AEM Interview Questions

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) has risen to the top of the list as one of the most in-demand skills in the area of digital experience management. If you are a new graduate wanting to kick-start your career in AEM development, or you are an experienced professional trying to advance in enterprise-grade web content management, knowing AEM is a requirement. This set of AEM Interview Questions 2025 is a great way of preparing for your next interview in AEM development.

By the end of this guide, you will have a clear understanding of AEM’s architecture, components, workflows, and headless capabilities, along with practical strategies to ace your next AEM developer interview.

Table of Content:

• Fundamental AEM Interview Questions
• Core Concepts AEM Interview Questions
• Content & Development AEM Interview Questions
• AEM Management & Operations Interview Questions
• Intermediate AEM Interview Questions
• Advanced AEM Interview Questions
• Scenario-Based AEM Interview Questions
• Practical & Best Practices AEM Interview Questions

Fundamental AEM Interview Questions

1. What is AEM (Adobe Experience Manager)?

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is an enterprise-level solution that allows organizations to create and manage digital content and assets on websites, mobile apps, and forms. You can think of it as a central place where all your content exists and is easy to work with, organize, publish, and optimize- all in one space.

AEM is not a traditional CMS; it provides not only a space to store content, but also digital marketing and personalization tools so that organizations are capable of delivering personalized experiences for their users across multiple channels.

2. Is AEM easy to use?

The ease of use of AEM highly depends on your background. For content authors, AEM offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that simplifies page creation. Developers, however, may face a learning curve due to Sling, OSGi, and JCR concepts.

3. Which programming languages are used in AEM?

Java is the main backend development language used in AEM, which is facilitated through the JCR repository and OSGi services. On the front-end, you will utilize HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and HTL (formerly called Sightly). Additionally, for some projects, you may need some basis regarding frameworks like React or Angular when using AEM as a Headless CMS.

4. What are the skills required to work as an Adobe Experience Manager developer?

AEM development requires both technical and analytical skills. A strong Adobe Experience Manager developer should be familiar with Java, OSGi, Sling, HTL, and client-side technologies. Familiarity with workflows, replication, dispatcher configuration, and integration with third-party systems is also highly sought after. For those working with content, skills in creating pages, templates, components, and understanding basic SEO principles can also make an enormous difference. Equally important, but not always as obvious, is having the soft skill set to problem-solve and collaborate with others.

5. What is the future of AEM in digital experience management?

AEM’s future looks strong as enterprises increasingly prioritize personalized, omnichannel experiences. With cloud-native capabilities such as AEM as a Cloud Service, integrations with AI-enhanced tools, and support for headless environments, AEM is evolving along with today’s digital marketing landscape. For organizations that invest in AEM, a more efficient content workflow, better scalability, and enriched customer experiences are likely.

Core Concepts AEM Interview Questions

Understanding the building blocks of AEM is crucial for any interview. Here, we dive into AEM Core Concepts, including the Author and Publish instances, JCR, Sling, OSGi, Dispatcher, and headless CMS functionality. These Adobe Experience Manager interview questions form the foundation of AEM knowledge that interviewers often test.

6. Explain the AEM architecture and the roles of Author and Publish instances.

Think of AEM as having two “worlds.” The Author instance is like a newsroom; editors, marketers, and developers work here to create and update content. After the content goes through the approval process, it is published to the Publish instance, which represents the actual post or website your readers would see in person. After publishing comes the Dispatcher. A Dispatcher acts as a security guard while also acting as the delivery team for your content. After securing the website, it caches pages to serve users quickly. Separating publishing from authoring keeps the editing process secure while also allowing for scalability in AEM.

7. What is the JCR (Java Content Repository), and how does AEM store content?

At its core, AEM relies on the Java Content Repository (JCR) to store and retrieve content. Think of it as a tree-like data structure where everything, pages, images, documents, and even configurations, is stored as nodes and properties. This hierarchical system makes content retrieval fast and consistent, while also providing versioning and access control. JCR’s structure gives AEM the flexibility to manage complex enterprise-level content without sacrificing performance.

