FA-0693Software DevelopmentMainframe & Enterprise Systems

Sitecore XP API Development

Items, search, services and integration in Sitecore Experience Platform

Introduction

Why this course

This two-day course introduces API-based customisation of Sitecore Experience Platform for developers who already know its basic components. Participants work with item operations, search queries and service integration in a prepared XP development environment.

The course distinguishes server-side APIs from REST services and reviews security, debugging and maintainability. It is scoped to Sitecore XP rather than assuming interchangeable APIs across Sitecore cloud products.

Learning outcomes

Explain the XP components relevant to content, experience data and integration.
Use a prepared development environment to inspect and debug selected API calls.
Perform selected item and field operations using the appropriate Sitecore API.
Query an index through ContentSearch and explain indexing and caching considerations.
Consume or extend a selected service with authentication and authorisation controls.
Describe integration, pipeline and event-handler patterns and their operational limitations.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Sitecore XP and its components.
Proficiency in C# and .NET framework.
Familiarity with web development concepts, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and RESTful APIs.
Experience with Visual Studio or similar development environments.
Basic understanding of SQL Server and database management.

An authorised, licensed XP lab matching the chosen product version and dependencies is required.

Training outline

4 modules

01Day 1 — XP architecture and development setup3 topics

Overview of Sitecore Experience Platform (XP)
Key features and benefits of Sitecore XP
Understanding the Sitecore Architecture
- Content Management Layer
- Experience Database (xDB)
- Marketing Automation and Personalization
- Integration with Third-Party Systems

Prepared development environment

Inspect a prepared Sitecore XP installation and its version-specific prerequisites
Sitecore Installation Framework where applicable to the chosen XP deployment
Configuring Sitecore for Development
- Visual Studio Setup
- Sitecore Development Tools and Extensions
- Debugging and Testing in Sitecore XP

02Day 1 — API choices and item operations3 topics

Introduction to Sitecore APIs
- Item API
- ContentSearch API
- Sitecore.Services.Client, including ItemService and EntityService roles
Understanding the Role of APIs in Sitecore Development
Use Cases for Sitecore APIs in Custom Development

Item operations

Introduction to the Item API
- Retrieving and Manipulating Sitecore Items
- Understanding the Sitecore Data Structure
Creating, Updating, and Deleting Items Programmatically
Working with Templates, Fields, and Layouts via API
Advanced Item API Operations
- Sitecore query syntax and appropriate item-retrieval methods
- Handling Media Items Programmatically

03Day 2 — ContentSearch and indexing3 topics

Introduction to the ContentSearch API
- Overview of Sitecore Search Architecture
- Configuring Indexes and Search Providers
Querying the Sitecore Index
- LINQ Queries with ContentSearch API
- Full-Text Search and Faceted Search
Optimizing Search Performance
- Indexing Strategies
- Caching and Scaling Search Operations

04Day 2 — Services, security and integration3 topics

Sitecore.Services.Client and selected REST service use cases
- RESTful Services in Sitecore
- Use Cases for Sitecore Service API
Creating and Consuming RESTful Services in Sitecore
- Authentication, authorisation and HTTPS; requests operate within configured policies and user context
- Handling API Requests and Responses
Extending Sitecore Functionality with Custom Services
- Creating Custom Endpoints
- Integrating External Services

External systems and extension points

Connecting Sitecore with Third-Party Systems
- External Data Integration via API
- Synchronizing Content and Data
Extending Sitecore with Custom Pipelines and Events
- Understanding Sitecore Pipelines
- Creating and Hooking into Custom Pipelines
- Managing Events and Event Handlers

Validate selected calls and failure responses in the lab; review permissions, logging and supported APIs before production use.

A programme built around your team.

Share your training goals and requirements.