Core Service

The Core Service is a remote API that lets implementers interact with Content Manager from any custom third-party application or graphical user interface. It is the recommended interface to Content Manager.

The Core Service is a web service that allows applications to interact with Content Manager. For example, Content Manager clients such as Experience Manager and Content Manager Explorer interact with Content Manager through the Core Service, and you can use the Core Service to integrate external systems with SDL Tridion Sites. You also use the Core Service to implement Automatic Activities to control Workflow.

As a SOAP-based web service, Core Service supports Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) transport and message security. WCF supports interoperability with standard web service clients built on Java platforms. It supports WS-I Basic Profile 1.1, as well as more advanced WS-* protocols.

While website management is one of the important goals of content management, many organizations also need to use content in a variety of ways. For example, product descriptions often need to be present in a catalog system, an ERP system and on a website. Core Service provides a very flexible mechanism to integrate with enterprise applications in order to import, manage and publish content originating from those systems.

SDL Tridion Sites integrates with existing enterprise applications in the following two ways:
Real-time front-end integration
This is needed when Content Manager content is displayed together with content retrieved from enterprise applications, such as stock quotes or order status information.
Managed back-end integration
In some scenarios, organizations route content through Content Manager and enrich the content with metadata or multimedia content that other enterprise applications cannot handle. The ownership of this content remains inside the catalog or ERP system (where pricing and stock information is also maintained), while SDL Tridion Sites can enrich the content and provide content management processes.