A typical VDP job uses content, a database, business rules, layout, VDP application, and a printer.

These major components involve the following:

Variable data component	Description
Content	Includes the text, images, or photographs placed in different areas of your document. You can create static or variable content using a variety of applications, such as Adobe InDesign or Microsoft Word.
Database	Contains both static and variable content elements for use in variable data document records.
Business rules	Specify which variable content to use and where to place it within your document.
Layout	Includes the arrangement of both static and variable design elements such as text, images, and other objects on a page.
VDP applications	Combine static elements and variable information and prepare the document for printing.
Printer	Turns digital files into printed documents. This can be any digital printer that supports VDP.