SharePoint Hub Site vs Site Collection vs Sub Site
SharePoint Hub Sites, Site Collections, and Sub Sites are all levels of hierarchy that help organizations organize and manage their content effectively. Hub Sites are used to provide a central hub for a group of associated sites, Site Collections provide a logical separation of content and settings, and Sub Sites are used to organize content and provide a logical structure within a Site Collection.
Here’s an overview of each:
SharePoint Hub Site :
A SharePoint Hub Site is a top-level site that acts as a central hub for a group of associated sites. It can be used to bring together related information from across multiple Site Collections and Sub Sites and provide a unified navigation experience. Hub Sites also provide common branding and theme for all associated sites, and allow for content rollup, search and discoverability of content.
Site Collection:
A Site Collection is a collection of sites that share common features, settings, and permissions. Each Site Collection has its own top-level site, and can contain one or more Sub Sites. Site Collections provide a logical separation of content and settings, and are typically used to isolate content for specific business units or departments within an organization. Site Collections can be managed by different site administrators and can have their own features and customizations.
Sub Site:
A Sub Site is a site that is created within a Site Collection. Sub Sites inherit permissions and settings from their parent site, and can have their own unique permissions, settings, and content. Sub Sites are often used to organize content and provide a logical structure for information within a Site Collection.
Comparison of SharePoint Hub Sites, Site Collections, and Sub Sites:
| Feature | SharePoint Hub Site | Site Collection | Sub Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level in hierarchy | Top-level site that acts as a central hub | Collection of sites that share common features | Site created within a Site Collection |
| Navigation | Provides a unified navigation experience for a group of associated sites | Navigation can be customized for each Site Collection | Navigation can be customized for each Sub Site |
| Content rollup | Allows for content rollup from associated sites | Content rollup is limited to sites within the same Site Collection | Limited content rollup from parent site |
| Customization | Customization options are limited to branding and theme | Customization options can vary by Site Collection | Customization options can vary by Sub Site |
| Permissions | Permissions can be managed at the Hub Site level or for each associated site | Permissions are managed at the Site Collection level | Permissions are managed at the Sub Site level |
| Features | Can include custom web parts, search, and metadata | Can include features specific to the Site Collection | Can include features specific to the Sub Site |
| Use case | Used to bring together related information from multiple sites and provide a unified navigation experience | Used to isolate content and settings for specific business units or departments | Used to organize content and provide a logical structure within a Site Collection |
