @param {string} key
+ * @param {string} value
+ * @returns
+ */
+export function set_attribute(element, key, value = '') {
+	if (key.startsWith('xlink:')) {
+		element.setAttributeNS('http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink', key, value);
+		return;
+	}
+	return element.setAttribute(key, value);
+}
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js
index bd4d60837d62..21fba1f5d909 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js
@@ -1,9 +1,22 @@
 /** @import { Effect, TemplateNode } from '#client' */
 import { hydrate_next, hydrate_node, hydrating, set_hydrate_node } from './hydration.js';
-import { create_text, get_first_child, is_firefox } from './operations.js';
+import {
+	create_text,
+	get_first_child,
+	is_firefox,
+	create_element,
+	create_fragment,
+	create_comment,
+	set_attribute
+} from './operations.js';
 import { create_fragment_from_html } from './reconciler.js';
 import { active_effect } from '../runtime.js';
-import { TEMPLATE_FRAGMENT, TEMPLATE_USE_IMPORT_NODE } from '../../../constants.js';
+import {
+	NAMESPACE_MATHML,
+	NAMESPACE_SVG,
+	TEMPLATE_FRAGMENT,
+	TEMPLATE_USE_IMPORT_NODE
+} from '../../../constants.js';
 
 /**
  * @param {TemplateNode} start
@@ -65,12 +78,75 @@ export function template(content, flags) {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {()=>(DocumentFragment | Node)} fn
+ * @typedef {{e: string, is?: string, p: Record<string, string>, c: Array<TemplateStructure>} | null | string | [string]} TemplateStructure
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @param {Array<TemplateStructure>} structure
+ * @param {'svg' | 'math'} [ns]
+ * @param {Array<string | undefined>} [namespace_stack]
+ */
+function structure_to_fragment(structure, ns, namespace_stack = [], foreign_object_count = 0) {
+	var fragment = create_fragment();
+	for (var i = 0; i < structure.length; i += 1) {
+		var item = structure[i];
+		if (item == null || Array.isArray(item)) {
+			const data = item ? item[0] : '';
+			fragment.append(create_comment(data));
+		} else if (typeof item === 'string') {
+			fragment.append(create_text(item));
+			continue;
+		} else {
+			let namespace =
+				foreign_object_count > 0
+					? undefined
+					: namespace_stack[namespace_stack.length - 1] ??
+						(ns
+							? ns === 'svg'
+								? NAMESPACE_SVG
+								: ns === 'math'
+									? NAMESPACE_MATHML
+									: undefined
+							: item.e === 'svg'
+								? NAMESPACE_SVG
+								: item.e === 'math'
+									? NAMESPACE_MATHML
+									: undefined);
+			if (namespace !== namespace_stack[namespace_stack.length - 1]) {
+				namespace_stack.push(namespace);
+			}
+			var element = create_element(item.e, namespace, item.is);
+
+			for (var key in item.p) {
+				set_attribute(element, key, item.p[key]);
+			}
+			if (item.c) {
+				(element.tagName === 'TEMPLATE'
+					? /** @type {HTMLTemplateElement} */ (element).content
+					: element
+				).append(
+					...structure_to_fragment(
+						item.c,
+						ns,
+						namespace_stack,
+						element.tagName === 'foreignObject' ? foreign_object_count + 1 : foreign_object_count
+					).childNodes
+				);
+			}
+			namespace_stack.pop();
+			fragment.append(element);
+		}
+	}
+	return fragment;
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {Array<TemplateStructure>} structure
  * @param {number} flags
  * @returns {() => Node | Node[]}
  */
 /*#__NO_SIDE_EFFECTS__*/
-export function template_fn(fn, flags) {
+export function template_fn(structure, flags) {
 	var is_fragment = (flags & TEMPLATE_FRAGMENT) !== 0;
 	var use_import_node = (flags & TEMPLATE_USE_IMPORT_NODE) !== 0;
 
@@ -84,7 +160,7 @@ export function template_fn(fn, flags) {
 		}
 
 		if (node === undefined) {
-			node = fn();
+			node = structure_to_fragment(structure);
 			if (!is_fragment) node = /** @type {Node} */ (get_first_child(node));
 		}
 
