A content repository or content store is a database of digital content with an associated set of data management, search and access methods allowing application-independent access to the content, rather like a digital library, but with the ability to store and modify content in addition to searching and retrieving. The content repository acts as the storage engine for a larger application such as a content management system or a document management system, which adds a user interface on top of the repository's application programming interface.

Advantages provided by repositories

• Common rules for data access allow many applications to work with the same content without interrupting the data.

• They give out signals when changes happen, letting other applications using the repository know that something has been modified, which enables collaborative data management.

• Developers can deal with data using programs that are more compatible with the desktop programming environment.

• The data model is scriptable when users use a content repository.

Content repository features

A content repository may provide functionality such as:

• Add/edit/delete content

• Hierarchy and sort order management

• Query / search

• Versioning

• Access control

• Import / export

• Locking

• Life-cycle management

• Retention and holding / records management

Examples

• Apache Jackrabbit

• ModeShape

Applications

• Content management

• Document management

• Digital asset management

• Records management

• Revision control

• Social collaboration

• Web content management

Standards and specification

• Content repository API for Java

• WebDAV

• Content Management Interoperability Services

See also

• Information repository

• Content (media)

References

External links

• DB-Engines Ranking of Content Stores by popularity, updated monthly