Export rules in a content management system (CMS) are configuration settings that determine how content is structured and formatted when leaving the system. Unlike simple export actions that dump entire datasets, rules let administrators define precisely what data is included (specific content types, date ranges, categories, user author fields) and how it's formatted (CSV, XML, JSON, custom text). This involves specifying data selection criteria and transformation templates, ensuring exported content meets external system requirements.

For instance, an e-commerce CMS might use export rules to send daily product feeds including only active SKUs, specific attributes like price and availability, and specific categories to online marketplaces. Similarly, a healthcare organization could set rules to securely export anonymized patient documents for archiving compliance, selecting content by type and date range while excluding sensitive identifiers.

Setting export rules enhances security by minimizing sensitive data exposure and ensures compatibility with external systems. However, defining complex rules requires technical skill and understanding of source data and target formats. Platform dependency exists; robust features vary between CMS like WordPress, Drupal, or Adobe Experience Manager. Ethically, rules prevent accidental sharing of personal data. Their value increases for integrating CMS data with analytics tools or marketing platforms, driving demand for simpler rule configuration interfaces in future CMS versions.