@@ -117,12 +193,12 @@ export function template_with_script(content, flags) {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {()=>(DocumentFragment | Node)} fn
+ * @param {Array<TemplateStructure>} structure
  * @param {number} flags
  * @returns {() => Node | Node[]}
  */ /*#__NO_SIDE_EFFECTS__*/
-export function template_with_script_fn(fn, flags) {
-	var templated_fn = template_fn(fn, flags);
+export function template_with_script_fn(structure, flags) {
+	var templated_fn = template_fn(structure, flags);
 	return () => run_scripts(/** @type {Element | DocumentFragment} */ (templated_fn()));
 }
 
@@ -182,13 +258,13 @@ export function ns_template(content, flags, ns = 'svg') {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {()=>(DocumentFragment | Node)} fn
+ * @param {Array<TemplateStructure>} structure
  * @param {number} flags
  * @param {'svg' | 'math'} ns
  * @returns {() => Node | Node[]}
  */
 /*#__NO_SIDE_EFFECTS__*/
-export function ns_template_fn(fn, flags, ns = 'svg') {
+export function ns_template_fn(structure, flags, ns = 'svg') {
 	var is_fragment = (flags & TEMPLATE_FRAGMENT) !== 0;
 
 	/** @type {Element | DocumentFragment} */
@@ -201,7 +277,7 @@ export function ns_template_fn(fn, flags, ns = 'svg') {
 		}
 
 		if (!node) {
-			var fragment = /** @type {DocumentFragment} */ (fn());
+			var fragment = structure_to_fragment(structure, ns);
 
 			if (is_fragment) {
 				node = document.createDocumentFragment();
@@ -240,13 +316,13 @@ export function svg_template_with_script(content, flags) {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {()=>(DocumentFragment | Node)} fn
+ * @param {Array<TemplateStructure>} structure
  * @param {number} flags
  * @returns {() => Node | Node[]}
  */
 /*#__NO_SIDE_EFFECTS__*/
-export function svg_template_with_script_fn(fn, flags) {
-	var templated_fn = ns_template_fn(fn, flags);
+export function svg_template_with_script_fn(structure, flags) {
+	var templated_fn = ns_template_fn(structure, flags);
 	return () => run_scripts(/** @type {Element | DocumentFragment} */ (templated_fn()));
 }
 
@@ -261,13 +337,13 @@ export function mathml_template(content, flags) {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {()=>(DocumentFragment | Node)} fn
+ * @param {Array<TemplateStructure>} structure
  * @param {number} flags
  * @returns {() => Node | Node[]}
  */
 /*#__NO_SIDE_EFFECTS__*/
-export function mathml_template_fn(fn, flags) {
-	return ns_template_fn(fn, flags, 'math');
+export function mathml_template_fn(structure, flags) {
+	return ns_template_fn(structure, flags, 'math');
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/await-block-scope/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/await-block-scope/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
index 262454e9c329..44b0cd1557aa 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/await-block-scope/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/await-block-scope/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
@@ -5,23 +5,7 @@ function increment(_, counter) {
 	counter.count += 1;
 }
 
-var root = $.template_fn(
-	() => {
-		var button = document.createElement('button');
-		var text = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		button.insertBefore(text, undefined)
-
-		var text_1 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var comment = document.createComment('');
-		var text_2 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-		fragment.append(button, text_1, comment, text_2)
-		return fragment;
-	},
-	1
-);
+var root = $.template_fn([{ e: 'button', c: [' '] }, ' ', , ' '], 1);
 
 export default function Await_block_scope($$anchor) {
 	let counter = $.proxy({ count: 0 });
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/bind-component-snippet/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/bind-component-snippet/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
index 8c15aa74ba1f..e06c3bbf6bc8 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/bind-component-snippet/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/bind-component-snippet/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
@@ -10,18 +10,7 @@ const snippet = ($$anchor) => {
 	$.append($$anchor, text);
 };
 
