Fields overview

Supported field types

Front Matter supports the following fields to be used in the content-types:

• string
• number
• datetime
• boolean
• image
• file
• choice
• list
• draft
• tags
• categories
• taxonomy
• fields
• fieldCollection
• block
• dataFile
• slug
• contentRelationship
• customField

There are also the following section fields:

• divider
• heading

Standard field properties

All fields share the following field properties:

String

The string field type is used to store a single-line or multiline of text. For instance, you can use if for the title, description, or any other text field.

Properties

• single (boolean): When you picked the string field type, you can specify if it is a single line. By default it will render as a multiline field (optional).
• wysiwyg (boolean): When you set this value to true, the field will be rendered as a WYSIWYG editor. The output of the WYSIWYG editor will be HTML.

{
  "title": "Title",
  "name": "title",
  "type": "string",
  "single": true
}

---
title: "My title"
---

Number

The number field allows you to insert integer values, like for instance setting the weight of your content.

Properties

To configure the number field, you can specify the following properties in the numberOptions field property:

• min (number): The minimum value for the field.
• max (number): The maximum value for the field.
• step (number): The step value for the field.
• isDecimal (boolean): When set to true, the field will allow decimal/floating values.

Example 1

{
  "title": "Weight",
  "name": "weight",
  "type": "number"
}

---
weight: 1
---

Example 2

{
  "title": "Weight",
  "name": "weight",
  "type": "number",
  "numberOptions": {
    "min": 1,
    "max": 10,
    "step": 1
  }
}

---
weight: 1
---

Example 3

{
  "title": "Weight",
  "name": "weight",
  "type": "number",
  "numberOptions": {
    "isDecimal": true
  }
}

---
weight: 1.5
---

Datetime

The datetime field allows you to add date fields. You can use it for publish, modified, and any other types of dates for you content.

Properties

• isPublishDate: Specifies if the field is a publish date. When set to true, the field will be used to set the publish date for the content (this will be reflected on the content dashboard).
• isModifiedDate: Specifies if the field is a modified date. When using the frontMatter.content.autoUpdateDate setting to automatically update the modified date of the article, this field will be used.
• dateFormat: Specifies the format of the date. By default it uses ISO format.

Info: The format of your date can be defined in the frontMatter.taxonomy.dateFormat setting (globally), or with the dateFormat on the field level. To format the date, use the date-fns formating for more information.

{
  "title": "Publishing date",
  "name": "date",
  "type": "datetime",
  "isPublishDate": true
},
{
  "title": "Last modified date",
  "name": "lastmod",
  "type": "datetime",
  "isModifiedDate": true
},
{
  "title": "Date formatting",
  "name": "dateWithFormat",
  "type": "datetime",
  "default": "{{now}}",
  "dateFormat": "yy-MM-dd"
}

---
date: 2022-03-14T08:42:21.626Z
lastmod: 2022-03-14T08:42:22.364Z
dateWithFormat: 23-07-16
---

Boolean

The boolean field can be used to set a value of true or false into your markdown. It will be rendered as a toggle.

{
  "title": "Published",
  "name": "isPublished",
  "type": "boolean"
}

---
isPublished: true
---

Choice

The choice field allows you to define a set of options.

Properties

• choices (string[] | { id: string; title: string; }): When you picked the choice field type, you need to return an array of choices.
• multiple (boolean): Define if you want to allow multiple choice selection. By default this is false.

Example 1

{
  "title": "Choice",
  "name": "choice",
  "type": "choice",
  "choices": ["", "Choice 1", "Choice 2", "Choice 3"]
}

---
choice: "Choice 1"
---

Example 2

{
  "title": "Choice",
  "name": "choice",
  "type": "choice",
  "choices": [
    { "id": "1", "title": "Choice 1" },
    { "id": "2", "title": "Choice 2" },
    { "id": "3", "title": "Choice 3" }
  ]
}

---
choice: "1"
---

List

The list field allows you to add multiple text values.

{
  "title": "Alias",
  "name": "alias",
  "type": "list"
}

---
alias:
  - release-notes-v8
  - changelog-v8
---

Draft

The draft field defines the state of your content. This is used for the content dashboard as well. By default, the draft field is a boolean. If you want to use your own status values, you can configure it via the frontmatter.content.draftfield setting.

When using a custom draft status, the content dashboard will make use of it as well:

Important: If you use Jekyll, you do not have to use the draft field, as Front Matter supports the _drafts, _posts folders and collections from Jekyll. If you use Jekyll, make sure to set the frontMatter.framework.id setting to jekyll.

Example 1

{
  "title": "Draft",
  "name": "draft",
  "type": "draft"
}

---
draft: true
---

Example 2

In case you want to use a published field, instead of a draft field. You can invert the logic by setting the invert property to true:

"frontMatter.content.draftField": {
  "name": "published",
  "type": "boolean",
  "invert": true
}

{
  "title": "Published",
  "name": "published",
  "type": "draft"
}

---
published: false
---

Example 3

If you want to use your own status values, you can define it by specifying these in the frontMatter.content.draftField setting:

"frontMatter.content.draftField": {
  "name": "draft",
  "type": "choice",
  "choices": ["draft", "in progress", "published"]
}

{
  "title": "Draft",
  "name": "draft",
  "type": "draft"
}

---
draft: "in progress"
---

Image

The image field can be used to reference single or multiple images to your content.

