Top 10 AEM Best Practices for Developers | adobe AEM

 Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a powerful platform for building enterprise-level websites and managing content. To get the most out of AEM, developers need to follow best practices that ensure high performance, scalability, and maintainability. Here are the top 10 AEM best practices every developer should know.

Top 10 AEM Best Practices for Developers

1. Plan Your Component Development

Before you start coding, define the purpose and scope of each component. Create a consistent naming convention and ensure reusability to avoid duplication

2. Use Editable Templates

Leverage AEM’s editable templates to empower authors to create content with flexibility. Avoid static templates unless there is a compelling reason.

3. Follow HTL (Sightly) Standards

HTL (HTML Template Language) is the recommended scripting language in AEM. It ensures clean and secure code, separating logic from markup. Avoid using JSP for new projects.

4. Optimize Dispatcher Configuration

The dispatcher acts as a caching and load balancing tool. Properly configure it to cache static assets and reduce server load. Test your configuration to avoid caching issues.

5. Implement Version Control

Use Git or another version control system to track changes and collaborate with your team effectively. Follow branching strategies like GitFlow for organized development.

6. Adopt Component-Based Development

Break down your UI into small, reusable components. This approach improves maintainability and ensures consistency across pages.

7. Test Your Code Thoroughly

Use testing tools like JUnit for backend logic and Jest or Cypress for front-end testing. Regularly test your AEM workflows and dispatcher configurations.

8. Optimize DAM Asset Management

Organize Digital Asset Management (DAM) assets in a clear folder structure. Use metadata schemas for efficient search and retrieval. Compress large images to improve page load times.

9. Enable Caching and Lazy Loading

Use caching mechanisms to enhance performance. Implement lazy loading for images and videos to improve initial page load times.

10. Keep Up with Security Best Practices

Protect your AEM environment by implementing SSL, user access controls, and regularly updating to the latest AEM version. Follow Adobe’s security guidelines to safeguard your content.

Conclusion

By following these best practices, AEM developers can deliver high-quality, scalable, and secure websites. Whether you’re building new components or optimizing existing workflows, these tips will help you maximize AEM’s potential.

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