how Umbraco CMS works out of the box in version 8 - FadiZahhar/umbraco8showandtell GitHub Wiki

Here’s a clear explanation of how Umbraco CMS works out of the box in version 8—ideal if you’re new to the platform or want to explain its core workflow to others.

How Umbraco 8 CMS Works Out of the Box

Umbraco is a flexible, open-source content management system for building websites and digital solutions on .NET. Out of the box, Umbraco provides a ready-to-use structure for both content editors and developers.

Key Concepts

1. Backoffice

  • The admin interface where editors and developers manage everything.

  • Accessed via /umbraco (e.g., yourdomain.com/umbraco).

  • Clean, modern UI for content management, media, members, and settings.

2. Document Types

  • Blueprints for content.

  • Define the structure and fields (properties) for each kind of content—think of them as templates for your pages (e.g., Home, News Article, Product).

  • Set up using the Backoffice with a drag-and-drop field editor.

3. Content Tree

  • The heart of Umbraco: a hierarchical tree structure of all your website’s pages.

  • Each node in the tree is an instance of a Document Type (e.g., a page or a content block).

  • Editors add, arrange, publish, or unpublish nodes/pages here.

4. Templates (Views)

  • Define how your content is rendered as HTML.

  • Built using Razor (.cshtml files), stored in the /Views folder.

  • Tied to Document Types so that each content type knows which template to use.

5. Media Library

  • A built-in file manager for images, documents, and videos.

  • Accessible from the Backoffice, referenced in content via pickers.

6. Members (User Management)

  • Umbraco supports registered front-end users (“Members”) and admin users (“Users” for Backoffice).

  • Out-of-the-box support for login, roles, and permissions for both.

7. Content Publishing Workflow

  • Draft, Save, Preview, and Publish content.

  • “Unpublish” content to remove it from the public site without deleting it.

8. Multilingual Support

  • Built-in “Variants” feature for managing multiple languages per content node.

  • Editors can switch between languages and manage translations side by side.

Basic Workflow Out of the Box

  1. Install Umbraco 8 (either locally or via a host).

  2. Access the Backoffice and log in as an administrator.

  3. Define Document Types for each kind of page or content block you need.

  4. Create Templates for how your pages should look.

  5. Build Your Content Tree by adding pages/nodes using the Document Types.

  6. Upload and manage Media files in the Media Library.

  7. Add/Edit Content using simple editors for text, images, dates, etc.

  8. Preview and Publish your changes to see them live on your website.

  9. Manage Users/Members for permissions and access.

  10. Add More Functionality by installing packages, creating custom code, or using built-in features.

Typical Editor Experience

  • Open the Backoffice, go to the Content section.

  • Click a node in the content tree (e.g., Home page).

  • Fill in fields (headline, body, images, etc.), preview, then publish.

  • Changes appear instantly (or after approval, if you have workflows set up).

Typical Developer Experience

  • Define Document Types in Backoffice or via code.

  • Build Razor templates for each page type.

  • Extend with custom controllers, data sources, or integrations as needed.

  • Use Visual Studio for advanced customization (APIs, scheduled tasks, etc.).

Diagram: Umbraco 8 Workflow

+-----------------+       +-------------------+        +----------------------+
| Define Document | ----> | Create Content    | -----> | Render via Template  |
| Types           |       | Tree Nodes        |        | (.cshtml + Razor)    |
+-----------------+       +-------------------+        +----------------------+
           \                              /                   |
            \                            /                    |
           +-----------------------------+             +-------------+
           |    Media Library (images,   | <---------  |  Output:    |
           |    files, videos)           |             |  Website    |
           +-----------------------------+             +-------------+

Summary Table: Core Out-of-the-Box Features

Feature Description
Content Tree Organize all pages/content in a hierarchical structure
Document Types Define content structures (fields, validations)
Templates Razor-based views for HTML output
Media Library File and image manager
Members/Users User and member management for editing & site logins
Multilingual Support “Variants” for managing multiple languages
Content Apps Small dashboard apps for content insights (analytics, etc.)
Packages Add extra features (forms, SEO tools, etc.) via the marketplace

In short:
Umbraco 8 out of the box gives you a modern CMS with a strong separation between content structure (Document Types), actual content (Content Tree), and presentation (Templates). Editors manage content in a simple UI, developers have full power to customize and extend as needed.

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