8. What is the Sling framework, and how does it map requests to content?

Sling is AEM’s web framework for handling requests. Unlike a traditional web framework that uses predetermined routes or controllers, Sling routes incoming URL requests directly to content stored in JCR nodes. For instance, if you request a page, Sling goes to the repository to identify the picture item and then determines which script (JSP, HTL, or Servlet) to use to render that picture. This approach enables developers to be extremely flexible, since the structure of content decides how requests are resolved.

9. What is OSGi, and how does it help manage services and components in AEM?

OSGi (Open Services Gateway initiative) is the modular framework that allows AEM to run in small, independent bundles. You can think of OSGi as a plugin system, where each bundle implements a specific service, such as logging, workflow handling, or replication. Since the bundles are loosely coupled, developers can change or restart a module without bringing the whole AEM environment down. Modularity helps with development time and allows AEM to be maintained and extended easily.

10. What is the Dispatcher, and how does it cache and deliver content?

The Dispatcher is AEM’s caching and load-balancing tool. Its primary role is to cache static content like HTML pages, images, and client libraries, so that requests don’t always hit the Publish instance. When a user visits a page, the Dispatcher serves it directly from the cache if it exists, making response times much faster. If the content changes, AEM automatically invalidates the cache so users always see the latest version. Additionally, the Dispatcher can filter requests, acting as a first line of defense against malicious traffic.

11. What are content fragment models, and how does AEM work as a headless CMS?

Content Fragment Models define the structure of reusable, channel-agnostic content in AEM. Instead of building full web pages, authors create fragments like product descriptions or blog content, which can then be delivered to any channel, websites, mobile apps, or IoT devices via APIs. This makes AEM function as a headless CMS, where content is separated from its presentation. With this approach, businesses can maintain a single source of truth for content while reusing it across multiple platforms.

Content & Development AEM Interview Questions

This section focuses on AEM content and development questions that are commonly asked in interviews. You’ll discover materials relating to components, templates, dialogs, Sling Models, HTL (Sightly), and client libraries, as well as extending or overriding components. This section is particularly useful for AEM developer interview preparation, as it links practical development knowledge to theoretical knowledge.

12. What are AEM components, and what are the different types?

In AEM, components can be thought of as the building blocks of a web page. They dictate functionality and allow content authors to add or edit content without writing a single line of code. They can broadly be classified into:

• Core Components: Ready-to-use, best-practice-driven components provided by Adobe (e.g., text, image, carousel).
• Custom Components: Tailored components created by developers to meet unique business needs.

13. How do you create a new component in AEM?

When creating a new component, you normally start by making a folder under /apps/your-project/components/. Next, you add a .content.xml file, set up the component’s dialog for authoring, and write rendering logic in HTL, JSP, or optionally in Java. Once everything is registered, the new component is selectable in your author environment, where content editors will be able to drag the new component onto a page. This process is technical; however, the goal is to make content authoring as simple as possible and increase scalability.

14. What is a template in AEM, and what is the difference between static and editable templates?

In AEM, a template acts as a blueprint for pages in AEM.

• Static templates are predefined and fixed. Developers decide which components go where, and authors have minimal flexibility.
• Editable templates, introduced in the newer versions of AEM, enable authors to design layouts by simply dragging and dropping components into placeholder regions. Editable templates give non-technical teams more control over the design and are preferred in most modern projects.

15. What is a dialog in AEM, and how do you create custom dialogs?

Dialogs serve as the interface that enables authors to configure a component. For example, consider an image component; the dialog that comes with the image component might enable the author to upload a file, add alt text, or set sizing options for the image. You can create a custom dialog by defining fields in XML under a node in the component’s cq:dialog. Alternatively, you can leverage Granite UI elements under the component’s cq:dialog node. When you have created a dialog for a component, it ensures the reusability of components while providing authors with the appropriate freedom to configure content specific to their needs.

16. What are Sling Models, and how do they map JCR content to Java objects?

Sling Models are Java classes that provide simplified access to JCR data. Instead of writing boilerplate code to read node properties, you use the @Inject annotation on your fields, automatically mapping your repository data into Java objects. For example, you can access a title property stored in a node by simply referencing it in your component logic. This results in cleaner, testable, maintainable code.

