What is the main purpose of a view template in Revit?

The main purpose of a view template in Revit is to ensure uniformity across multiple views. View templates allow designers to define and apply specific settings for the visibility, graphic display, and other properties of views. When a view template is applied to different views, it standardizes their presentation, ensuring that all views maintain a consistent appearance. This is especially useful in large projects where many views need to display similar settings for clarity and cohesion in documentation, reducing the likelihood of inconsistencies.

While locking view properties for categories can be a function of view templates, it is secondary to the primary goal of maintaining uniformity. Hiding elements from a view is different from the comprehensive oversight provided by view templates, which addresses broader settings. Creating 3D visualizations is also not the primary function of view templates, as this is typically achieved through specific tools and features within Revit. Thus, the focus on uniformity is the key reason for using view templates effectively in architectural design workflows.