AEM: Showcasing Dynamic Content

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is widely used for building high‑performance, content‑driven websites where caching via Dispatcher and CDN plays a crucial role. However, not all content is static in nature. Use cases like user‑specific data, frequently changing widgets, real‑time notifications, or externally driven content require dynamic rendering strategies.

This article explores three commonly used approaches to showcase dynamic content in AEM, explaining how each works, where it fits best, and the trade‑offs involved.

1. Sling Dynamic Include (SDI)

What is Sling Dynamic Include?

Sling Dynamic Include (SDI) is an AEM feature that allows specific components on an otherwise cacheable page to be rendered dynamically at request time. Instead of rendering the component during page generation, AEM replaces it with a placeholder. The actual content is then fetched separately when the page is requested.

This is typically achieved using ESI (Edge Side Includes) or JavaScript‑based includes, depending on the infrastructure.

How it Works (High Level)

1. Page is cached at Dispatcher/CDN level.
2. SDI‑enabled components are replaced with include markers.
3. At request time, the dynamic fragment is fetched and injected.

Common Use Cases

• Personalized headers or user‑specific widgets
• Login status or profile‑based components
• Frequently updated sections like notifications or alerts

Pros

• Allows full page caching while supporting dynamic sections
• Minimal impact on authoring experience
• Native AEM‑supported approach
• Works well with ESI‑capable CDNs

Cons

• Requires additional infrastructure configuration (ESI or JS includes)
• Increased request count per page
• Debugging and tracing can be more complex
• Limited flexibility for highly interactive UI logic

2. Custom Frontend‑Based Logic

What is Frontend‑Driven Dynamic Rendering?

In this approach, the main AEM page is fully cached and delivered as static HTML. Specific sections are left empty or contain placeholders. JavaScript running in the browser fetches dynamic data from APIs and populates the UI after page load.

This method is commonly used in SPA‑like experiences or when integrating with third‑party services.

How it Works

1. Dispatcher/CDN serves cached HTML.
2. JavaScript executes on the client side.
3. Dynamic content is fetched via REST/GraphQL APIs.
4. DOM is updated dynamically.

Common Use Cases

• Live pricing or stock availability
• User‑specific dashboards
• Third‑party integrations (recommendations, ads, analytics)

Pros

• Excellent cache efficiency (entire page cacheable)
• Highly flexible UI behavior
• Decouples backend content from frontend rendering
• Ideal for headless or hybrid AEM setups

Cons

• SEO challenges if not handled carefully (especially for critical content)
• Dependency on JavaScript execution
• Additional frontend complexity
• Potential performance impact on low‑end devices

3. Custom Backend Approach with Cache Invalidation

What is Backend‑Driven Dynamic Content with Cache Clearing?

In this approach, dynamic content is rendered server‑side, but the page is still cached aggressively. Whenever the underlying dynamic data changes, the corresponding page cache is explicitly invalidated at the Dispatcher and/or CDN level.

Instead of avoiding caching, this model embraces caching and ensures freshness by smart invalidation.

This approach is explained in detail in our related article: Caching for Dispatcher & CDN with Dynamic AEM Data

How it Works

1. Page is rendered with dynamic content and cached.
2. Data changes trigger a backend event or workflow.
3. Dispatcher/CDN cache for affected pages is cleared.
4. Next request regenerates fresh content.

Common Use Cases

• Content‑driven dynamic updates
• Product or offer changes
• Editorially controlled dynamic sections

Pros

• Full server‑side rendering (SEO‑friendly)
• No client‑side rendering dependency
• Better control over content consistency
• Works well for editorial workflows

Cons

• Cache invalidation logic can be complex
• Risk of over‑invalidating cache
• Requires careful mapping between data and pages
• Slight delay until cache is refreshed

Choosing the Right Approach

There is no single “best” approach. The choice depends on:

• Frequency of data change
• SEO requirements
• Personalization needs
• Infrastructure capabilities
• Team skill set (frontend vs backend)

Conclusion

AEM offers multiple ways to handle dynamic content while still benefiting from aggressive caching strategies. Sling Dynamic Include, frontend‑driven rendering, and backend cache invalidation each solve different problems.

Understanding the nature of your dynamic data and performance requirements is key to selecting the right solution. In many real‑world AEM implementations, a hybrid approach combining two or more of these strategies delivers the best results.