17. What is HTL (Sightly), and why is it preferred over JSP?

HTL, an abbreviation for HTML Template Language (also known as Sightly), is the templating system of choice for AEM. As opposed to JSP, which uses a mixture of Java code and markup, HTL encourages the separation of logic and presentation, which ultimately minimizes security risks such as XSS vulnerabilities while also allowing templates to be easier to read and maintain. Developers manage backend logic, and Authors work with far cleaner and readable templates.

18. What are client libraries (Clientlibs) and how are CSS/JS assets organized?

Clientlibs are AEM’s way of managing frontend assets like CSS and JavaScript. Instead of hardcoding links in templates, you group related files into client libraries using categories. These can then be referenced in components or templates, ensuring that only the required assets are loaded. This not only keeps projects organized but also improves performance through minification and caching.

19. How do you extend or override an existing component in AEM?

Extending or overriding components is common when you want to reuse functionality but tweak it for specific needs. Developers achieve this through overlaying (copying a component from /libs into /apps and modifying it) or by using sling:resourceSuperType, which allows inheritance from an existing component while customizing only the necessary parts. This approach avoids duplication and promotes maintainability.

AEM Management & Operations Interview Questions

A good AEM developer or administrator has a strong grasp of management and operations. The following AEM Interview questions cover workflows, replication, Multi-Site Manager (MSM), Digital Asset Management (DAM), versioning, and user permissions. Designed for the perfect Adobe Experience Manager Interview prep guide, this section ensures that you are ready for both content and operational challenges.

20. What are workflows, and how are they used to automate content publishing?

Workflows in AEM are process chains that automate repetitive tasks such as content reviews, approvals, or publishing. For example, before a blog post goes live, it might pass through a workflow where an editor approves the content, a designer checks visuals, and only then is it published. AEM provides out-of-the-box workflows but also lets you design custom ones through the Workflow Model editor, ensuring consistency and governance in content publishing.

21. What is replication, and how do you configure replication agents?

Replication is the process of moving content from the author instance to the publish instance, making it visible to end users. This is handled by replication agents, which act as bridges between environments. To configure them, you define agent settings under the tools console, specifying transport URLs, triggers, and authentication. A well-set replication setup ensures content flows smoothly, securely, and without delays.

22. What is the Multi-Site Manager (MSM), and how does it manage content for multiple brands?

The Multi-Site Manager is AEM’s solution for handling large-scale, multi-brand or multilingual websites. It allows you to create a master blueprint and roll out changes across different sites while still giving regional teams the ability to make localized edits. For instance, a global brand can maintain consistent design and structure while allowing country-specific teams to adjust content for their audiences. MSM reduces duplication and streamlines site management.

23. What is Digital Asset Management (DAM), and how does AEM handle images and assets?

AEM DAM is the central hub for managing media assets like images, videos, documents, and more. Assets can be stored, tagged with metadata, versioned, and reused across sites. DAM also supports image renditions, which automatically generate multiple formats (e.g., thumbnails, web, high-res) so assets are optimized for different devices. This integrated approach saves time, improves consistency, and ensures assets are easy to search and retrieve.

24. How does versioning work in AEM, and how do you perform rollbacks?

Every time content is modified and saved, AEM can keep a version snapshot. These snapshots act as a history of changes, allowing authors to compare versions or roll back to a previous state if needed. Rollbacks are typically done via the version history tab in the site’s console. This feature is critical in collaborative environments, as it provides a safety net against accidental changes or unwanted edits.

25. How do you manage user permissions and access control in AEM?

Permissions in AEM are handled through Access Control Lists (ACLs), which define who can read, modify, or publish content. Administrators assign permissions to groups or individual users, ensuring the principle of least privilege is followed. For example, content authors may have rights to edit pages but not to publish them, while administrators retain full access. Proper permission management safeguards content integrity and reduces security risks.

Intermediate AEM Interview Questions

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to tackle intermediate concepts. Here, we cover AEM Interview Questions for experienced developers, including Sling Servlets, custom OSGi services, Dispatcher optimization, third-party integrations, personalization with ContextHub, and multilingual content management. These questions are frequently asked in AEM developer interviews to test problem-solving and technical depth.

