Core Concepts
SharePoint Architecture
- Site Collections - Top-level sites with shared settings
- Sites & Subsites - Hierarchical structure
- Lists & Libraries - Data storage containers
- Content Types - Reusable content definitions
- Site Columns - Reusable field definitions
- Permissions - Security and access control
Development Approaches
- SPFx - SharePoint Framework (modern)
- Add-ins - SharePoint-hosted and provider-hosted apps
- Web Parts - Custom UI components
- Extensions - Application customizers, field customizers
- REST API - RESTful web services
- CSOM - Client-Side Object Model
Content Management
- Document Management - Version control, check-in/out
- Metadata - Columns and managed metadata
- Search - Enterprise search capabilities
- Workflows - Business process automation
- Information Management - Retention and policies
- Records Management - Compliance and governance
Best Practices
Site Architecture
- Use hub sites for site association
- Implement flat site structure (avoid deep subsites)
- Use modern sites over classic
- Apply consistent branding and theming
- Use site templates for standardization
- Implement proper governance
Content Organization
- Use content types for consistency
- Apply metadata for better findability
- Implement managed metadata for taxonomy
- Use document sets for related documents
- Configure version control appropriately
- Set up retention and disposal policies
Development Standards
- Follow SPFx development guidelines
- Use PnP libraries for common operations
- Implement proper error handling
- Use TypeScript for type safety
- Test in dev/test before production
- Document custom solutions
Performance Optimization
- Minimize REST API calls
- Use batch operations for multiple requests
- Implement caching strategies
- Optimize views and queries
- Use indexed columns for large lists
- Avoid client-side heavy operations
Anti-Patterns
Architecture Issues
- Deep site hierarchy (more than 2-3 levels)
- Over-customization of out-of-box features
- Using classic sites for new development
- Inconsistent information architecture
- No governance or naming conventions
- Mixed modern and classic experiences
Development Problems
- Using JSOM in new solutions (use REST or PnP)
- Hard-coding site URLs
- No error handling
- Synchronous operations blocking UI
- Direct DOM manipulation
- Missing responsive design
Content Management Issues
- Using folders instead of metadata
- Not leveraging content types
- Poor metadata strategy
- No retention policies
- Inadequate permissions structure
- Missing backup strategy
Reference Documentation
Detailed material lives alongside this skill and is read on demand:
- Implementation Examples — SPFx Web Part with React, PnP PowerShell Provisioning, REST API Operations (JavaScript)
Resources
Official Documentation
- SharePoint Documentation - Complete guide
- SPFx Documentation - Framework guide
- REST API Reference - API docs
- PnP Documentation - Patterns and practices
Learning Platforms
- Microsoft Learn SharePoint - Training modules
- SharePoint Dev Center - Developer resources
- SharePoint Community - Forums
- YouTube SharePoint Channel - Video tutorials
Tools & Resources
- PnP PowerShell - Automation cmdlets
- PnP JS - JavaScript library
- SPFx Yeoman Generator - Project scaffolding
- SharePoint Online Management Shell - PowerShell module
Community Resources
- PnP GitHub - Sample code and libraries
- SharePoint StackExchange - Q&A community
- SharePoint User Group - Local meetups
- M365 PnP Community - Weekly calls and demos