-var root = $.template_fn(
-	() => {
-		var comment = document.createComment('');
-		var comment_1 = document.createComment('');
-		var text = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-		fragment.append(comment, comment_1, text)
-		return fragment;
-	},
-	1
-);
+var root = $.template_fn([,, ' '], 1);
 
 export default function Bind_component_snippet($$anchor) {
 	let value = $.state('');
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/dynamic-attributes-casing/_expected/client-functional/main.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/dynamic-attributes-casing/_expected/client-functional/main.svelte.js
index c05184f1f82a..6bf2d77a00bd 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/dynamic-attributes-casing/_expected/client-functional/main.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/dynamic-attributes-casing/_expected/client-functional/main.svelte.js
@@ -2,23 +2,19 @@ import 'svelte/internal/disclose-version';
 import * as $ from 'svelte/internal/client';
 
 var root = $.template_fn(
-	() => {
-		var div = document.createElement('div');
-		var text = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var svg = document.createElementNS('http://www.w3.org/2000/svg', 'svg');
-		var text_1 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var custom_element = document.createElement('custom-element');
-		var text_2 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var div_1 = document.createElement('div');
-		var text_3 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var svg_1 = document.createElementNS('http://www.w3.org/2000/svg', 'svg');
-		var text_4 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var custom_element_1 = document.createElement('custom-element');
-		var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-		fragment.append(div, text, svg, text_1, custom_element, text_2, div_1, text_3, svg_1, text_4, custom_element_1)
-		return fragment;
-	},
+	[
+		{ e: 'div' },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'svg' },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'custom-element' },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'div' },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'svg' },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'custom-element' }
+	],
 	3
 );
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hello-world/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hello-world/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
index 5f55a12c20c1..3cc49718838f 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hello-world/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hello-world/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
@@ -2,17 +2,7 @@ import 'svelte/internal/disclose-version';
 import 'svelte/internal/flags/legacy';
 import * as $ from 'svelte/internal/client';
 
-var root = $.template_fn(() => {
-	var h1 = document.createElement('h1');
-	var text = document.createTextNode('hello world');
-
-	h1.insertBefore(text, undefined)
-
-	var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-	fragment.append(h1)
-	return fragment;
-});
+var root = $.template_fn([{ e: 'h1', c: ['hello world'] }]);
 
 export default function Hello_world($$anchor) {
 	var h1 = root();
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hmr/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hmr/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
index 6196ed18bbd8..d5bb01474cf9 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hmr/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hmr/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
@@ -2,17 +2,7 @@ import 'svelte/internal/disclose-version';
 import 'svelte/internal/flags/legacy';
 import * as $ from 'svelte/internal/client';
 
-var root = $.template_fn(() => {
-	var h1 = document.createElement('h1');
-	var text = document.createTextNode('hello world');
-
-	h1.insertBefore(text, undefined)
-
-	var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-	fragment.append(h1)
-	return fragment;
-});
+var root = $.template_fn([{ e: 'h1', c: ['hello world'] }]);
 
 function Hmr($$anchor) {
 	var h1 = root();
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/nullish-coallescence-omittance/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/nullish-coallescence-omittance/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
index 6b48b03635c5..3a2d0ecaa29e 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/nullish-coallescence-omittance/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/nullish-coallescence-omittance/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
@@ -4,23 +4,15 @@ import * as $ from 'svelte/internal/client';
 var on_click = (_, count) => $.update(count);
 
 var root = $.template_fn(
-	() => {
-		var h1 = document.createElement('h1');
-		var text = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var b = document.createElement('b');
-		var text_1 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var button = document.createElement('button');
-		var text_2 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		button.insertBefore(text_2, undefined)
-
-		var text_3 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var h1_1 = document.createElement('h1');
-		var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-		fragment.append(h1, text, b, text_1, button, text_3, h1_1)
-		return fragment;
-	},
+	[
+		{ e: 'h1' },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'b' },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'button', c: [' '] },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'h1' }
+	],
 	1
 );
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/purity/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/purity/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
index 409a0d93aa49..d6de4ff4d04f 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/purity/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/purity/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
@@ -2,20 +2,7 @@ import 'svelte/internal/disclose-version';
 import 'svelte/internal/flags/legacy';
 import * as $ from 'svelte/internal/client';
 