Properties

• isPreviewImage (boolean): Allows you to specify a custom preview image for your article. When you set this to true for an image field in your content type, it will be adopted in the dashboard.
• multiple (boolean): Define if you want to allow to select multiple images. By default this is false.

Important: You can only set this on one image field per content type.

{
  "title": "Article preview",
  "name": "preview",
  "type": "image",
  "isPreviewImage": true
}

---
preview: /social/400285cf-4928-4c07-8ca5-158f249a3bc1.png
---

File

The file field can be used to reference single or multiple files to your content.

Properties

• multiple (boolean): Define if you want to allow to select multiple files. By default this is false.
• fileExtensions (string array): Define the file extensions that are allowed to be selected. By default this is an empty array [].

{
  "title": "Attachments",
  "name": "attachments",
  "type": "file",
  "multiple": true,
  "fileExtensions": ["pdf", "mp4", "wav"]
}

---
attachments:
  - /uploads/file1.pdf
  - /uploads/file2.mp4
---

Tags

The tags field allows you to create or use tags from your .frontmatter/database/taxonomyDb.json file (by default, none existing). When adding a tag which does not yet exist, you will have the option to create it.

When the tag is created, you will be able to re-use it for other content.

Info: You can add multiple tags at once by entering them as comma-separated values and pressing the ENTER key.

Properties

• taxonomyLimit: Defines the maximum number of items that can be selected. By default set to 0 which allows unlimited items to be selected.
• singleValueAsString: When set to true, a single value will be added as a string value instead of an array.

Info: When a limit is defined, this will get reflected in the UI as well:

{
  "title": "Tags",
  "name": "tags",
  "type": "tags"
}

---
tags:
  - Development
  - GitHub
  - GraphQL
  - API
---

Categories

The categories field is similar to the tags field. Categories are also stored in the .frontmatter/database/taxonomyDb.json file.

Properties

• taxonomyLimit: Defines the maximum number of items that can be selected. By default set to 0 which allows unlimited items to be selected.
• singleValueAsString: When set to true, a single value will be added as a string value instead of an array.

{
  "title": "Categories",
  "name": "categories",
  "type": "categories"
}

---
categories:
  - Development
---

Taxonomy

The taxonomy is similar to the tags and categories field, but allows you to define your own taxonomy values and structure.

Properties

• taxonomyLimit: Defines the maximum number of items that can be selected. By default set to 0 which allows unlimited items to be selected.
• taxonomyId: Set the id of your custom taxonomy definition defined in the frontMatter.taxonomy.customTaxonomy setting.
• singleValueAsString: When set to true, a single value will be added as a string value instead of an array.

Custom taxonomy

The frontMatter.taxonomy.customTaxonomy setting allows you to provide a list of custom taxonomy data. Each of the taxonomy data contains a id and an array of options.

Here is an example of the custom taxonomy setting definition:

"frontMatter.taxonomy.customTaxonomy": [
  {
    "id": "customTaxonomy",
    "options": [
      "Option 1",
      "Option 2",
      "Option 3"
    ]
  }
]

{
  "title": "Custom taxonomy",
  "name": "customTags",
  "type": "taxonomy",
  "taxonomyId": "customTaxonomy"
}

---
customTags:
  - custom-development
---

Fields

The fields field, allows you to create multi-dimensional content type fields (sub-fields). This is useful when you want to create a complex content type. In case you want to define a list data, you will have to use the block field.

When you specify the field type as fields, you need to define sub-fields within the fields property.

Properties

• fields: Define the sub-fields of your content type. All the above types are supported.

{
  "frontMatter.taxonomy.contentTypes": [
    {
      "name": "multi-dimensional",
      "pageBundle": false,
      "fields": [
        ...
        {
          "title": "Photo",
          "type": "fields",
          "name": "photo",
          "fields": [
            {
              "title": "Title",
              "name": "title",
              "type": "string"
            },
            {
              "title": "URL",
              "name": "url",
              "type": "image"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

---
photo:
  title: "Photo 1"
  url: /social/400285cf-4928-4c07-8ca5-158f249a3bc1.png
---

fieldCollection

The fieldCollection field type allows you to reuse fields in multiple content types. This is especially useful when you have a lot of content types and want to reuse the same fields.

Prerequisites

To work with the fieldCollection field type, you need to define a field group (a set of fields for your data) in the frontMatter.taxonomy.fieldGroups setting.

"frontMatter.taxonomy.fieldGroups": [
  {
    "id": "GeneralFields",
    "fields": [
      {
        "title": "Title",
        "name": "title",
        "type": "string",
        "single": true
      },
      {
        "title": "Description",
        "name": "description",
        "type": "string"
      }
    ]
  }
]

Properties

• fieldGroup: Define the field group that will be used to create a list of data.

