Field Types

The CMS form editor is built directly from the field definitions in your manifest. Each field’s type decides what the input control looks like, how data is validated, and how the value is stored on disk. This page is the full reference. Pick the type that matches the kind of data, and the editor takes care of the rest.

Common Field Properties

Every field type accepts these properties:

Property	Type	Description
`name`	string	Required. The key under which the value is stored. Lowercase, valid identifier.
`type`	string	Required. One of the types listed below.
`label`	string	Optional human-readable label shown in the form. Defaults to a Title-Cased `name`.
`description`	string	Optional helper text shown below the input.
`required`	boolean	If `true`, the entry won’t save without a value.
`default`	any	Default value for new entries.
`hidden`	boolean	If `true`, the field exists in the schema but is not shown in the form (useful for system fields).

Type-specific properties (like options for select or collection for reference) are documented per type below.

string

A single-line text value. UI: A text input, or a textarea if multiline: true. Stores: A JSON string in the entry file. Properties:

Property	Description
`multiline`	Render a textarea instead of a single-line input
`maxLength`	Maximum character count
`pattern`	Regex pattern the value must match

{ "name": "title", "type": "string", "required": true, "maxLength": 80 }

{ "name": "excerpt", "type": "string", "multiline": true, "maxLength": 280 }

number

A numeric value (integer or floating point). UI: A numeric input with optional min/max/step. Stores: A JSON number. Properties:

Property	Description
`min`	Minimum allowed value
`max`	Maximum allowed value
`step`	Step increment (use `1` for integers)
`integer`	If `true`, only whole numbers are accepted

{ "name": "price", "type": "number", "required": true, "min": 0 }

{ "name": "readingTime", "type": "number", "integer": true, "min": 1 }

boolean

A true/false value. UI: A toggle switch. Stores: true or false JSON literal.

{ "name": "featured", "type": "boolean", "default": false }

date

An ISO-8601 date or datetime. UI: A date picker (or datetime picker if time: true). Stores: A JSON string in YYYY-MM-DD or full ISO format. Properties:

Property	Description
`time`	If `true`, capture time as well as date

{ "name": "publishedAt", "type": "date", "time": true, "required": true }

markdown

Long-form Markdown content. UI: A split-pane editor with live preview, syntax highlighting, image drop, and shortcuts. The same control is used for the body of MDX entries when isBody: true. Stores: Markdown source — either as a JSON string (for JSON collections) or as the body of the MDX file (when isBody: true). Properties:

Property	Description
`isBody`	When `true` on an MDX collection, this field becomes the body of the file. Exactly one body field per MDX collection.

{ "name": "body", "type": "markdown", "isBody": true }

{ "name": "longDescription", "type": "markdown" }

MDX bodies support React components imported from your project — useful for embedding charts, callouts, or custom layouts inside long-form content.

color

A color value. UI: A color picker with hex input. Stores: A JSON string in #rrggbb or #rrggbbaa form.

{ "name": "accent", "type": "color", "default": "#3b82f6" }

url

A URL. UI: A text input with URL validation. Stores: A JSON string. Validated against URL syntax on save.

{ "name": "website", "type": "url" }

image

An image asset. UI: An upload dropzone with drag-and-drop, paste support, and an “Choose existing” button that opens the project’s media library. Resizes and serves through Hiveku’s image CDN automatically. Stores: A JSON string with the path to the uploaded file (e.g. /uploads/hero.jpg), or an object with src, alt, width, height if metadata: true. Properties:

Property	Description
`metadata`	If `true`, store `{ src, alt, width, height }` instead of just a path
`accept`	Comma-separated list of MIME types (default `image/*`)

{ "name": "heroImage", "type": "image", "metadata": true }

file

A non-image file asset (PDF, video, audio, archives). UI: Same upload dropzone as image, with a generic file preview. Stores: A JSON string with the upload path. Properties:

Property	Description
`accept`	MIME types or extensions (e.g. `"application/pdf,.zip"`)
`maxSize`	Maximum file size in bytes

{ "name": "datasheet", "type": "file", "accept": "application/pdf" }

select

One of a fixed set of values. UI: A dropdown (or a radio group for short option lists). Stores: A JSON string matching one of the option values. Properties:

