Web sites can accumulate vast amounts of web pages and related content assets over the course of some years, especially as users rely more and more upon digital channels for information and as organizations strive more and more to meet those needs through web communications channels. At some point such a legacy of web content may exceed certain bounds of scalability or usability. As web technology evolves and user expectations expand, web sites also need to evolve and expand, but the course of development may not be clear or easy and may demand significant changes in technology platforms, production workflows, and organizational methodologies.

The proper starting point for evaluating the status of a web site, for reviewing needs and options for change, and for planning development projects is a Content Inventory. From the viewpoints of traditional Information Architecture up to the latest methods for Usability and User Experience, a Content Inventory is an invaluable primary step for the purposes of auditing, evaluation, and planning. A Content Inventory begins as quantitative process that factually indexes an existing content repository, and it may proceed into a qualitative process that analyzes the effectiveness of the content.