---
title: "Content Publishing (Publishing)"
slug: "content-publishing--publishing-"
abstract: "Introduction to Sitecore Content Publishing supported infrastructure, references, scaling, and privacy and security."
---
# Content Publishing (Publishing)

The Content Publishing (CP) service publishes content from the [Master database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/101/platform-administration-and-architecture/master-database.html "Master database") to [Web database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/101/platform-administration-and-architecture/web-database.html "Web database") and is an optional replacement for the Sitecore publishing methods that are part of the [Content Management](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/101/platform-administration-and-architecture/content-management--cm-.html "Content Management (CM)") role.

For more information about the CP service, visit the [Publishing Service page on the Downloads Portal](https://dev.sitecore.net/Downloads/Sitecore_Publishing_Service.aspx).

## Supported infrastructure

You can host the CP service on:

- IIS
- [Azure App Service](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/app-service/)

Refer to the [Sitecore compatibility table](https://kb.sitecore.net/articles/087164) for compatible versions.

## Reference structure

The CP service has its place in the Sitecore reference structure. It can be referenced by other roles, and it can also reference other roles.

![Illustration showing the Content Publishing service's place in the Sitecore reference structure.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/developers/101/platform-administration-and-architecture/images/content-publishing.png)

### Referenced by

The CP service is referenced by the following roles:

- [Content Management](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/101/platform-administration-and-architecture/content-management--cm-.html "Content Management (CM)")

### References

The CP service references the following roles:

#### Storage roles

| Role name | Connection string name | Port | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Master database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/101/platform-administration-and-architecture/master-database.html) | master | 1433 | SQL |  |
| [Web database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/101/platform-administration-and-architecture/web-database.html) | web | 1433 | SQL | Multiple target databases can be configured |
| [Core database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/101/platform-administration-and-architecture/core-database.html) | core | 1433 | SQL | Contains the Links database |

## Privacy and security

The CP service handles personal data in the following ways:

- Handles usernames of content editors and other business users.

### Assumptions

- The master and web databases do not contain any personal data.