Choose Between a Multiple Item Collection (Default) and a Single Item Collection
6 min
Create a CMS (Content Management System) collection to store and manage content for your site. You can choose between a multiple item collection, which is the default, or a single item collection. This decision affects how you manage and display your items on your site.
How do I decide which collection type to use?
- Use a multiple item collection if you need to display multiple items that can change or be updated regularly. This type of collection allows you to manage multiple items in a table layout. This is ideal for displaying items on dynamic pages or site elements like product listings, blog posts, or portfolios. You can also use the collection to store content that visitors submit through input element forms.
Tip: Using this type of collection and dynamic pages allows your site to have more pages than the 100 static page limit. - Use a single item collection if you need to manage and display a specific item that will not change frequently, such as a banner image or a testimonial. This type of collection is used to manage a single item or item set separately from the design and display of other items. This is useful for elements like a homepage header or footer where you need to display a specific item or set of items.
Learn more about
the differences between these collection types.
Can I change the type of collection after it's been created?
No, you cannot change the type of collection after it has been created. Make sure to choose the appropriate collection type for your needs from the beginning. You can always
delete a collection and create a new one.
Can I use code with my collections?
Yes, you can use code to interact with your collections. This is particularly useful for advanced customizations and functionalities. Ensure you set a collection ID if you plan to use code.
What content can I store in each field type?
The field type you choose determines what kind of content you can store in the field. Choose from the following CMS field types:
- Essentials:
- Text: Store plain text for use with titles, descriptions, and other text-based content.
- Rich Text: Create and manage text using formatting options, directly in your CMS.
- Rich Content: Create and manage content with rich text formatting, media embeds, and other advanced features directly in your CMS.
- URL: Store web addresses for use with creating hyperlinks and navigational links. You can use the following formats only: http://, https://, ftp://, mailto:, sms:, tel:
Note: Web addresses must be in the format http:// or https://. Entries that start with www. are automatically converted to http://. - Email: Store email addresses. This field ensures the address is in a valid format so links work correctly. You can connect it to buttons to allow visitors to send emails with one click.
- Number: Store numerical data for various purposes (e.g. quantity, price, dimensions).
- Boolean: Store binary "true" or "false" values that appear as checkboxes in the collection fields.
- Color: Save HEX numbers that represent colors. You can use the colors in connected text elements, buttons, and section backgrounds.
- Organization & Reference:
- Reference: Create a relationship between content items by referencing another content item.
- Multi-Reference: Create many relationships between content items by referencing multiple other content items. Those references can also be linked to multiple sources.
- Tags: Manage and categorize content items using keywords or descriptive labels.
- Category: Assign items to categories for organizing and filtering content. Categories are managed in category collections and create automatic two-way connections. When you add a 'Category' field, Wix automatically creates an 'Assigned Items' field in the connected category collection and a hidden 'Primary Category' field in your items collection. Learn more about using category collections.
- Media:
- Image: Store image files such as JPG, PNG, and GIF file types.
Tip: You can add images to fields by pasting their image URLs in the fields. - Media Gallery: Store multiple images or videos in each field.
- Video: Store single video files for each item using file types such as AVI, MPEG, MOV and more.
- Audio: Store single audio files for each item using file types such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, and more.
- Document: Store single document files for each item such as PDFs, CSVs, and more. Tip: You can add documents to fields by pasting their document URLs in the fields.
- Multiple documents: Store multiple document files for each item. You can also add multiple documents to fields by pasting their URLs in the fields.
- Digital asset: Store one secured file per item for delivery to customers after purchase. Only available in catalog collections, where it can be mapped as the digital file for sale. Learn more about the 'Digital asset' field type.
- Image: Store image files such as JPG, PNG, and GIF file types.
- Time and location:
- Date: Store date values associated with content items.
Note: The Include time field checkbox has been replaced by the 'Date and Time' field type. If you previously enabled Include time field for a 'Date' field, it was automatically converted to 'Date and Time'. No action is needed, and your existing data was kept. - Date and Time: Store both date and exact time values associated with content items.
- Time: Store time information for associated items independently of the date.
- Address: Store structured data for physical addresses such as street names, city, state or province, postal code, and country.
- Date: Store date values associated with content items.
- Javascript (Velo code):
- Object: Manage complex and structured data using custom objects or data structures. You can use the object field type to store and organize multiple related pieces of data as a single unit.
- Array: Input and manage multiple values within a single field. You can use the array field type to handle a collection of related data, such as a list of options, tags, or other sets of related values.
Learn more about
supported field types and their limitations.
What's a dynamic page?
Dynamic pages use a consistent layout and design, while changing their content based on the page's connected collection items.
There are two types of dynamic pages:
- Dynamic list pages: These can showcase several items from a collection in galleries or repeaters. They allow visitors to click an item to go to its dynamic item page where they can view more details about the selected item.
- Dynamic item pages: These are automatically created for every item in your page's connected collection. They display details about individual collection items in various page elements that connect to fields in your collection.
Learn more about:
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