Page building

Pages on the website are built using a set of standard layouts and components. These components help create pages that are consistent, accessible and easy to use across devices.

Choose components based on the purpose of the content—not simply on how a component looks. Before adding a component, consider what the user needs to do and which format will make that task easiest.

Most pages should be built using the Flex Layout – Internal Page template.
Use another page template only when the content requires a specialized page type, such as an article page, document page, or another approved purpose-built template.
The Flex Layout – Internal Page should be your starting point for ordinary informational pages, program pages, service pages and other internal site content.

Start with the user's task

Organize pages around what users are trying to find, understand or do. Important tasks and information should appear early on the page.

Use components to make information easier to navigate. Do not add components simply to create visual variety.

Keep page structure simple

Use a clear heading hierarchy and group related information together. Avoid using multiple complex or interactive components when a simpler page structure would communicate the information just as effectively.

Use consistent patterns

When similar information appears in multiple places, use the same type of component whenever possible. Consistent patterns help users understand what information is available and how to interact with it.

Design for all screen sizes

Components adjust for smaller screens, but editors should still consider how content will work on mobile devices.

Keep headings and link labels concise. Avoid layouts that rely on users seeing several columns at the same time.

How Tridion pages are built

Tridion separates the webpage itself from the content that appears on it.

Think of it this way:

Page = where the webpage lives and the overall page structure
Flex Row Configuration = how a section of the page is laid out
General Content component = the actual heading, text, links and other content displayed within that section

Tridion components are reusable pieces of content based on schemas. Pages bring those components together and determine how they are presented.

For most pages, you will primarily work with:

Flex Layout – Internal Pages
Flex Row Configuration components
General Content components

Before you build the page

Before creating anything in Tridion, look at the content you need to publish and divide it into logical sections.

Do not think of the page as one long document.
Instead, think of it as a series of content chunks.

As a general rule, if a section needs its own heading, create a new General Content component. This makes content easier to:

organize
move and rearrange
reuse
maintain
place into Flex Rows
convert to other components or layouts later

It also encourages editors to think about the structure and hierarchy of the page instead of treating Tridion like a word processor.

Avoid:

Do not create one very large General Content component containing an entire webpage with many headings and sections unless there is a specific reason to do so.

For example, content like this:

Apply for services

Paragraphs about applying...

Who is eligible

Paragraphs about eligibility...

What you need to apply

Paragraphs about required documents...

should normally become three separate General Content components, not one General Content component containing three headings.