When you add a field to a collection, you choose a field type. That type decides what the editor sees (a single line, a calendar, a list of images) and what can be stored. Here’s when to use each and what it looks like.

Text and long-form

• Text — One line. Use for: titles, names, short labels.

Example: Title = “Welcome to our blog”; Product name = “Blue widget”.

• Textarea — Several lines of plain text (no bold or links). Use for: short descriptions, summaries, captions.

Example: Excerpt = “This post explains how to get started with Birkly in five steps.”

• Editor (type content-editor; alias editor) — Rich content with Visual and HTML tabs. Stored value is pure HTML. Supports project CSS preview, slash commands, and bundled components (callout, quote, CTA button). See Advanced Users below.

Media

• Media — One file (image or document). Use for: featured image, logo, one PDF. The editor picks from the Media Library.

Example: Featured image = “hero.jpg”; Brochure = “brochure.pdf”.

• Gallery — Several images (or files) in order. Use for: product photos, image carousels, before/after sets. You can reorder them.

Example: Product images = [“product-1.jpg”, “product-2.jpg”, “product-3.jpg”].

Numbers and dates

• Number — A number (whole or decimal). Use for: price, quantity, rating, weight. You can set min/max if needed.

Example: Price = 29.99; Stock = 100.

• Date — Just the date (no time). Use for: publication date, event date, birth date.

Example: Publication date = 2025-02-05.

• DateTime — Date and time. Use for: event start, scheduled publish time.

Example: Event start = 2025-03-15 14:00.

Choices

• Select — One choice from a list you define. Use for: category, status, size.

Example: Status = “Published”; Category = “Tutorials”.

• MultiSelect — Several choices from a list. Use for: multiple categories or fixed “tags.”

Example: Categories = [“Tutorials”, “News”].

• Radio — Same as Select but shown as radio buttons (good when there are only a few options).

• Checkbox — One yes/no. Use for: “In stock,” “Featured,” “Show on homepage.”

Example: In stock = checked.

• Tags — Free-form tags: the editor types a word and presses Enter, then another. Use for: flexible tagging (e.g. “birkly”, “cms”, “tutorial”).

Example: Tags = [“news”, “welcome”, “2025”].

Links and identity

• URL — A web address. Use for: “Website,” “Video link,” “More info.”

Example: Website = “https://example.com”.

• Email — An email address. Use for: contact email, author email.

Example: Contact = “hello@example.com”.

• Phone — A phone number with basic format validation. Use for: contact phone, support line.

Example: Phone = “+1 555 0100”.

• Toggle — A yes/no switch (same idea as Checkbox, different UI). Use for: feature flags, enable/disable options.

• Markdown — Long-form text with a Write/Preview tab. Stored as markdown; rendered to HTML on output. Use for: docs-style body content when you want plain-text source.

• oEmbed — A video or embed URL (YouTube, Vimeo). Stores the URL and renders an embed preview in the editor.

• Code — Monospace text for snippets or JSON. Optional JSON mode validates syntax on save.

Less common but useful

• Relation — Link to other entries (e.g. “Author” from a “Team” collection, or “Category” from a “Categories” collection). The editor picks one or more entries from another collection.
• Color — A colour (e.g. for brand or theme). Stored as a hex code.
• DynamicItems — Repeating blocks: each “item” has its own set of fields (e.g. FAQ: question + answer; Steps: title + description). Use when one entry needs several similar blocks.

Example: choosing types for a “Team member” collection

| Field | Type | Why | |---------|--------|-----| | Name | Text | Short name. | | Role | Text | Job title. | | Bio | Editor | Long text with formatting. | | Photo | Media | One image. | | Email | Email | Contact email. | | LinkedIn| URL | Profile link. |

Required: You can mark a field as required so the entry can’t be saved until that field is filled. Use that for things that must always be there (e.g. Title, Content).