26. What is a Sling Servlet, and how do you register one?

A Sling Servlet in AEM is basically a Java class that processes an HTTP request. In contrast to a traditional servlet, which is tightly coupled to the URL mapping, Sling Servlets are coupled to a resource type, a selector, or an extension. To register a Sling Servlet, you provide an annotation such as @SlingServletPaths or @SlingServletResourceTypes, and AEM will automatically wire it into the request processing, providing a great deal of flexibility for exposing customized endpoints or back-end logic.

27. How do you create a custom OSGi service or configuration in AEM?

Creating a custom OSGi service typically involves writing a Java class and annotating it with @Component and @Service (using OSGi annotations). When this service is deployed, AEM recognizes it as an OSGi service and allows it to be injected into other parts of the application. Configuration is handled independently, either through the OSGi console (/system/console/configMgr) or by deploying configuration files directly through code. This provides a clean service that is reusable for application environments.

28. How do you optimize the Dispatcher and caching for better performance?

Dispatcher optimization is key to fast, reliable AEM websites. The most common strategies include defining proper caching rules so static pages are served quickly, invalidating caches only when necessary, and blocking unnecessary requests at the Dispatcher level. For example, you might cache HTML, JS, and CSS aggressively while leaving dynamic content uncached. Tuning caching headers and enabling load balancing across multiple publish instances further improves site responsiveness.

29. How do you integrate AEM with third-party systems like Salesforce or SAP?

Typically, integration with platforms such as Salesforce or SAP is accomplished through the use of REST APIs, SOAP services, or OSGi connectors. AEM can bridge to these platforms and either receive or push data using custom servlets, workflows, or Adobe’s built-in connectors. For example, Salesforce data could be used to populate AEM lead forms, or the SAP platform could be used to drive product catalog updates. It is also essential to thoughtfully address error handling, manage authentication (with OAuth, SAML, or basic auth), and consider caching strategies in order to achieve secure and performant integrations.

30. What is personalization in AEM, and how do you use ContextHub for targeted content?

AEM personalization provides websites with the ability to dynamically adjust content for different audiences. ContextHub, AEM’s client-side framework, can store contextual information, including location, device, and behaviors exhibited by users. Authors can then create segments and rules associated with those segments to serve personalized experiences. An example would be a travel website showing “beach holidays” to users when viewing from a region of colder weather. When ContextHub is combined with Adobe Target, personalization can be further scaled across campaigns.

31. How do you handle localization (i18n) and multilingual content in AEM?

AEM provides multilingual site functionality using its internationalization (i18n) framework and Multisite Manager (MSM). Developers leverage translation dictionaries and i18n APIs for static labels, while content can be promoted to language copies, allowing for language differences in different regions. The process can be expedited by integrations with machine translation services or human translation flows. The real benefit is that MSM is capable of maintaining a global blueprint while still giving local teams the flexibility to tailor the content to cultural expectations.

Advanced AEM Interview Questions

For senior roles, interviewers expect deep technical expertise. This section lists Advanced AEM Interview Questions, including performance optimization for high-traffic websites, headless CMS implementation using GraphQL or REST APIs, CI/CD pipelines, debugging, disaster recovery, and workflow optimization. These questions are aimed at experienced AEM developers preparing for technical interviews.

32. How do you optimize AEM performance for high-traffic websites?

Performance tuning in AEM is about reducing bottlenecks through the stack, on the authoring and delivery stages. On the publish tier, you would depend on the Dispatcher cache and set rules to stop rendering the same pages over and over again. At the repository tier, indexing the Oak repository is very important; if the indexes are poorly defined, that will slow query response times. Developers can often optimize components by minimizing the calls to Sling models and/or nested includes. Finally, there is a performance factor to infrastructure as well; sufficient heap size in the JVM, garbage collection tuning, and integration of a CDN will ensure the site can handle a spike in traffic without any disruptions.

