---
title: ContentType attribute
slug: cms-13/docs/contenttype-attribute
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-30T20:22:10.000Z
---

## Configurable properties

The `ContentType` attribute is required for content types. It is located in the `EPiServer.DataAnnotations` namespace and has the following configurable properties.

| Property              | Description                                                                                              | Default value |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
| `AvailableInEditMode` | Defines whether content of this type is creatable in edit view.                                          | true          |
| `Description`         | Text that describes the function of the `ContentType`.                                                   | NULL          |
| `DisplayName`         | The name shown in edit view for this `ContentType`.                                                      | NULL          |
| `Order`               | The sort order used to determine the position of the `ContentType` in listings.                          | 100           |
| `GUID`                | Identifier for the `ContentType`. Matches the code definition to an existing definition in the database. | Guid.Empty    |
| `GroupName`           | Name for grouping content types when displaying them for selection in edit view.                         | NULL          |

## Access

The optional `Access` attribute defines which users, roles, and audiences have access rights to create content of a specific type in the UI. Filtering based on this attribute is applied after ordinary access rights on content.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
If the `Access` attribute is not present, any user (who has edit access) creates content of the specific type.
:::

| Property                          | Description                                                   | Behavior if not specified                       |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| `Users`, `Roles`, `VisitorGroups` | Defines which users, roles, and audiences have access rights. | No user has access to `ContentType`.            |
| `Access`                          | Defines the level of access to grant.                         | Content types support access level Create only. |

## AvailableContentTypesAttribute

Use `AvailableContentTypesAttribute` to set which content types are available under a content instance. It has the following configurable properties.

| Property       | Description                                                                                                                             | Default value    |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- |
| `Availability` | Defines whether all or no content types are available. If set to none, other settings on the attribute are ignored.                     | Availability.All |
| `Include`      | A type array of typed content to specify which content types are available under a content instance of the type with the attribute.     | Type\[0]         |
| `Exclude`      | A type array of typed content to specify which content types are not available under a content instance of the type with the attribute. | Type\[0]         |
| `IncludeOn`    | States that the content with this attribute is available under the typed content in the type array.                                     | Type\[0]         |
| `ExcludeOn`    | States that the content with this attribute is not available under any of the typed content in the type array.                          | Type\[0]         |

The types given on `Include`, `Exclude`, `IncludeOn`, and `ExcludeOn` are typed content directly, or the type of an interface or a base class. Registered types that are assignable to the specified type are included at registration. For example, if an interface is specified in an `Include` list, then typed pages that implement the interface are included.

`Include` differs from `IncludeOn` in the following ways:

- `Include` excludes typed content except that which is specified.
- `IncludeOn` does not exclude any content type for types that have all content types available.

![Types given on Include, Exclude, IncludeOn, and ExcludeOn as typed content directly or as an interface or base class type](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/vJGJb19vxtwA5vWrzUvUM-20260722-195707.png "attributes24.png")

`Exclude` differs from `ExcludeOn` in the following ways:

- `Exclude` – If types are not registered in `Include`, then registered page types are available *except* the types in the `Exclude` specifications.
- `ExcludeOn` – If types are registered in `Include`, then those types are available *except* the types in the `ExcludeOn` specifications.

![Exclude and ExcludeOn examples showing how types are filtered based on Include registrations](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/1ZBKhPFWe0kXpclXR29Kl-20260722-195707.png "attributes3.png")

The following image shows how `Availability` is mapped to settings in the admin view.

![Availability mapped to settings in the admin view with corresponding configuration options](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/SkUlSw5ADFTxOWqzTv_1v-20260722-195707.png "attributes4.png")

## ImageUrl

Use the `ImageUrl` attribute to set the icon for content types. The icon is visible in the UI when creating content.

| Property | Description                                    | Default value |
| -------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
| `Path`   | The path to the icon to use for the page type. | NULL          |