---
title: Define language-specific properties
slug: cms-13/docs/define-language-specific-properties
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-30T20:22:05.570Z
---

Language-specific properties let multilingual websites store distinct values for each language within the same content field. Use the **Unique value per language** setting to control which properties differ by language.

On a website that supports multiple languages, a text element (such as a title or description) with **Unique value per language** has distinct values for each language. A title in English, Spanish, or French is defined within the same text element field but differentiated by the language setting. See [Manage languages](docId\:eqUXZgJ4bbzDplqGeUxlb).

By setting the **Unique value per language** property, Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) 13 knows to retrieve and display the correct language-specific value depending on one of the following factors:

- The user’s language setting
- The particular language version of the page being accessed

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/IJ7PeVA8rR7qj_x1l8ALM_2e1ad0172eee5c3b281fe896e9ff2ca4e59d146805db198b319e877e1b7e29d3-image.png)

Properties with unique values per language are editable in activated languages on the website. Edit only properties that do not have language-specific values in the language on the original page. These properties are deactivated in the edit view with an icon indicating the original language.

When you create a page, you can set the **Sort index** in the original page language if you clear the **Unique value per language** checkbox. But if you create a version of the page in another language, the **Sort index** field is not editable; the sort index is the same for activated languages. To change the **Sort index** for each language, select the **Unique value per language** checkbox.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/mxby5Mr8aAHYHkV6rn-jy_59f47eb06b1248e0b3f14d7ecd6e960539f8842fe374bba8377aa749fbd4673c-image.png)

If you change a property so that it does not have a unique value, existing values are deleted. For example, if the property for the editor area is changed to not have a unique language, text entered in the editor area for all languages on the website is permanently deleted.