33. How do you implement AEM as a Headless CMS using GraphQL or REST APIs?

In recent years, Adobe has invested heavily in headless capabilities, exposing content through either the out-of-the-box REST APIs, or with new GraphQL APIs that ship with AEM. GraphQL is typically preferred, as it allows for front-end applications to retrieve only the data they require, which reduces payload size and improves performance. To facilitate this, Content Fragment Models are defined, exposed and then queried from front-end applications that can leverage React, Angular, or even mobile apps. The beauty of this is that AEM authors have the ability to continue managing structured content, while front-end developers remain completely decoupled.

34. How do you set up CI/CD pipelines for AEM projects using Cloud Manager?

Adobe’s Cloud Manager provides a DevOps layer for AEM as a Cloud Service. A typical pipeline includes three phases:

• Code Quality Gates: Static code analysis is run automatically against Adobe’s quality rules to catch issues early.
• Build Phase: Code is built (Maven is the standard for AEM projects) and packaged for deployment.
• Deployment Phase: The system runs performance and security checks before pushing to staging and production.

Key Highlights

• Integrates directly with your Git repository.
• Ensures every release is predictable, secure, and stable.
• For on-prem AEM, similar CI/CD pipelines are usually built with Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab.

35. How do you debug issues in AEM, including logging and monitoring?

When issues arise in AEM, many developers look at the logs as a first place to investigate the problem. Common log files you may reference include:

• error.log for exceptions and stack traces
• request.log for incoming requests
• audit.log for system events

You can also change the log levels in real-time via the OSGi Console (/system/console/slinglog)

Runtime Monitoring

Aside from logs, teams use other monitoring tools. Adobe’s Managed Services dashboard, New Relic or Splunk will display system health in real time:

Deep-Dive Debugging

• Thread dumps/heap dumps → most useful for tracking down memory leaks or processes that have become unresponsive.
• CRX/DE Lite & Query Performance Tool → assist in troubleshooting poorly performing queries or broken components on the author side.

36. How do you ensure disaster recovery and high availability for AEM environments?

AEM high availability typically involves clustering and replication. Author environments may run in a cold-standby or active-active setup, while publish instances are scaled horizontally behind a load balancer. The repository itself (Oak) can be configured with MongoMK or Segment Tar storage for resilience. Disaster recovery plans often include frequent backups, offsite storage, and automated failover to a secondary region. On the cloud, Adobe handles much of this natively with AEM as a Cloud Service, but for on-prem setups, you’d script and document failover and recovery drills.

37. How do you optimize workflows for large-scale projects or teams?

Workflows in AEM can easily become a drag if they’re not designed carefully. For enterprise projects, it’s best to keep workflows lightweight and modular, and avoid heavy synchronous steps that block authors. Custom workflow steps should be efficient and rely on asynchronous job handling where possible. For teams spread across geographies, you might build workflows with branching logic; for example, region-specific approvals or brand-specific publishing paths. Monitoring is key: AEM provides tools to track workflow queues, and administrators should regularly clean stalled or orphaned workflow instances to prevent performance hits.

Scenario-Based AEM Interview Questions

Scenario-based questions challenge candidates to apply AEM knowledge in real-world situations. These AEM Interview Questions cover enterprise architecture design, complex MSM setups, integration with Adobe Analytics or Target, adaptive forms, responsive components, security practices, performance tuning, and custom workflow implementation. They are essential for Adobe Experience Manager interview prep for advanced roles.

38. How would you design an AEM architecture for a large enterprise website?

When planning AEM for a large-scale website, the goal is to build a system that is resilient, scalable, and easy to manage under heavy traffic. A typical setup balances content creation, delivery, and performance while integrating with other enterprise systems. Here’s how it usually looks:

• Three-tier setup: Author, Publish, Dispatcher/CDN
• Author tier: Manages content creation, workflows, and replication
• Publish tier: Multiple instances behind a load balancer to handle traffic
• Dispatcher/CDN: Caches pages, serves static content; CDN like Akamai or CloudFront improves global performance
• Scalability & Resilience: Horizontal scaling and disaster recovery planning
• Integrations: Connect with external systems like CRM and DAM
• Security & Monitoring: Built-in from day one
• CI/CD Pipelines: Automate deployments and quality checks

