SharePoint Expert

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