Knowledge Base

Sitecore: Introduction to Data and Components

KB06003011 78 Views Updated 17-Feb-2025

Sitecore allows users to create relationships between content and components. Content can be shared and updated across multiple pages. Feel free to review the Glossary of Terms if needed.

Site Data

The site's Data folder contains components that are in use throughout the site such as the site's header and footer. Below are some examples of frequently used sitewide components and best practices for updates.

To find your site's data folder, click the dropdown on your site, and click the dropdown next to the Data folder.

Sitecore starter site content tree

Update the footer links

For more information, please visit the Introduction to Data and Components article.

Open the Footer > Main Footer. Footer links are in a two-column layout - choose which column you'd like your link to appear by selecting either the Left Links or Right Links folder within the content tree.
Sitecore starter site content tree

To modify an existing link 

Click the link to modify the item name, URL, link text, and aria label text as needed. Publish as usual. 

To create a new link

  1. Right-click on your chosen column folder and hover over Insert > Link. Name your link. 
  2. Fill out your link attributes. You should adhere to the same guidelines for creating links as you would in the Content Editor. More information can be found in the How to Create Links section of the Navigating the Content Editor article.
  3. Publish as usual.

To remove a link

  1. Mark the item as unpublishable. 
    • Click the Publish tab in the ribbon.
    • Click Change.
    • Click Item.
    • Un-check unpublishable.
    • Click okay, and publish as usual before moving on to the next step.
  2. Right-click the item and click Delete

Update the header links

Navigate to your site's header by clicking New General Header in the Data folder. This is where you can manage header navigation links and change the text of your site's wordmark.

Editing the site's navigation links

Managing your site's header links works roughly the same way as managing the footer links. One exception is the usage of dropdown submenus.

Main Navigation

Under Site Header > Navigation Section, either find or create your Navigation Links. This will create top-level Navigation Links that appear as one line in the main header.

Subnavigation

If you have multiple items to organize under one heading, you can create submenus. Right-click Navigation Section, and Insert > Navigation Tab. You can fill out the information for your top-level links and/or headings.

If you have a page for the heading, paste the link. If there is no page and you want your users to hover over the heading to see multiple subitems, enter the # symbol. Publish as usual.

Sitecore link field

Editing the site wordmark

A wordmark is a text-based logo. Click on a wordmark and enter your site name in the Site WordMark field. Save and publish as usual.

Page Data

Each page will also have its own data folder, collapsed under the page name as Page Data. This is where data for the page's components can be added and updated. This is especially common for components that display multiple pieces of content, such as callout tiles or banner slides.


Each component will have its own data fields, but the general process for updating Page Data is the same. See below for two use case walkthroughs for Page Data.

Add Components

When adding components, you will often be prompted to add or edit a data source.

Sitecore field for adding a datasource

  1. Click Add Associated Content.

    Adding associated content in Sitecore

  2. Expand your page, and click on Page Data. Click Create, and provide a name for your datasource. From here, you can add content to your page components as needed. Content fields differ by component.
Helpful?