-var root = $.template_fn(
-	() => {
-		var p = document.createElement('p');
-		var text = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var p_1 = document.createElement('p');
-		var text_1 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var comment = document.createComment('');
-		var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-		fragment.append(p, text, p_1, text_1, comment)
-		return fragment;
-	},
-	1
-);
+var root = $.template_fn([{ e: 'p' }, ' ', { e: 'p' }, ' ', ,], 1);
 
 export default function Purity($$anchor) {
 	var fragment = root();
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/skip-static-subtree/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/skip-static-subtree/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
index 8023738996ba..b838acb2d6c8 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/skip-static-subtree/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/skip-static-subtree/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
@@ -2,238 +2,94 @@ import 'svelte/internal/disclose-version';
 import * as $ from 'svelte/internal/client';
 
 var root = $.template_fn(
-	() => {
-		var header = document.createElement('header');
-		var nav = document.createElement('nav');
-
-		header.insertBefore(nav, undefined)
-
-		var a = document.createElement('a');
-
-		nav.insertBefore(a, undefined)
-		a.setAttribute('href', '/')
-
-		var text = document.createTextNode('Home');
-
-		a.insertBefore(text, undefined)
-
-		var text_1 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		nav.insertBefore(text_1, undefined)
-
-		var a_1 = document.createElement('a');
-
-		nav.insertBefore(a_1, undefined)
-		a_1.setAttribute('href', '/away')
-
-		var text_2 = document.createTextNode('Away');
-
-		a_1.insertBefore(text_2, undefined)
-
-		var text_3 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var main = document.createElement('main');
-		var h1 = document.createElement('h1');
-
-		main.insertBefore(h1, undefined)
-
-		var text_4 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		h1.insertBefore(text_4, undefined)
-
-		var text_5 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_5, undefined)
-
-		var div = document.createElement('div');
-
-		main.insertBefore(div, undefined)
-		div.setAttribute('class', 'static')
-
-		var p = document.createElement('p');
-
-		div.insertBefore(p, undefined)
-
-		var text_6 = document.createTextNode('we don\'t need to traverse these nodes');
-
-		p.insertBefore(text_6, undefined)
-
-		var text_7 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_7, undefined)
-
-		var p_1 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_1, undefined)
-
-		var text_8 = document.createTextNode('or');
-
-		p_1.insertBefore(text_8, undefined)
-
-		var text_9 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_9, undefined)
-
-		var p_2 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_2, undefined)
-
-		var text_10 = document.createTextNode('these');
-
-		p_2.insertBefore(text_10, undefined)
-
-		var text_11 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_11, undefined)
-
-		var p_3 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_3, undefined)
-
-		var text_12 = document.createTextNode('ones');
-
-		p_3.insertBefore(text_12, undefined)
-
-		var text_13 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_13, undefined)
-
-		var comment = document.createComment('');
-
-		main.insertBefore(comment, undefined)
-
-		var text_14 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_14, undefined)
-
-		var p_4 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_4, undefined)
-
-		var text_15 = document.createTextNode('these');
-
-		p_4.insertBefore(text_15, undefined)
-
-		var text_16 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_16, undefined)
-
-		var p_5 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_5, undefined)
-
-		var text_17 = document.createTextNode('trailing');
-
-		p_5.insertBefore(text_17, undefined)
-
-		var text_18 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_18, undefined)
-
-		var p_6 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_6, undefined)
-
-		var text_19 = document.createTextNode('nodes');
-
-		p_6.insertBefore(text_19, undefined)
-
-		var text_20 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_20, undefined)
-
-		var p_7 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_7, undefined)
-
-		var text_21 = document.createTextNode('can');
-
-		p_7.insertBefore(text_21, undefined)
-
-		var text_22 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_22, undefined)
-
-		var p_8 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_8, undefined)
-
-		var text_23 = document.createTextNode('be');
-
-		p_8.insertBefore(text_23, undefined)
-
-		var text_24 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_24, undefined)
-
-		var p_9 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_9, undefined)
-
-		var text_25 = document.createTextNode('completely');
-
-		p_9.insertBefore(text_25, undefined)
-
-		var text_26 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-		main.insertBefore(text_26, undefined)
-
-		var p_10 = document.createElement('p');
-
-		main.insertBefore(p_10, undefined)
-
-		var text_27 = document.createTextNode('ignored');
-
-		p_10.insertBefore(text_27, undefined)
-
-		var text_28 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var cant_skip = document.createElement('cant-skip');
-		var custom_elements = document.createElement('custom-elements');
-
-		cant_skip.insertBefore(custom_elements, undefined)
-
-		var text_29 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var div_1 = document.createElement('div');
-		var input = document.createElement('input');
-
-		div_1.insertBefore(input, undefined)
-
-		var text_30 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var div_2 = document.createElement('div');
-		var source = document.createElement('source');
-
-		div_2.insertBefore(source, undefined)
-
-		var text_31 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var select = document.createElement('select');
-		var option = document.createElement('option');
-
-		select.insertBefore(option, undefined)
-
-		var text_32 = document.createTextNode('a');
-
-		option.insertBefore(text_32, undefined)
-
-		var text_33 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var img = document.createElement('img');
-
-		img.setAttribute('src', '...')
-		img.setAttribute('alt', '')
-		img.setAttribute('loading', 'lazy')
-
-		var text_34 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var div_3 = document.createElement('div');
-		var img_1 = document.createElement('img');
-
-		div_3.insertBefore(img_1, undefined)
-		img_1.setAttribute('src', '...')
-		img_1.setAttribute('alt', '')
-		img_1.setAttribute('loading', 'lazy')
-
-		var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-		fragment.append(header, text_3, main, text_28, cant_skip, text_29, div_1, text_30, div_2, text_31, select, text_33, img, text_34, div_3)
-		return fragment;
-	},
+	[
+		{
+			e: 'header',
+			c: [
+				{
+					e: 'nav',
+					c: [
+						{ e: 'a', p: { href: '/' }, c: ['Home'] },
+						' ',
+						{
+							e: 'a',
+							p: { href: '/away' },
+							c: ['Away']
+						}
+					]
+				}
+			]
+		},
+		' ',
+		{
+			e: 'main',
+			c: [
+				{ e: 'h1', c: [' '] },
+				' ',
+				{
+					e: 'div',
+					p: { class: 'static' },
+					c: [
+						{
+							e: 'p',
+							c: ['we don\'t need to traverse these nodes']
+						}
+					]
+				},
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['or'] },
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['these'] },
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['ones'] },
+				' ',
+				,
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['these'] },
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['trailing'] },
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['nodes'] },
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['can'] },
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['be'] },
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['completely'] },
+				' ',
+				{ e: 'p', c: ['ignored'] }
+			]
+		},
+		' ',
+		{
+			e: 'cant-skip',
+			c: [{ e: 'custom-elements' }]
+		},
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'div', c: [{ e: 'input' }] },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'div', c: [{ e: 'source' }] },
+		' ',
+		{
+			e: 'select',
+			c: [{ e: 'option', c: ['a'] }]
+		},
+		' ',
+		{
+			e: 'img',
+			p: { src: '...', alt: '', loading: 'lazy' }
+		},
+		' ',
+		{
+			e: 'div',
+			c: [
+				{
+					e: 'img',
+					p: { src: '...', alt: '', loading: 'lazy' }
+				}
+			]
+		}
+	],
 	3
 );
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/state-proxy-literal/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/state-proxy-literal/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
index 4247dcfda3f5..2be761b88dc8 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/state-proxy-literal/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/state-proxy-literal/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
@@ -9,21 +9,13 @@ function reset(_, str, tpl) {
 }
 
