What are SharePoint Content Types?

Content Type Gallery

Content Types Overview

  • Content Types are templates describing what fields will be available for an item or document.
  • The base content types are item or document and are available out-of-a-box in all SharePoint sites.
    • Content Types derived from item can only be added to Lists
    • Content Types derived from document can only be added to Libraries.
  • A custom content types is derived from a parent content type. Its “oldest” ancestor will be item or document.
  • Custom content types can be created in these locations:
    • Content Type Hub
    • Site
    • List or Library
  • If a content type is created at the Site level, it can be shared between List or Library and can be managed from the Site Settings page.
  • If a content type is created directly on a list, it cannot be reused, and can be managed from the List or Library Settings page.