How can developers create custom components in Sitecore?

Creating custom components in Sitecore involves developing renderings that are integrated with layouts and controllers. This approach utilizes Sitecore’s robust architecture, which allows developers to create reusable components that can render dynamic content based on the data stored in Sitecore.

Renderings are essentially the building blocks of the page output. They can be created using various technologies, including ASP.NET MVC or Web Forms. By integrating these renderings with layouts, developers define how the components are displayed within the overall page structure. Additionally, controllers can be used to manage the logic of data retrieval and presentation, allowing for a clean separation of concerns, which enhances maintainability and scalability.

Using renderings and integration with layouts and controllers is fundamental in Sitecore's rendering engine, thus providing a powerful way for developers to customize the user experience and create rich, interactive web applications.

In contrast, simply modifying existing templates does not yield new custom components, as templates define the structure of content items but do not dictate presentation. Relying solely on the Experience Editor limits the developers to predefined components without full control over custom functionality. Writing SQL queries for content retrieval is also not an appropriate practice in Sitecore, as Sitecore has its own content APIs and data access methods to ensure best practices in content