---
title: "Sitecore Content Serialization"
slug: "sitecore-content-serialization"
abstract: "Introduction to the Sitecore Content Serialization (SCS) system."
---
# Sitecore Content Serialization

Sitecore Content Serialization (SCS) is a system for serializing, sharing, and deploying content items, as well as keeping them in version control.

![Diagram showing how the developer can serialize content items or an SCS package to a Sitecore instance.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/images/CLI_conceptual_overview.png)

To get started with SCS, see the following topics:

- [Sitecore Content Serialization structural overview](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/sitecore-content-serialization-structural-overview.html "Sitecore Content Serialization structural overview")
- [Sitecore Content Serialization configuration reference](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/sitecore-content-serialization-configuration-reference.html "Sitecore Content Serialization configuration reference")
- [Relative serialization path hashing and aliasing](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/relative-serialization-path-hashing-and-aliasing.html "Relative serialization path hashing and aliasing")
- [Validate serialized content items](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/validate-serialized-content-items.html "Validate serialized content items")
- [Configure the maximum relative item path length](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/configure-the-maximum-relative-item-path-length.html "Configure the maximum relative item path length")
- [Configure the relative serialization path](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/configure-the-relative-serialization-path.html "Configure the relative serialization path")
- [Create a Sitecore Content Serialization module](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/create-a-sitecore-content-serialization-module.html "Create a Sitecore Content Serialization module")
- [Create and install a Sitecore Content Serialization package](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/create-and-install-a-sitecore-content-serialization-package.html "Create and install a Sitecore Content Serialization package")
- [Sitecore Command Line Interface](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/sitecore-command-line-interface.html "Sitecore Command Line Interface")
- [Sitecore for Visual Studio](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/sitecore-for-visual-studio.html "Sitecore for Visual Studio")
- [Sitecore Management Services](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/developer-tools/sitecore-management-services.html "Sitecore Management Services")

You can also watch this video demonstrating Sitecore Content Serialization, Sitecore Command Line Interface, and Sitecore for Visual Studio.

:::youtube{id="CzQbwvKX1Cc"}