--- title: Built-in property types slug: cms-11/dev-docs/built-in-property-types docTags: createdAt: 2026-07-22T19:45:21.284Z --- Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) content is built up by models with properties that store and present data. You can use many built-in property types in your models and create your own. ## Common property types | What you want to create | Solution | Editing experience | Hints and tips | | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Plain short text | `String` property | One row input | Control the allowed length with the `StringLength` attribute. Use custom tag to control the containing tag, such as using a H1 for the main header for the page. | | Plain long text | `String` property with UIHint.Textarea | Text area | Control the allowed length with the `StringLength` attribute. | | Html | `XHtmlString` property | A TinyMCE HTML editor | | | Integer value | `Int` property | A number slider | Controls other rendering, such as the number of items in a list. Control the min and max values with the `Range` attribute. | | Date and time | `DateTime` property | A date and time picker | Control the min and max values with the `Range` attribute. | | Double | `Double` property | Check editor | Control the min and max values with the `Range` attribute. | | Boolean | `Boolean` property | Check box | | | Page type | `PageType` property | | Filter items in a list, and so on. | | BLOB | `Blob` property | | Hold binary data (such as an image). Route to a BLOB with pattern ``/BlobPropertyName. | ## Work with other content To refer to existing content, use the `Link` or `LinkCollection` to create internal or external links. - Use `ContentArea` to display content from other content. - Use `ContentReference`, `ContentReferenceList`, or `URL` to link to a single content of a specified type. - Use the `AllowedTypes` attribute to further restrict the kind of links that are possible to add to a property (although there are a few known limitations). Use a content reference with many different UI hints to select different entities in CMS, such as a block, a media item, a block folder, or a media folder. | What you want to create | Solution | Editing experience | Hints and tips | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Link to a page | \`PageReference\` property | Content picker with
drag and drop support | | | Link to a media file of any type | \`ContentReference\` property
with \`UIHint.MediaFile\` | Content picker with
drag and drop support | Link to any file in the media repository. Use \`ContentReference\` instead of using standard content rendering. (Mostly for backwards compatibility.) | | Link to an image | \`ContentReference\` property
with \`UIHint.Image\` | Content picker with
drag and drop support | Lets an editor select content in the media repository by implementing \`IContentImage\`. | | Link to a video | \`ContentReference\` property
with \`UIHint.Video\` | Content picker with
drag and drop support | Lets an editor select content in the media repository by implementing \`IContentVideo\`. | | Link to a media file with the possibility to append information in the URL | \`Url\` property with
\`UIHint.MediaFile\` or
\`UIHint.Image\` or
\`UIHint.Video\` | Content picker with
drag and drop support | Each link can be an item inside CMS, such as pages or media but also external URLs. Use URL instead of \`ContentReference\` if you want to add information, such as query string parameters, to control size. | | Content area | \`ContentArea\` property | | | | URL | \`Url\` property | Link dialog with drag-and-drop support | | | Link to multiple external and/or internal resources | \`LinkItemCollection\`
property | Link collection editor with drag-and-drop support | Does not support \`AllowedTypesAttribute\`. | | Link to multiple internal pages, media files, or another content type. | \`ContentReferenceList\` property | Content picker with
drag and drop support | Supports \`AllowedTypesAttribute\`. | ## Select predefined values You can use the following solutions to create **drop-down lists** and **check box lists**: | What you want to create | Solution | Editing experience | Hints and tips | | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Select a single item from a relatively short list of options | `String`/`Int` property with [SelectOne](docId\:ZaMXT-FY-FVRjU66XaFah) attribute | Link to implementation
page | | | Select several items from a relatively short list of options | `String`/`Int` property with [SelectMany](docId\:ZaMXT-FY-FVRjU66XaFah) attribute | Link to implementation
page | | | Select a single item from a relatively long list of options | `String`/`Int` property with [AutoSuggestion](docId\:oUxpvIl2UOwu59DinWQep) attribute | Link to implementation
page | Use with caution because the auto-suggestion editor creates requests to the server. | ## Validation attributes CMS supports the following validation attributes that are part of the .NET: - `Range` - `StringLength` - `RegularExpression` - `EmailAttribute` You can create custom attributes that implement `ValidationAttribute`.