{
  "name": "fieldCollection",
  "type": "fieldCollection",
  "fieldGroup": "GeneralFields"
}

Block

The block field type allows you to define a group of fields which can be used to create a list of data.

Prerequisites

To work with the block field type, you need to define a field group (a set of fields for your data) in the frontMatter.taxonomy.fieldGroups setting.

"frontMatter.taxonomy.fieldGroups": [
  {
    "id": "author",
    "labelField": "name",
    "fields": [
      {
        "title": "Author Name",
        "name": "name",
        "type": "string",
        "single": true
      },
      {
        "title": "Social link",
        "name": "social",
        "type": "string",
        "single": true
      }
    ]
  }
]

Info: You can use the same field types as you would use in the regular content types.

Properties

• fieldGroup: Define the field group(s) that will be used to create a list of data.

"frontMatter.taxonomy.contentTypes": [
  {
    "name": "page",
    "fields": [
      {
        "title": "Authors",
        "name": "authors",
        "type": "block",
        "fieldGroup": [
          "author"
        ]
      },
      ...
  }
]

Important: If you want, you can also create field groupings within the field grouping. This is useful when you want to create sub-groups of data.

---
authors:
  - name: Elio Struyf
    social: https://twitter.com/eliostruyf
    fieldGroup: author
---

Data file

The dataFile field type allows you to use a data file to populate the field with a list of options. For instance, if you have a data file with all the authors of your site, you can use the dataFile field type to populate the authors field with the data from the authors data file.

Prerequisites

To use the dataFile field type, you need to have a definition for a data file in place. Here is an example of the authors sample:

{
  "frontMatter.data.files": [
    {
      "id": "authors",
      "title": "Authors",
      "file": "[[workspace]]/data/authors.json", // Adapt to your needs
      "schema": {
        "title": "Author",
        "type": "object",
        "required": ["name", "url"],
        "properties": {
          "slug": {
            "title": "slug",
            "type": "string"
          },
          "name": {
            "title": "name",
            "type": "string"
          },
          "url": {
            "title": "url",
            "type": "string"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

Properties

• dataFileId: Specify the ID of the data file to use for this field (required).
• dataFileKey: Specify the key of the data file to use for this field (required).
• dataFileValue: Specify the property name that will be used to show the value for the field (optional).
• multiple: Specify if you want to select one or multiple records (optional).

"frontMatter.taxonomy.contentTypes": [
  {
    "name": "page",
    "fields": [
      {
        "title": "Author",
        "name": "author",
        "type": "dataFile",
        "dataFileId": "authors",
        "dataFileKey": "slug",
        "dataFileValue": "name",
        "multiple": true
      },
      ...
  }
]

---
author:
  - dorothy-parker
---

Slug

The slug field allows you to create/update the slug of the current page.

Properties

• editable: Specify if you allow manual changes, or if the slug is generated automatically (optional - default: true).

{
  "title": "Slug",
  "name": "slug",
  "type": "slug",
  "editable": true,
  "default": "{{slug}}"
}

---
slug: version-8-0-0-release-notes
---

Info: The slug is generated based on the title of the page. More information about it can be found in the slug documentation section.

contentRelationship

The contentRelationship field type allows you to create relationships between content. It can for instance be used to reference an author, or a related blog post.

Properties

• contentTypeName: The name of the content-type to link.
• contentTypeValue: The type of link/value you want to add. This can be slug, or path.
• multiple: Specify if you want to select one or multiple relationships (optional).

Example 1

{
  "title": "Session",
  "name": "session",
  "type": "contentRelationship",
  "contentTypeName": "session",
  "contentTypeValue": "slug"
}

---
session: /session-slug/
---

Example 2

{
  "title": "Session",
  "name": "session",
  "type": "contentRelationship",
  "contentTypeName": "session",
  "contentTypeValue": "slug",
  "multiple": true
}

---
session: 
  - /session1-slug/
  - /session2-slug/
---

customField

The customField field type allows you to create and add your own fields to render.

Important: This is an experimental feature, and might change in the future. To use it, you need to enable the exeperimental features, more information about it can be found in the experimental features section.

Properties

• customType: The name of the custom field type to use.

{
  "title": "Custom field",
  "name": "customField",
  "type": "customField",
  "customType": "customField"
}

The outcome depends on your custom field implementation.

Info: Check out registering a custom field for a sample implementation.

Divider

The divider field type allows you to add a divider to your content type. This is useful when you want to group fields together.

Properties

You only need to specify the type property and name:

{
  "name": "divider",
  "type": "divider"
}

Outcome

Heading

The heading field type allows you to add a heading to your content type. This is useful when you want to group fields together.

{
  "title": "Section title",
  "name": "sectionTitleWithDescription",
  "description": "This is just a dummy description to test out the field description",
  "type": "heading"
},
{
  "title": "Section title without description",
  "name": "sectionTitleWithoutDescription",
  "type": "heading"
}

Outcome