A method and system to manage content is provided to generate an abstraction layer between a user application and content, based on a formal definition of content (referred to as a content contract). An example content system comprises a content bundle module, a user application, and a content access interface module. The content bundle module may be configured to store content items. A content item may include text items and placeholders. The user application, which does not have to be coded with specific knowledge regarding the content bundle, may be configured to receive a request to provide to a to a client system a presentation package (e.g., a web page) that has the content item, and to obtain the content item and any associated metadata from the content access interface module. Content item metadata may include, for example, information regarding a value to populate a placeholder in the content item.