# Content Management Basics

> Source: https://agilitycms.com/docs/training-guide/content-editor-content-basics

This guide covers the fundamentals of working with content items in Agility CMS. Content items are standalone pieces of content that can be reused across multiple pages and components.

## What Are Content Items?

**Content Items** are standalone pieces of content that can be reused across multiple pages or components. This is one of Agility CMS's most powerful features.

### Why Use Content Items?

- **Reusability**: Update content in one place, see changes everywhere it's used
- **Consistency**: Ensure brand messaging and data stay consistent
- **Efficiency**: Don't duplicate content across pages

### Content Models vs Content Items

- **Content Model**: The blueprint that defines what fields a content item has (e.g., "Post" model defines title, body, author fields)
- **Content Item**: An actual instance created from a content model (e.g., "My First Blog Post" is a content item of type "Post")

Think of it like this:
- **Content Model** = A form template
- **Content Item** = A filled-out form

## Content Lists

Content items are organized into **Content Lists**. Each content list contains items of a specific content model type.

![Content List Example](https://cdn.aglty.io/agility-cms-docs/images/training-guide/assets/screenshots/agility-cms/03-content-posts-list.png)

*Content lists show all items of a specific type. Click on any item to edit it.*

## Creating a Content Item

![Content Item Create View](https://cdn.aglty.io/agility-cms-docs/images/training-guide/assets/screenshots/agility-cms/17-content-item-create-view.png)

1. Navigate to **Content** in the main navigation
2. Select the content list you want to work with (e.g., "Posts", "Authors")
3. Click **"Add Content"** or the **"+"** button
4. Fill in all required fields
5. For linked content fields (like Author or Category), click to select from existing items or create new ones
6. Click **"Save"**

### Field Types

Content items can have various field types:
- **Text**: Single-line text input
- **Rich Text**: Formatted text with formatting toolbar
- **Number**: Numeric values
- **Date/Time**: Date and time pickers
- **Image**: Image upload and selection
- **Linked Content**: Link to other content items
- **Multiple Linked Content**: Link to multiple content items
- **Boolean**: Checkbox (true/false)

## Editing Content Items

![Content Item Edit View](https://cdn.aglty.io/agility-cms-docs/images/training-guide/assets/screenshots/agility-cms/16-content-item-edit-view.png)

1. Navigate to **Content**
2. Select the content list
3. Click on the content item you want to edit
4. Make your changes
5. Click **"Save"**

### Rich Text Editing

![Rich Text Editor](https://cdn.aglty.io/agility-cms-docs/images/training-guide/assets/screenshots/agility-cms/22-rich-text-editor.png)

When editing rich text fields:
- Use the formatting toolbar for text styling
- Insert links, images, and other media
- Format text with headings, lists, and emphasis

## Linking Content Items

Content items can link to other content items. This creates relationships between content.

### Types of Links

- **One-to-One**: One content item links to one other item
- **One-to-Many**: One content item links to multiple items
- **Many-to-Many**: Multiple items can link to multiple items

### How to Link Content

1. When editing a content item, find a linked content field
2. Click the field to open the content picker
3. Select the content item(s) you want to link
4. Save the content item

**Example**: A blog post might link to:
- One Author (one-to-one)
- One Category (one-to-one)
- Multiple Tags (one-to-many)

## Content Item Status

Content items have publishing status:
- **Draft**: Not yet published
- **Published**: Live and available
- **Archived**: No longer active

![Publishing Status](https://cdn.aglty.io/agility-cms-docs/images/training-guide/assets/screenshots/agility-cms/25-publishing-status.png)

## Best Practices

1. **Use descriptive names**: Make content item titles clear and descriptive
2. **Fill required fields**: Ensure all required fields are completed
3. **Link related content**: Use linked content fields to create relationships
4. **Keep content reusable**: Design content items to be reusable across pages
5. **Use consistent formatting**: Follow formatting guidelines for consistency

## Common Tasks

### Finding Content Items

- Use the search bar in content lists
- Filter by various criteria
- Sort by different fields

### Bulk Operations

- Select multiple items using checkboxes
- Perform bulk actions (publish, delete, etc.)

### Organizing Content

- Use content lists to organize by type
- Use linked content to create relationships
- Use tags or categories for additional organization

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**Next**: [Pages Basics](/docs/training-guide/content-editor-pages-basics) - Creating and managing pages