---
title: Render dynamic content with interfaces
slug: cms-11/dev-docs/using-interfaces-to-render-dynamic-content-legacy
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-22T19:45:18.312Z
---

:::hint{type="warning"}
**Caution**
Dynamic content is deprecated in Optimizely Content Management System (CMS 12). Use blocks instead. While existing solutions will continue to work, you should not build new solutions on this API. It will be phased out in the future.
:::

CMS uses the following interfaces to render dynamic content. Use these interfaces unless you use the plug-in functionality that automatically wraps a user control described in [Create a plug-in](docId\:me-BCKG2HijycZisGFTa-).

## IDynamicContentBase interface

The `IDynamicContentBase` interface is the fundamental building block of a dynamic content class, which is implicitly used when you use the `DynamicContentPlugInAttribute`, but its use is automatic and hidden. The interface's methods and properties are explained as follows.

- `string State { get; set; }` – Get and set the `State` string for an instance. The class should use this value to serialize and deserialize its internal state. `State` can be null or an empty string.
- `PropertyDataCollection Properties { get; }` – Get a collection of Optimizely properties in the editorial interface. The properties within the collection should be members of the plug-in class so that you can consume the values entered from the editorial interface.

## IDynamicContentView interface

`IDynamicContentView` extends `IDynamicContentBase` with methods to support rendering in Web Forms and MVC. You should use this interface when you implement custom dynamic content.

- `void Render(TextWriter writer)` – The `Render` method writes HTML to display on the page. Visitors see this when they visit the page on which the object is rendered.

## IDynamicContentControl interface

`IDynamicContentControl` extends `IDynamicContentBase` with methods to support rendering in Web Forms using controls.

- `System.Web.UI.Control GetControl(TemplateControl hostPage)` – The `GetControl` method returns a reference to a control that can be anything that derives from control, including web controls, user controls, and custom controls. You can use `hostPage.LoadControl` to load user controls.

## System.Web.Mvc.IView interface

The `IDynamicContentView` interface supports MVC and Web Forms, but in some cases, you need access to the `ViewContext` class. If a dynamic content class implements this interface, it takes precedence over the other interfaces when running inside an MVC view.