Compare the ways to build with AEM Sites

The following table provides a high-level comparison of the three paths. It focuses on the content authoring and experience delivery nuances of each path.

Traditional SitesEdge Delivery ServicesHeadless / API-First
Authoring ToolsPage EditorDocument-based authoring, Universal EditorContent Fragments, Universal Editor
Authored Content StoreAEM Author (JCR)Documents or AEM Author (JCR)AEM Author (JCR)
DeliveryAEM Publish (w/ Adobe CDN + Dispatcher)Edge Delivery ServicesAEM Publish (w/ Adobe CDN + Dispatcher)
Delivery Content StoreAEM Publish (JCR)Edge Delivery ServicesAEM Publish (JCR)
Delivery FormatHTMLHTMLJSON
Development TechnologyJava™, JavaScript, CSSJavaScript, CSSAny (e.g. Swift, React, etc.)

Tutorials

Learn about each of the three paths to build with AEM Sites through the following tutorials:

Traditional Sites - WKND Tutorial

Learn how to build a sample AEM Sites project using the WKND tutorial. This guide walks you through project setup, Core Components, Editable Templates, client-side libraries, and component development.

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Edge Delivery Services - Guides

Explore Edge Delivery Services with comprehensive guides. The Build, Publish, and Launch guides cover everything you need to get started with EDS.

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Headless/API-First - Tutorials

Learn how to build headless applications powered by AEM content. Tutorials cover frameworks like iOS, Android™, and React—choose what fits your stack.

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