In today’s fast-evolving digital experience landscape, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) stands out as a powerful content management solution for building highly personalized websites and digital assets. A key feature that makes AEM so flexible and developer-friendly is its component-based architecture. Learning how to create custom AEM components is essential for delivering tailored content and enhancing user experience.
In this article, we’ll walk through the process of AEM component creation, its benefits, and how you can master this skill to become a proficient AEM developer.
What is an AEM Component?
In AEM, components are reusable units of content and functionality. These may include simple text fields, image holders, or complex integrations like product carousels or custom forms. Components can be dragged and dropped into pages by content authors, allowing for easy page building and content management without developer intervention.
Why Learn Custom AEM Component Development?
While AEM offers many out-of-the-box (OOTB) components, custom components allow organizations to:
- Meet specific business needs
- Integrate with third-party APIs or internal systems
- Deliver consistent branding and design patterns
- Provide editors with tailored functionality
Want to Learn AEM Development the Right Way?
If you’re serious about becoming an AEM developer, mastering component creation is just the beginning. Whether you’re new to AEM or looking to enhance your existing skills, CourseDrill offers industry-recognized AEM Training designed by certified professionals. Get hands-on experience with real-time projects, understand component lifecycle in depth, and learn to build enterprise-grade AEM applications from scratch.
Key Steps in Creating a Custom AEM Component
Here’s a simplified breakdown of how to create a custom component in AEM:
1. Set Up the Component Structure
Create a new folder under /apps/your-project/components/ and add the component’s files:
- .html or .jsp file for rendering
- .content.xml for component configuration
- Dialog files for the authoring interface
2. Create Dialogs
Dialogs define what authors can configure (text, images, links, etc.). Use the Touch UI (cq:dialog) or Classic UI (dialog.xml) depending on your AEM version.
xml
CopyEdit
<dialog xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/ns/widgets”>
<items jcr:primaryType=”nt:unstructured”>
<text jcr:primaryType=”nt:unstructured”
sling:resourceType=”granite/ui/components/coral/foundation/form/textfield”
fieldLabel=”Title”
name=”./title”/>
</items>
</dialog>
3. Implement Business Logic
Use Sightly (HTL) or JSP in your component’s HTML file to fetch and display content based on the dialog input.
html
CopyEdit
<h2>${properties.title}</h2>
4. Configure Component in Page Templates
Once created, include your component in editable templates or page policies to make it available to content authors.
5. Test the Component
Drag your component into a page and verify that:
- Author dialog works properly
- Data is stored in the JCR
- Output renders correctly on the page
Best Practices
- Follow the naming conventions and organize components clearly under /apps
- Use HTL (Sightly) over JSP for cleaner and more secure code
- Avoid hardcoding values—use design dialogs and policies where needed
- Reuse components by abstracting functionality into proxy components
Final Thoughts
Creating custom AEM components unlocks the real potential of Adobe Experience Manager. It empowers organizations to deliver unique digital experiences while giving content authors the flexibility to manage content with ease. Start learning today, build smarter components, and stand out as an expert in the AEM ecosystem.