39. How do you handle complex Multi-Site Management (MSM) scenarios?

Multi-Site Manager (MSM) is ideal when you manage multiple brands, regions, or languages that share similar site structures. It helps streamline content creation while allowing local teams to customize where needed. Key points:

• Blueprints: Define the global “master” site as a template for all variations.
• Live Copies: Roll out regional or brand-specific versions while maintaining a connection to the blueprint.
• Inheritance vs. Flexibility: Break inheritance on selected components so local teams can make changes without waiting for global updates.
• Rollout Configurations: Use filters to ensure only relevant content cascades to specific sites.
• Efficiency: Reduces duplicate work and ensures consistent branding across regions.

40. How do you integrate AEM with Adobe Analytics or Adobe Target?

AEM works seamlessly with other Adobe Experience Cloud tools, allowing marketers to track and personalize experiences efficiently. Here’s how integration typically works:

• Adobe Launch & Extensions: Prebuilt connectors simplify setup for Analytics and Target.
• Analytics Integration: Tag components via Adobe Launch or include the analytics framework in client libraries (clientlibs).
• Target Integration: Use mbox or the newer at.js library to deliver A/B tests and personalized experiences.
• Authoring Experience: Authors can create activities directly in AEM and push them to Target for testing or personalization.
• Data Flow Advantage: Customer behavior tracked in Analytics can drive targeting rules in AEM.
• Non-Adobe Platforms: APIs and custom integrations can bridge gaps if you’re using third-party tools.

41. How do you implement adaptive forms and responsive components in AEM?

AEM Forms lets you create dynamic, device-friendly forms that adjust based on user input and screen size. Key points to know:

• Adaptive Forms: Built with drag-and-drop fields; they can dynamically show/hide fields, validate input, or prepopulate data using rule editors.
• Responsive Components: Typically use HTL templates with CSS grids or frameworks like Bootstrap to adjust layout across devices.
• Best Practices: Design fluid layouts that collapse gracefully on different screens instead of hardcoding breakpoints.
• Goal: Combine AEM’s adaptive features with responsive frameworks to create forms that are both user-friendly and mobile-ready.

42. How do you secure an AEM application against XSS, CSRF, SSO, and SSL vulnerabilities?

AEM follows a layered approach to security, combining built-in protections with configuration best practices. Key points:

• XSS Protection: Use HTL templates, which auto-escape variables, and always validate user inputs.
• CSRF Protection: Enable AEM’s token framework for POST requests to prevent cross-site request forgery.
• SSO Integration: Supports SAML or OAuth providers, allowing enterprise users to log in with corporate credentials.
• Encryption: SSL/TLS configured at the web server or dispatcher level ensures end-to-end traffic security.
• Ongoing Measures: Regular audits, permission reviews, and dispatcher filters help close potential security gaps.

43. How do you tune performance for both server-side and client-side bottlenecks?

Optimizing AEM performance requires attention to both server-side and client-side factors. Key strategies include:

Server-Side Optimization:

• Optimize queries and indexes in Oak for faster content retrieval.
• Minimize synchronous workflows that can block processing.
• Monitor OSGi services to prevent memory hogging.
• Fine-tune caching rules in the Dispatcher.

Client-Side Optimization:

• Bundle and minify client libraries (CSS, JS).
• Implement lazy loading for images and media.
• Use a CDN to reduce latency globally.
• Reduce HTTP requests and leverage HTTP/2 for faster delivery.

Profiling & Iteration: Use tools like Dynatrace or Chrome DevTools to identify bottlenecks and iteratively measure and improve performance.

44. How would you implement a custom workflow step that integrates with a third-party API?

Custom workflow steps let you extend AEM workflows to interact with external systems like CRMs, translation services, or approval tools. Here’s how it’s typically done:

• Implement WorkflowProcess: Create a Java class implementing the WorkflowProcess interface.
• Logic & Integration: Use HTTP clients (e.g., Apache HttpClient) to call external APIs, passing workflow metadata as payload.
• Error Handling: Include retries, logging, and error handling to handle API failures gracefully.
• Deployment: Deploy the custom step as an OSGi bundle.
• Workflow Modeler: Drag and drop the custom step into AEM’s workflow modeler like any standard workflow step.

