Hi @caesarwo
AEM (Adobe Experience Manager) Templates and Live Copy are distinct features with different purposes in AEM's content management system. Here's a breakdown of the differences:
1. AEM Templates
Templates are used to define the structure and layout of a page in AEM. They act as a blueprint for creating pages.
Key Characteristics:
- Purpose: Templates are used to control the look and feel of pages and define allowed components, layouts, and configurations.
- Creation: Developers typically create templates using editable or static approaches.
- Editable Templates: Allow authors to modify structure and policies via the template editor.
- Static Templates: Hardcoded templates that require developer intervention to update.
- Usage: Authors use templates to create new pages or content. For instance, a homepage template might have a hero banner, navigation, and footer predefined.
- Customization: Templates do not inherit content but control the base structure for pages.
Example Use Case:
- A "Product Page" template might include placeholders for a product image, description, and reviews. Authors can create individual product pages from this template.
2. AEM Live Copy
Live Copy is used for content duplication/replication and synchronization across different pages or sites. It allows you to reuse content while maintaining a relationship with the source.
Key Characteristics:
- Purpose: Facilitates content replication and localization while maintaining updates from the source content.
- Creation: Created from a source page or site using the Blueprint feature.
- Inheritance: Content in a Live Copy inherits from the source page. Changes in the source can be synchronized to Live Copies, though authors can break inheritance for specific elements.
- Customization: Live Copies allow flexibility to localize content while maintaining the option to pull updates from the original source.
Example Use Case:
- A company with global sites might create a source page in English and use Live Copy to create versions for regional sites in different languages. Updates to the source content can propagate to the regional pages, maintaining consistency.
Key Differences
| Aspect |
AEM Templates |
AEM Live Copy |
| Purpose |
Define page structure and layout |
Reuse and synchronize content across pages or sites |
| Creation Context |
Used during page creation |
Created from existing pages/sites (source) |
| Inheritance |
No inheritance of content; defines structure |
Inherits content from the source, with optional synchronization |
| Editable by Authors |
Modifiable via template editor (editable templates) |
Content can be localized or modified while maintaining links to source |
| Primary Use |
Control design and allowed components |
Content reuse, localization, and synchronization |
When to Use Which?
- Templates: Use when you want to define how a page looks and behaves. Templates are ideal for establishing consistent layouts and branding.
- Live Copy: Use when you need to replicate existing content across multiple locations while maintaining the ability to update content centrally.
By understanding their roles, you can leverage templates for consistency in structure and Live Copy for effective content distribution and management.