Content type

A managed, reusable structure for creating and delivering content for a specific purpose. Not to be confused with content format.

Definition

A content type is a managed, reusable structure for creating and delivering content for a specific purpose. They have different attributes that command the content items that use them to appear and behave in a certain way.

Content types are intended to be technology-agnostic, in part so they’re easy to migrate from one content management system (CMS) to another. But in practice, they’re closely tied to the CMS in which they’re implemented. For example, Whitehall, the GOV.UK CMS for departmental content, has over 40 content types that are well-established and described.

Do not confuse a content type with a content format. On GOV.UK, for example, a PDF (an example of a content format) can be attached to many different content types, for example, a consultation, policy paper and official statistics.

Source

• GOV.UK content design guidance on content types
• Kontent.ai glossary entry on content types

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