What is a Content Type?
Drupal defines a content type as a “pre-defined collection of data types (fields) which relate to each other by an informational context.” To put this simply, a content type is any content element on your site that requires its own unique fields and display, based on its purpose and the kind of content it contains. Content types are a great way to address inconsistent formatting and streamline navigation, helping to eliminate user confusion.
Another way to understand it is with the Tupperware analogy. Imagine each content type is a Tupperware box, some may be large, some may be small, some may have many compartments like a bento box, and some may only have one or two compartments. Now imagine each compartment is a field that you fill in, for example, the date, the name of an event, or an image file. Once your Tupperware/content type is built, it acts as a mold and can easily be re-used to ensure consistency.
Many websites have news items, blog posts, job listings, etc., as well as standard, informational pages—and each of these can be created using content types. Each one will have its own set of fields and place on the website, and will have one or more displays, such as a list (this may look like a filterable directory), map, calendar, or detail view.
Popular Content Types
Here is a list of some of the most common content types we provide our clients:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Alert | Causes an alert message to be displayed above all pages of the website or just the homepage |
| Bid | Allows for the addition of Bid Opportunities that can display both previous and current opportunities |
| Bylaw | Creates a directory of bylaws |
| Dark Site | Can be enabled in times of emergency and will overtake homepage content. This feature could be it's own content type, but is often attached to the Homepage content type. |
| Department | Creates a department listing with contact information |
| Directory | Allows for a filterable view of listings |
| Event | Adds event details, including date, time and location, to a calendar view |
| Meeting | Creates meeting events that can be displayed on a meeting calendar |
| News | Allows you to add and edit news pieces that display on the homepage, and on a separate news page |
| Park/Facility | Creates a directory of parks and facilities, including their location and available amenities |
| Resource | Allows for the reuse of resources, such as documents, guides and PDFs across your site |
| Job Posting | Posts open jobs with application information and open and close dates |
For more information on content types, you can check out our article on Understanding Drupal Content Types for more!
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Our team at Upanup is always striving to make this guide better and more accessible for our clients. We’d love to hear from you, so we can continue to improve this guide.