Overview of Content Types
A guide to content types, their importance, and best practices.
In Content Lion, a content type is a structured template that defines what kind of content you’re creating and what fields it contains. Think of a content type as a schema or model for a specific kind of content.
What a Content Type Does
A content type can specify:
- Fields (attributes) - Title, description, image, author, date
- Field types - Text, rich text, number, date, boolean, media, reference
- Rules & constraints - If the field is required, default values, field appearance, media type restrictions
- Relationships - Links to other content types
Why do Content Types matter?
Content types enable:
- Consistency – All items of the same type follow the same structure
- Reuse across channels – Web, mobile apps, headless APIs
- Headless delivery – Structured content is easy to consume via REST APIs
- Validation – Ensures content meets required standards
- Scalability – Easy to manage large content repositories
Example Content Type: Blog Post
Fields for a blog post content type might include:
Field Name | Field Type | Other Field Configuration |
title | text | required field |
blog-body | rich text | required field |
author | reference to Author content type | required field |
featured-image | media | .png, .gif, .jpg supported |
published-date | date | default value - today |
Each blog post you create follows this structure.
How to Create a New Content Type in Content Lion
Step 1: Go to the Content Types page
Go to Content > Content Types. This is where all content types are created and managed
Step 2: Create a New Content Type
Click Create and define basic information: name, display name, and description (optional)
Step 3: Add Data Fields
Drag data fields from the list and configure each one:
- field display name
- field description
- API name
- required / optional
- appearance of data field
- default value in necessary
Step 4: Group and Arrange Field Order
Grab a field and drag it up or down to define the order shown to content authors. Clicking on Add Group will create a new section for grouping fields.
Step 5: Save the Content Type
Click Save to close the configuration screen. Once saved, the content type becomes available for creating content items
Some changes (like removing fields) may be restricted once content items exist. In order to delete a field, all content items under the specific type will need to be unpublished
Content Type Creation Best Practices
- Design content types before authors start creating content: Plan and finalize content models early to avoid re-entering content later
- Keep fields generic and reusable (avoid page-specific fields): Fields should describe what the content is, not where it appears. Reusable fields allow the same content type to be used across multiple pages, channels, or layouts without modification.
- Use references instead of duplicating content: References improve consistency, simplify updates, and reduce the risk of outdated or conflicting information.
- Plan for headless delivery if APIs will be used: Model content independently of presentation so it can be used on multiple platforms. Content should stand on it’s own without relying on a specific layout or design.
- Use clear, consistent naming conventions: Choose field names that are easy for both developers and content authors to understand. This improves usability, reduces confusion, and makes content types easier to maintain and scale over time.