Best Practices for Developing with Umbraco CMS

Boost Umbraco CMS projects with best practices for structure, security, performance, and editor experience in scalable web development.

Share on Linkedin Share on WhatsApp

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Article image Best Practices for Developing with Umbraco CMS

Introduction
Umbraco CMS has gained significant traction among web professionals for its flexibility, scalability, and user-friendly content management features. For web developers aiming to deliver robust solutions, understanding best practices when working with Umbraco ensures high-quality, maintainable, and future-proof projects.

1. Structuring Your Document Types Wisely
Document Types are at the heart of Umbraco’s content schema. When designing these, strive for modularity and reusability. Avoid oversized document types with redundant properties. Instead, use compositions and inheritance to share properties across different content types. This approach promotes consistency, simplifies updates, and keeps your content model organized.

2. Embrace Version Control and Deployments
Treat your Umbraco website as a software project. Use source control systems to manage your custom code, configuration, and schema definitions (using tools like Umbraco Deploy or uSync). This practice not only facilitates teamwork but also brings agility and rollback capabilities in deployments.

3. Keep the Backoffice User-Friendly
Consider the content editors’ experience throughout the design. Use clear naming conventions, group similar properties, and provide helpful descriptions. Setting up intuitive content structures improves productivity and reduces onboarding time for editors.

4. Follow Secure Coding Standards
Security is paramount in content management systems. For custom code, always sanitize user inputs and manage permissions judiciously through Umbraco’s user and content permissions. Keep both Umbraco and third-party packages up to date to mitigate vulnerabilities, and always back up before major changes.

5. Optimize for Performance
Leverage Umbraco’s built-in caching mechanisms and avoid over-fetching data in Razor views or API endpoints. For larger sites, consider output caching and implement scheduled content/publish/recycle bin cleanups. Profile your site regularly to identify and resolve bottlenecks.

6. Effective Package Management
Umbraco has a vibrant ecosystem of packages. Choose reputable, well-maintained plugins for desired features. Avoid over-installing packages to prevent bloat and compatibility issues. Test all updates in a staging environment before rolling out to production.

Conclusion
Developing with Umbraco CMS offers both power and flexibility, but adhering to best practices is essential for long-term project health. By keeping your content model clean, following secure and performant coding strategies, and offering a thoughtful editor experience, your Umbraco projects will delight both end-users and stakeholders.

Introduction to HTML: Building the Backbone of the Web

Learn HTML basics and start building websites with structure, content, and essential web development skills.

Semantic HTML: Enhancing Structure and Meaning on the Web

Learn how semantic HTML improves accessibility, SEO, and maintainability, making web content more structured and meaningful.

Automating Reports in Microsoft Access: Streamlining Business Operations

Automate reports in Microsoft Access with macros, VBA, and scheduling to save time, reduce errors, and streamline business operations.

Building Custom Forms in Microsoft Access: Enhancing Data Entry Efficiency

Learn how to build custom forms in Microsoft Access to simplify data entry, improve accuracy, and enhance database efficiency with step-by-step guidance.

Introduction to Microsoft Access: Unleashing the Power of Database Management

Discover Microsoft Access, a powerful database tool for managing, analyzing, and automating data with ease. Learn its features, benefits, and common uses.

Relational Database Design Best Practices in Microsoft Access

Learn the best practices for relational database design in Microsoft Access to build scalable, reliable, and user-friendly systems.

Breaking Down Responsive Mobile Design: Best Practices for Seamless Experiences

Learn best practices for responsive mobile design to create seamless, user-friendly experiences across devices, with tips, tools, and common pitfalls to avoid.

A Deep Dive Into Multithreading Performance: Tuning and Pitfalls in Python, Ruby, Java, and C

Explore multithreading performance tuning, pitfalls, and best practices in Python, Ruby, Java, and C to build efficient, robust concurrent applications.

+ 9 million
students

Free and Valid
Certificate

60 thousand free
exercises

4.8/5 rating in
app stores

Free courses in
video and ebooks