--- title: Built-in property types slug: cms-12/docs/built-in-property-types docTags: createdAt: 2026-08-10T15:55:53.000Z --- 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. You can use most property types as instance or list properties. Some types are list types themselves; those cannot be modeled as lists. ## Common property types | What you want to create | Solution | Editing experience | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | | **Plain short text** – Control the allowed length with the `StringLength` attribute. Use a custom tag to control the containing tag, such as using an H1 for the main header for the page. | `String` property | One row input | | **Plain long text** – Control the allowed length with the `StringLength` attribute. | `String` property with UIHint.Textarea | Text area | | **HTML** | `XHtmlString` property | A TinyMCE HTML editor | | **Integer value** – Controls other rendering, such as the number of items in a list. Control the min and max values with the `Range` attribute. | `Int` property | A number slider | | **Date and time** – Control the min and max values with the `Range` attribute. | `DateTime` property | A date and time picker | | **Double** – Control the min and max values with the `Range` attribute. | `Double` property | Check editor | | **Boolean** | `Boolean` property | Checkbox | | **Page type** – Filter items in a list, and so on. | `PageType `property | | | **BLOB** – Hold binary data (such as an image). Route to a BLOB with pattern `/BlobPropertyName`. | `Blob` property | | :::hint{type="info"} **Note** See also [Properties](docId\:Ebpc4UpjxWOvql76YChq9) in the CMS 12 user guide. ::: ## Work with other content To refer to existing content, use the `Link` or `LinkCollection` to create internal or external links. - Use `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 item of a specified type. - Use the `AllowedTypes` attribute to restrict the kinds of links that can be added to a property (with some limitations). - A content reference combined with `UIHint` lets editors select different entities, such as a block, media item, block folder, or media folder. The editing experience for a `ContentArea` is user-friendly and designed to empower content editors to create dynamic and engaging digital experiences without requiring extensive technical knowledge. Editors can drag and drop blocks, media, or pages into the content area and reorder or personalize them with ease. Use a content reference with many 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 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | **Link to a page** | \`PageReference\` property | Content picker with drag and drop support | | \_Link to a media file of any type\_ – Link to any file in the media repository. Use \`ContentReference\` instead to use standard content rendering. (Mostly for backward compatibility.) | \`ContentReference\` property with \`UIHint.MediaFile\` | Content picker with drag and drop support | | \_Link to an image\_ – Lets an editor select content in the media repository by implementing IContentImage. | \`ContentReference\` property with \`UIHint.Image\` | Content picker with drag and drop support | | \_Link to a video\_\* – Lets an editor select content in the media repository by implementing \`IContentVideo\`. | \`ContentReference\` property with \`UIHint.Video\` | Content picker with drag and drop support | | \_Link to a media file\_\* with the possibility to append information in the URL – Each link can be an item inside Optimizely CMS, such as pages, media, and external URLs. Use URL instead of \`ContentReference\` to add information, such as query string parameters to control size. | \`Url\` property with \`UIHint.MediaFile\` or \`UIHint.Image\` or \`UIHint.Video\` | Content picker with drag and drop support | | **Content area** | \`ContentArea\` property | | | **URL** | \`Url\` property | Link dialog with drag-and-drop support | | \_Link to multiple external and/or internal resources\_ – Does not support \`AllowedTypesAttribute\`. | \`LinkItemCollection\` property | Link collection editor with drag-and-drop support | | \_Link to external or internal resource\_\* – Does not support \`AllowedTypesAttribute\`. | \`LinkItem\` property \* \_Note:\_\* Available in CMS 12.11.0 and later. | Link editor with drag-and-drop support | | \_Link to multiple internal pages, media files, or other content types\_\* – Supports \`AllowedTypesAttribute\`. | \`ContentReferenceList\` property | Content picker with drag and drop support | ## 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 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | Select a single item from a relatively short list of options | String/Int property with [SelectOne](docId\:neywLL2ukVccziGP_Wbue) attribute | Link to implementation page | | Select several items from a relatively short list of options | String/Int property with [SelectMany](docId\:neywLL2ukVccziGP_Wbue) attribute | Link to implementation page | | Select a single item from a relatively long list of options. – Use with caution because the auto-suggestion editor creates requests to the server. | String/Int property with [AutoSuggestion](docId\:hpcCiWB5ffOqRaav9MyQC) attribute | Link to implementation page | ## 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 either `ValidationAttribute`. See [Write custom attributes](docId\:AblRkgAajHzn19birh_yj).