45. How would you deliver personalized content to different channels using AEM Headless features?

This is where content fragments and GraphQL APIs become powerful. You model your structured content in AEM using Content Fragment Models, then expose them through GraphQL endpoints. Front-end apps, whether it’s a website, a mobile app, or even a smartwatch, fetch exactly the content they need. Personalization layers can then be applied using ContextHub or Adobe Target, so different users get different variants of the same content. For example, a logged-in customer in India might see a different product banner than a first-time visitor in the U.S. The separation of content from presentation ensures personalization can be consistent across all digital touchpoints.

Practical & Best Practices AEM Interview Questions

Having knowledge of the AEM theory is not sufficient; interviewers are looking for practical knowledge and best practices. This section contains Practical AEM Interview Questions covering project structure, component/template best practices, DAM management and workflow optimization, Dispatcher configuration, and UI selections. These questions are applicable to both AEM developers and architects and show the interviewers that you can successfully apply AEM skills in an efficient fashion.

46. How should an AEM project be structured for maintainability?

A manageable AEM project will typically follow the structure built on a Maven archetype. Code and configuration are separated into clear modules, with core for backend logic, ui.apps for components, ui.content for example content and templates, and dispatcher for cache rules. Modularity eases team collaboration and minimizes the chance that a business logic module gets combined with a content module. And if you add some naming conventions for your files and folders, along with documentation and version control, your project will remain cleaner over time.

47. What are best practices for component and template development?

Keep components small, reusable, and loosely coupled. A component should only do one thing well and not be designed to handle several use cases. Use Sling Models to develop the backend logic instead of scriptlets and HTL (Sightly) as opposed to JSP to lessen security vulnerabilities. For templates, editable templates are preferable to static templates because they allow authors to add components dynamically without requiring a developer to be involved. The golden rule is to be flexible, but don’t overengineer.

48. How do you manage large volumes of assets in DAM efficiently?

When working with many thousands of assets, it is critically important to be organized and efficient. The best interface between assets is metadata. Tag assets with the same metadata where possible for fast searching. AEM’s Smart Tags and AI-driven metadata extraction can be really helpful here. Folder structures should be built with business context in mind, not developer convenience. Workflows should be used for rendering and image processing jobs to minimize manual jobs. If the number of assets is truly substantial, then AEM should be integrated with a CDN for faster global delivery in any location.

49. How do you implement and optimize custom workflows in AEM?

Start simple: design workflows using the visual editor, then add custom steps only where automation is needed (like API calls or asset processing). Avoid putting heavy logic directly inside workflows, as this can slow down the system. Instead, offload heavy tasks to external services when possible. To optimize, monitor workflow queues regularly, and archive or purge completed workflows to prevent the repository from bloating. A well-tuned workflow system improves efficiency without turning into a bottleneck.

50. How do you configure Dispatcher caching for optimal performance?

Dispatcher works best when you set granular cache rules. Cache static assets like images, CSS, and JS aggressively, while excluding dynamic or personalized pages. Use cache invalidation rules so that publishing new content automatically refreshes only the relevant cache entries, not the entire site. Pair this with a CDN to handle peak traffic efficiently. Fine-tuning Dispatcher filters to block unnecessary requests also helps with security and performance.

51. What are the differences between Touch UI and Classic UI, and when should you use each?

Classic UI is the older ExtJS-based interface, while Touch UI is the modern, Granite-based interface optimized for touch devices. Adobe has been phasing out Classic UI, so Touch UI is now the default and preferred option. That said, some legacy projects still use Classic UI because of custom dialogs or author familiarity. The general best practice: use Touch UI for new projects to stay future-proof, but maintain Classic UI only if the client’s workflows demand it.

Conclusion

Mastering these AEM Interview Questions will give you the confidence to excel in interviews and thrive as an Adobe Experience Manager developer. Familiarity with AEM as a Cloud Service and AEM Headless CMS ensures you’re ready for modern digital experience challenges and real-world projects.