---
title: Assets and media
slug: cms-11/dev-docs/M20n-assets-and-media
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-22T19:45:17.666Z
---

Assets such as blocks and media files are available from the edit view in the assets pane in Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) and Optimizely Customized Commerce. Assets can also be product items in the product catalog in Optimizely Customized Commerce. A media type can be, for example, an image, a video, or a document in a defined file format.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
Like other content types, media types must first be defined in the content model, to use the built-in functionality for assets. If a media type is not defined on the website, file upload or drag and drop will not work. See [Media types and templates](docId\:lvAnXasH0Quifc9LeH9ww) to define media types.
:::

CMS bases the assets system on a **typed content model** with support for the following property types:

- `ContentReference` property type with `UIHint` "image" is displayed and edited as an image.
- `ContentReference` property type with `UIHint` "video" is displayed and edited as a video.
- `ContentReference` property type with UIHint "mediafile" is displayed and edited as any file.
- `Url` property type with `UIHint` "image" is displayed and edited as an image.
- `Url` property type with `UIHint` "video" is displayed and edited as a video.
- `Url` property type with `UIHint` "document" is displayed and edited as any file.

The following functionality is available for content types, including media:

- **Waste basket (trash)** support for content types, including moving, viewing, and restoring from the trash.
- **Reference** checks when you delete any content item (image, page, block, and so on); it opens a dialog box with links to affected content references.
- **Drag-and-drop** supports from the media manager in the Assets panel to any overlay or editor that handles files (`ContentReferences` or `URLs` with a `mediafile`, `image`, or `video` `UIHint`).

See [Media types and templates](docId\:lvAnXasH0Quifc9LeH9ww) for how to define assets and media types for your website.

Related blog post: [Image property with media component](https://gregwiechec.com/2018/10/image-property-with-media-component/)