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dotCMS

dotCMS/core

Java-based headless content management system with visual page editing, multi-tenancy, REST and GraphQL APIs, and built-in search and vector retrieval for AI.

Open-source alternative to:ContentfulAdobe Experience ManagerSitecore

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What is it?

dotCMS is a content management system designed for enterprise teams. It supports headless delivery through REST and GraphQL APIs, and it also offers visual page editing that works for both server-side rendered pages and single-page applications. A single instance can host multiple sites in multiple languages, from microsites to intranets and knowledge centers.

Content and assets are indexed in Elasticsearch for real-time and facet-based search. The system can also vectorize content to support semantic search, which suits chatbots and knowledge base applications. Other built-in features include custom content workflows, roles and permissions, personalization rules, A/B testing, static and push publishing, and an OSGi-based plugin architecture.

dotCMS can run as a Docker image, be self-hosted, or be used as a cloud product. The repository also documents release tracks, which are floating Docker tags such as latest, standard and trailing that let deployments choose how fresh a release they receive.

Key features

  • 01Visual page editing for both headless and server-side rendered content.
  • 02REST and GraphQL APIs for content delivery.
  • 03Multi-tenant management of multiple sites and languages from one instance.
  • 04Elasticsearch-based indexing with faceted search and vector-based semantic search.
  • 05Custom content workflows, roles and permissions, and personalization with A/B testing.
  • 06OSGi-based plugin architecture and scriptable APIs.

Use cases

  • Running a multilingual corporate website with several brand sites managed from one instance.
  • Serving content to a React or other single-page application through headless APIs.
  • Building a semantic search or chatbot knowledge base over company content.
  • Hosting intranet or extranet portals alongside public sites.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Check the technology requirements page

  2. 2

    Get the dotCMS Docker image from the download page

  3. 3

    Pin the image tag or track in your deployment manifest

Things to know

  • Licensed under BSL 1.1, not an OSI open-source license; free use is limited to organizations with total finances below $5,000,000 USD.
  • Search and vector features rely on Elasticsearch, which adds infrastructure to run.
  • Self-hosting requires following the documentation and meeting the listed technology requirements.

Topics

#cms#headless-cms#java#content-management-system#graphql#elasticsearch#multi-tenancy#vector-search#cloud#content

FAQ

What is core?
Java-based headless content management system with visual page editing, multi-tenancy, REST and GraphQL APIs, and built-in search and vector retrieval for AI. dotCMS is a content management system designed for enterprise teams. It supports headless delivery through REST and GraphQL APIs, and it also offers visual page editing that works for both server-side rendered pages and single-page applications. A single instance can host multiple sites in multiple languages, from microsites to intranets and knowledge centers.
Is core free to use? What license does it have?
core is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is core still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to core was on Oct 22, 2026.
What can I use core for?
Running a multilingual corporate website with several brand sites managed from one instance. Serving content to a React or other single-page application through headless APIs. Building a semantic search or chatbot knowledge base over company content. Hosting intranet or extranet portals alongside public sites.
How do I install core?
Check the technology requirements page Get the dotCMS Docker image from the download page Pin the image tag or track in your deployment manifest
Where can I get core?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/dotCMS/core

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