An Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) template is a foundational component used to create pages within AEM Sites. It provides a predefined structure or layout for the content, enabling consistent design and efficient content creation across a website or app.
AEM Templates play a crucial role in establishing the layout and design of a page. They allow for the consistent application of branding and design elements across multiple pages, ensuring uniformity and coherence throughout a digital experience.
Types of AEM Templates
AEM offers two types of templates: static and editable.
Static Templates: These are the traditional templates that have been used in AEM since its early versions. They are defined and managed by developers.
Editable Templates: These templates provide more flexibility and control to content authors, allowing them to adjust the layout and design of pages without needing developer intervention.
Static Templates Vs. Editable Templates
AEM provides two types of templates to choose from: static and editable templates. Each has its own advantages and characteristics, which we will explore next.
| Static Template | Editable Template | |
| Description | Traditional, hard-coded by developers. Any change requires developer intervention | Flexible, can be created and modified by authors |
| Flexibility | Low – Changes aren’t easily made without developer involvement | High – Easily modified by authors without developer intervention |
| User Dependency | High (developer) – Changes and updates require developer skills | Low (developer) – Authors can make changes without needing a developer |
| Supports Responsive Design | No – Adapting to different device screens must be manually coded by developers | Yes – They natively support responsive design for adaptation across devices |
| Reusability | Limited – The rigid structure can make reusability challenging | High – Polices and layout containers can be reused across various pages |
| Requires Developer Skill | Yes – Creation and modification require developer skills | No – Can be created and modified by authors without coding skills |
Static Templates
Static templates have been around since the early versions of AEM. They are designed and hard-coded by developers, and any change to them requires developer intervention. While they offer less flexibility, they are still widely used due to their stability and predictability.
Editable Templates
Editable templates, introduced in AEM 6.2, provide a higher degree of flexibility. They can be created, edited, and managed by authors without the need for a developer. These templates support responsive design, ensuring your content looks good on any device. They also allow for easy reusability across various pages.
Benefits of Using AEM Templates
Using AEM Templates brings several benefits. First, they ensure consistency in design and layout across a site, leading to a more cohesive user experience. Second, they streamline the page creation process, as content authors can quickly create pages with a predefined structure. Finally, with editable templates, content authors have more control and flexibility, reducing dependence on developers for layout changes.
Choosing the Right Template
The choice between static and editable templates depends on the specific requirements and constraints of your project. If you need a rigid, predictable structure and have developer resources on hand, a static template might be the best choice. However, if you require a flexible layout that can be easily modified by authors and supports responsive design, an editable template would be more appropriate.
Conclusion
In the world of AEM, templates are indeed a key element. They serve as the foundation for creating, designing, and managing your digital content. Whether you choose a static template for its predictability or an editable template for its flexibility, understanding AEM templates is crucial to effectively leverage the capabilities of Adobe Experience Manager.