 var root = $.template_fn(
-	() => {
-		var input = document.createElement('input');
-		var text = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var input_1 = document.createElement('input');
-		var text_1 = document.createTextNode(' ');
-		var button = document.createElement('button');
-		var text_2 = document.createTextNode('reset');
-
-		button.insertBefore(text_2, undefined)
-
-		var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-		fragment.append(input, text, input_1, text_1, button)
-		return fragment;
-	},
+	[
+		{ e: 'input' },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'input' },
+		' ',
+		{ e: 'button', c: ['reset'] }
+	],
 	1
 );
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/text-nodes-deriveds/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/text-nodes-deriveds/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
index 5163dc350967..9176f1ab92cc 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/text-nodes-deriveds/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/text-nodes-deriveds/_expected/client-functional/index.svelte.js
@@ -1,17 +1,7 @@
 import 'svelte/internal/disclose-version';
 import * as $ from 'svelte/internal/client';
 
-var root = $.template_fn(() => {
-	var p = document.createElement('p');
-	var text = document.createTextNode(' ');
-
-	p.insertBefore(text, undefined)
-
-	var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-
-	fragment.append(p)
-	return fragment;
-});
+var root = $.template_fn([{ e: 'p', c: [' '] }]);
 
 export default function Text_nodes_deriveds($$anchor) {
 	let count1 = 0;