Modern SharePoint vs. Classic SharePoint

​Learn more about modern experiences in SharePoint in Office 365 including what they are and how you can benefit from it.

What is modern SharePoint

Modern SharePoint is a whole new user experience. The modern experience is designed to be compelling, flexible, mobile and easier to use. It is available in SharePoint Online, which is part of Office 365. 

Lists and Libraries

The default lists and library experience is optimised for your most common tasks. Copy and move files using the command bar. Pin documents, add files as links, filter and sort easily, and apply formatting to columns.

Classic list on the left, modern list on the right
The modern page is easier to use, and allows more advanced filtering and bulk editing. 

Pages and web

​Modern pages provide a fast, easy way to build responsive pages using the functionality of modern web parts. Pages are similar to classic web part pages and publishing pages, but are less structured and easier to create. 

Classic web part page

Modern page

Web parts Modern pages use modern web parts. Modern web parts are designed to be easier to use, to be faster, and to look great. With modern web parts, there is no need to employ any code. It is important to note that, for security reasons, modern web parts do not allow for the insertion of code like JaveScript. It is also important to know that classic web parts cannot be used on modern pages, and modern web parts cannot be used on classic pages (unless a developer creates a custom web part that is designed to be used on a classic page). Additionally, there is not a 1:1 mapping of classic to modern web parts, but there are web parts that have similar purposes.

​Following is a list of a web parts you can use on a modern page.

Mobile ready  Unlike classic pages, modern pages (and in fact all modern features) are designed to be responsive and look great on mobile devices.

Same two pages in the iPhone 6 emulator
Classic list on the left, modern list on the right.

Layout  When you create a classic web part page, you choose a layout with web part zones to use. The layout can't be changed after the fact. With modern pages, the layout is flexible and can be changed at any time.
​Wiki pages  Another type of page in SharePoint Online is a Wiki page. There is no modern equivalent of a Wiki page.

5 Reasons to use Modern SharePoint

1. Mobile friendly
   Unlike classic pages, modern pages (and in fact all modern features) are designed to be responsive and look great  on mobile devices.
2. List and Library improvement
   List and library in Modern experience have easier filtering, conditional formatting, and attention views.
   
3. Expose new features
   Microsoft has introduced a number of new features that only wok on Modern sites. 
4. Easier to configure
   The new web parts are much easier and more intuitive to set up, and don't require any special technical know-how.
5. More Secure
   Classic SharePoint sites would run any JavaScript while Modern sites are more locked down than that.