Property	Description
`options`	Array of option strings, or `[{ value, label }]` objects for custom labels
`multiple`	If `true`, becomes a multi-select that stores an array

{
  "name": "status",
  "type": "select",
  "options": ["draft", "published", "archived"],
  "default": "draft"
}

{
  "name": "category",
  "type": "select",
  "options": [
    { "value": "news", "label": "News & Updates" },
    { "value": "tutorial", "label": "Tutorials" },
    { "value": "case-study", "label": "Case Studies" }
  ]
}

array

A list of values, all of the same shape. UI: A reorderable list with add/remove buttons. Each row renders the editor for the items type. Stores: A JSON array. Properties:

Property	Description
`items`	The type of each element. Can be a primitive (`"string"`, `"number"`, `"image"`) or a full field definition (`{ "type": "object", "fields": [...] }`)
`minItems`	Minimum number of items
`maxItems`	Maximum number of items

{ "name": "tags", "type": "array", "items": "string" }

{ "name": "gallery", "type": "array", "items": "image", "maxItems": 12 }

{
  "name": "features",
  "type": "array",
  "items": {
    "type": "object",
    "fields": [
      { "name": "title", "type": "string", "required": true },
      { "name": "icon", "type": "string" },
      { "name": "description", "type": "string", "multiline": true }
    ]
  }
}

object

A grouped set of fields edited together. UI: A collapsible group of nested form controls. Stores: A nested JSON object. Properties:

Property	Description
`fields`	The list of nested fields, each a normal field definition

{
  "name": "seo",
  "type": "object",
  "fields": [
    { "name": "title", "type": "string", "maxLength": 60 },
    { "name": "description", "type": "string", "multiline": true, "maxLength": 160 },
    { "name": "ogImage", "type": "image" }
  ]
}

reference

A pointer to another collection’s entry. UI: A picker that opens a searchable list of entries from the target collection. The picker shows each entry’s title field for easy identification. Stores: A JSON string with the referenced entry’s slug, or an array of slugs if multiple: true. Properties:

Property	Description
`collection`	Required. The target collection’s `id`.
`multiple`	If `true`, stores an array of references
`displayField`	Field name to show in the picker (defaults to `title` or `name`)

{ "name": "author", "type": "reference", "collection": "authors", "required": true }

{
  "name": "relatedPosts",
  "type": "reference",
  "collection": "blog",
  "multiple": true,
  "displayField": "title"
}

See Linking Collections with References for full examples and how to render referenced data on the page.

Choosing a Type

A few rules of thumb:

Long-form prose with formatting? markdown (and isBody: true if it’s the main body of an MDX entry).
Short text? string. Add multiline: true for things like excerpts or short descriptions.
A fixed set of choices? select. Use multiple: true for multi-select.
A list of similar things? array. Set items to a primitive or to an object for richer rows.
A pointer to another piece of content? reference. Don’t duplicate fields across collections — link them.
Something that should just be one record? Use a singleton collection (manifest-level singleton: true) and put your fields directly on it.

Once an entry has data for a field, removing the field from the manifest hides it from the form but leaves the value in the file. Re-adding the field restores the editor. Renaming a field is more invasive — ask the AI to migrate the data.

What’s Next?

The Manifest

How fields fit into the larger manifest schema

Collections

Reusable patterns for blog, products, and more

References

Link collections together with reference fields

Editing Content

See how each field type renders in the CMS panel

Get Started

AI Assistant

Code Editor

CMS

Email Marketing

Commerce

Calendar

Communications

Sales

Publishing

Email

Integrations

How-Tos

Account & Settings

Common Field Properties

string

number

boolean

date

markdown

color

url

image

file

select

array

object

reference

Choosing a Type

What’s Next?

The Manifest

Collections

References

Editing Content

Get Started

AI Assistant

Code Editor

CMS

Email Marketing

Commerce

Calendar

Communications

Sales

Publishing

Email

Integrations

How-Tos

Account & Settings

​Common Field Properties

​string

​number

​boolean

​date

​markdown

​color

​url

​image

​file

​select

​array

​object

​reference

​Choosing a Type

​What’s Next?

The Manifest

Collections

References

Editing Content

Common Field Properties

string

number

boolean

date

markdown

color

url

image

file

select

array

object

reference

Choosing a Type

What’s Next?