The repository is the data store in which CentraSite maintains documents and other file-like resources. For example, when you publish an XML schema to CentraSite, CentraSite generates an entry in the registry that describes the schema and then stores the schema document itself in the repository (the registry entry will include a link to this document). By providing both registry and repository capabilities, CentraSite enables you to centrally manage the metadata for an asset as well as the asset itself.

CentraSite also uses the repository as the data store for items that it produces and consumes, such as report templates, policy descriptions, and lifecycle models. Additionally, the repository houses an organization's supporting document library. This library contains documents that an organization can arbitrarily attach to objects in the registry. For example, you might upload documents such as technical specifications, sample code, and programming guides to the supporting document library, and then link these documents to various assets in the catalog. For more information about uploading documents to the supporting document library, see the CentraSite User’s Guide.