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ACE vs. SPFx Application Customizer in SharePoint Online
Question details
Developers need to decide whether to use Adaptive Card Extensions (ACEs) or SPFx Application Customizers for building notifications, actions, and UI elements in SharePoint Online.
- Product
- SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Planning the architecture for custom SharePoint UI, Viva Connections dashboards, and persistent site-wide elements.
- Observed behavior
- Developers are looking to understand the best use cases for ACEs (dashboard widgets) versus SPFx Application Customizers (global headers and scripts).
Determine whether your target audience will primarily interact with your custom solution via the Viva Connections dashboard or standard modern SharePoint site pages, as this dictates the correct component type.
Use Adaptive Card Extensions (ACEs) for Viva Dashboards
Best for building lightweight, interactive, and mobile-friendly widgets designed specifically for the Viva Connections dashboard.
Adaptive Card Extensions use the Adaptive Cards framework to generate native user interfaces across web, mobile, and desktop. They are the standard way to build interactive dashboard components without worrying about custom CSS.
Use ACEs when you need to display high-level metrics, simple status information, or quick notifications directly on a Viva Connections dashboard.
Design your ACE to allow users to complete lightweight tasks, such as form submissions, approvals, or linking out to deeper applications via Quick Views.
Use SPFx Application Customizers for Persistent Global UI
Best for injecting persistent scripts, custom headers, and footers across all modern SharePoint site pages.
Combine Both Technologies for Hybrid Solutions
Best for comprehensive enterprise portals that require both global navigation UI and specific, personalized dashboard interactions.
Boost Your Productivity with WPS Office
While you plan your SharePoint Online and Viva Connections development, manage your project plans, API documentation, and architecture diagrams effortlessly with WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the quick installation prompts to set up the suite on your device.
- 3. Manage your documentation: Open the application to start creating project specifications and technical documents that are fully compatible with standard Microsoft formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an Adaptive Card Extension on a standard modern SharePoint page?
Yes, while ACEs are primarily built for Viva Connections dashboards, site authors can also add them to standard modern SharePoint pages using the built-in Dashboard web part.
Do SPFx Application Customizers work on the SharePoint native mobile app?
No, Application Customizers are designed for web browser page placeholders and generally do not render on the native SharePoint mobile app. For mobile-first interactions, ACEs are the recommended approach.
Are both ACEs and Application Customizers built using the same development framework?
Yes, both are built using the SharePoint Framework (SPFx). This allows developers to use familiar web technologies like TypeScript, React, and standard Microsoft 365 APIs for both types of extensions.
