Content Type
A content type is a defined category of content that shares a consistent purpose and structure.
Each item within a content type follows the same general model while containing different information.
Common Examples
Website content types can include:
- Article
- Case study
- Team member
- Event
- Product
- Location
- Service
- Glossary term
- Whitepaper
Each one represents a distinct kind of information rather than merely a different visual page.
How It Works
A content type is defined through a content model.
For example, an Event might contain:
- Event name
- Start date
- End date
- Location
- Description
- Registration URL
A template can then determine how events are displayed without editors rebuilding the page structure every time.
Why It Matters
Content types create consistency.
They also make information easier to:
- Search
- Filter
- Reuse
- Display in multiple places
- Validate
- Migrate
- Integrate with other systems
This is one reason structured CMS implementations tend to age better than collections of individually assembled pages.
Common Problems
Common problems include:
- Creating a new content type for a visual variation
- Combining unrelated concepts into one generic type
- Treating every page as the same type
- Adding fields that only one item will ever use
- Using taxonomy where a separate content type would be clearer
- Creating multiple nearly identical types
How to Improve
Create a separate content type when the information has a distinct meaning, structure, or lifecycle.
Do not create one merely because the design looks different.