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Configuring fields for content-types

Development-only

The Content-type Builder is only accessible to create and update content-types when your Strapi application is in a development environment, else it will be in a read-only mode in other environments.

Content-types are composed of one or several fields. Each field is designed to contain specific kind of data, filled up in the Content Manager (see Writing content).

In the Content-type Builder, fields can be added at the creation of a new content-type or component, or afterward when a content-type or component is edited or updated. The following documentation lists all existing regular fields but also tackles the specificities of components and dynamic zones. For each, you will find a definition, explanation of the form they take once in the Content Manager, and instructions to configure them.

note

Depending on what content-type or component is being created or edited, not all fields -including components and dynamic zones- are always available.

Field selection

Regular fields

Text

The Text field displays a textbox that can contain small text. This field can be used for titles, descriptions, etc.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the Text field.
TypeChoose between Short text and Long text, to allow more or less space to fill up the Text field.

Rich Text

The Rich Text field displays an editor with formatting options to manage rich text. This field can be used for long written content.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the Rich Text field.

Number

The Number field displays a field for any kind of number: integer, decimal and float.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the Number field.
Number formatChoose between integer, big integer, decimal and float.

Date

The Date field can display a date (year, month, day), time (hour, minute, second) or datetime (year, month, day, hour, minute, and second) picker.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the Date field.
TypeChoose between date, datetime and time

Boolean

The Boolean field displays a toggle button to manage boolean values (e.g. Yes or No, 1 or 0, True or False).

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the Boolean field.

Relation

The Relation field allows to establish a relation with another content-type, that must be a collection type.

There are 6 different types of relations:

  • One way: Content-type A *has one* Content-type B
  • One-to-one: Content-type A *has and belong to one* Content-type B
  • One-to-many: Content-type A *belongs to many* Content-type B
  • Many-to-one: Content-type B *has many* Content-type A
  • Many-to-many: Content-type A *has and belongs to many* Content-type B
  • Many way: Content-type A *has many* Content-type B

Configuring the base settings of the Relation field consists in choosing with which existing content-type the relation should be established and the kind of relation. The edition window of the Relation field displays 2 grey boxes, each representing one of the content-types in relation. Between the grey boxes are displayed all possible relation types.

  1. Click on the 2nd grey box to define the content-type B. It must be an already created collection type.
  2. Click on the icon representing the relation to establish between the content-types.
  3. Choose the Field name of the content-type A, meaning the name that will be used for the field in the content-type A.
  4. (optional if disabled by the relation type) Choose the Field name of the content-type B.

Email

The Email field displays an email address field with format validation to ensure the email address is valid.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the Email field.

Password

The Password field displays a password field that is encrypted.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the Password field.

Enumeration

The Enumeration field allows to configure a list of values displayed in a drop-down list.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the Enumeration field.
ValuesWrite the values of the enumeration, one per line.
caution

Since Strapi v4.1.3, enumeration values should always have an alphabetical character preceding any number as it could otherwise cause the server to crash without notice when the GraphQL plugin is installed.

Media

The Media field allows to choose one or more media files (e.g. image, video) from those uploaded in the Media Library of the application.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the Media field.
TypeChoose between Multiple media to allow multiple media uploads, and Single media to only allow one media upload.

JSON

The JSON field allows to configure data in a JSON format, to store JSON objects or arrays.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the JSON field.

UID

The UID field displays a field that sets a unique identifier, optionally based on an existing other field from the same content-type.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the UID field. It must not contain special characters or spaces.
Attached fieldChoose what existing field to attach to the UID field. Choose None to not attach any specific field.
tip

The UID field can be used to create a slug based on the Attached field.

Custom fields

Custom fields are a way to extend Strapi’s capabilities by adding new types of fields to content-types or components. Once installed (see Marketplace documentation), custom fields are listed in the Custom tab when selecting a field for a content-type.

Each custom field type can have basic and advanced settings. The Marketplace lists available custom fields, and hosts dedicated documentation for each custom field, including specific settings.

Components

Components are a combination of several fields. Components allow to create reusable sets of fields, that can be quickly added to content-types, dynamic zones but also nested into other components.

When configuring a component through the Content-type Builder, it is possible to either:

  • create a new component by clicking on Create a new component (see Creating a new component),
  • or use an existing one by clicking on Use an existing component.
Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the component for the content-type.
Select a componentWhen using an existing component only - Select from the drop-down list an existing component.
TypeChoose between Repeatable component to be able to use several times the component for the content-type, or Single component to limit to only one time the use of the component.

Dynamic zones

Dynamic zones are a combination of components that can be added to content-types. They allow a flexible content structure as once in the Content Manager, administrators have the choice of composing and rearranging the components of the dynamic zone how they want.

Setting nameInstructions
NameWrite the name of the dynamic zone for the content-type.

After configuring the settings of the dynamic zone, its components must be configured as well. It is possible to either choose an existing component or create a new one.

caution

When using dynamic zones, different components cannot have the same field name with different types (or with enumeration fields, different values).