A content repository or content store is a database of digital content with an associated set of data management, search and access methods allowing application-independent access to the content, rather like a digital library, but with the ability to store and modify content in addition to searching and retrieving. The content repository acts as the storage engine for a larger application such as a content management system or a document management system, which adds a user interface on top of the repository's application programming interface.^[1]

• Common rules for data access allow many applications to work with the same content without interrupting the data.
• They give out signals when changes happen, letting other applications using the repository know that something has been modified, which enables collaborative data management.
• Developers can deal with data using programs that are more compatible with the desktop programming environment.
• The data model is scriptable when users use a content repository.

A content repository may provide functionality such as:

• Add/edit/delete content
• Hierarchy and sort order management
• Query / search
• Versioning
• Access control
• Import / export
• Locking
• Life-cycle management
• Retention and holding / records management

• Apache Jackrabbit
• ModeShape

• Content management
• Document management
• Digital asset management
• Records management
• Revision control
• Social collaboration
• Web content management

• Content repository API for Java
• WebDAV
• Content Management Interoperability Services

• Information repository
• Content (media)

• DB-Engines Ranking of Content Stores by popularity, updated monthly