The CMS Fields Usage Guide for Framer

In terms of content management, Framer CMS is significantly different from WordPress. WordPress tends to build article pages through visual module components—elements such as titles, paragraphs, images, and videos can all be added and adjusted via drag-and-drop. This approach is intuitive and modular. Framer, however, follows a completely different logic. Instead of assembling content with components, it uses Fields to provide insertable elements and data structures for article pages. For beginners, the concept of “fields” in Framer may sound a bit abstract—familiar yet not fully clear. In reality, fields are not difficult to understand; they are the core mechanism that enables flexible content management and dynamic data referencing in the CMS.

In this article, I will give you a complete overview of Framer fields—their concept, how to add them, the different field types, and the system presets. Along the way, I’ll also demonstrate practical use cases for common fields, helping you quickly move from “partial understanding” to “proficient application,” and build a solid foundation for future design and content management.

What Are Fields in Framer CMS?

In Framer CMS, fields are the core modules for managing and presenting article content. You can think of a field as a “content container,” where each field corresponds to a specific type of content within an article, such as a title, paragraph, image, or video. When you enter content in the article editor, you are essentially filling data into different fields.

Unlike traditional drag-and-drop components, Framer doesn’t add elements directly onto the page. Instead, it first defines the content structure through fields, which are then referenced within the page. The advantage of this approach is the complete separation of content and presentation—you can update content without altering the page design, and the same field data can be reused across different pages or templates.

1 The Relationship Between Fields and Dynamic Data

Fields in Framer are not just simple input boxes—they also support dynamic data. In simple terms, dynamic data means that the information stored in a field can be read by the system or template in the backend and displayed on the page, rather than being fixed as static content within the page.

For example, if you create a field called “Product Description” and enter different text each time you edit an article in the backend, that content will dynamically appear on the frontend page through the field. This makes fields especially valuable in scenarios where you need to display large amounts of repeated modules or generate pages dynamically.

2 Field Types and Use Cases

Framer CMS provides multiple field types, each designed to meet different content needs:

• Text Field: Used for titles, paragraphs, or short descriptive content.

• Image Field: Used for uploading and displaying images.

• Link Field: Used to insert internal or external links.

• Slug Field: Used to define the URL suffix of an article.

• Date Field: Used to display an article’s publication date.

These field types allow you to flexibly structure article content. Whether it’s a single post or a complex CMS collection, fields make content management straightforward and efficient.

3 Advantages of Fields

• Centralized content management: All article data is managed through fields, making bulk edits and updates easier.

• Flexible reuse: The same field can be reused across different pages or templates, reducing repetitive work.

• Dynamic support: With dynamic data, page content can be updated automatically, improving publishing efficiency.

Understanding fields is the first step to mastering content management in Framer CMS. Once you’re familiar with the concept and usage of fields, you’ll be able to structure article content as freely as building with blocks—while maintaining a high degree of flexibility between page design and content.

How to Add and Configure Framer CMS Fields

In Framer CMS, fields are the core modules for building article content. Mastering how to add and configure fields allows you to manage content more efficiently while ensuring flexibility and consistency in page presentation. The following are detailed steps and explanations.

1 How to Add and Configure Framer CMS Fields

In Framer CMS, fields are the core modules for building article content. Mastering how to add and configure fields enables you to manage content more efficiently while ensuring flexibility and consistency in page presentation. Below are the detailed steps and instructions.

1). Step 1: Enter Field Editing Mode

First, in the Articles section of your CMS collection, locate and click the “Edit Fields” button in the top toolbar.

After clicking, the Field Operations window will appear. The left side displays a list of existing fields in the collection, while the right side shows the configuration options for the selected field. Here, you can modify existing fields or add new ones to expand the content structure of your articles.

2). Step 2: Add a New Field

In the top-right corner of the Field Operations window, click the “+” button to open the menu of available field types. Framer offers a variety of field types to meet different content needs, such as:

• Plain Text / Formatted Text: For titles or paragraph text

• Date: Date field

• Link: Link field

• Image: Image field

• Gallery: Image collection field

• Number: Number field

• File: File upload field

• Reference / Multi-Reference: Link to content from other collections

• Divider: Content divider

Once you select the desired field type, it will be added to the left-hand field list, ready for configuration.

3). Step 3: Configure Field Properties

After selecting a field from the left-hand field list, you can configure its properties on the right side. These settings directly affect the editing experience in the article content interface and how the field’s data is displayed. Configuration options vary depending on the field type, so they should be adjusted according to the specific characteristics of each field.

4). Step 4: Use Fields in the Article Editing Interface

Once configured, each article will display the field input boxes you set up during editing. Content editors simply fill in the corresponding fields, and the frontend page will dynamically display this content based on the fields.

This approach allows you to manage article content flexibly while maintaining a high level of consistency and reusability between page design and content.

Essential Default Fields in Framer CMS

In Framer CMS, article pages come with several default core fields. These fields not only form the basic structure of the article content but are also essential for proper page display and SEO optimization. In other words, if an article were like a house, these fields would be the foundation and framework—indispensable.

The essential default fields include Title, Slug, Date, Image, Categories, and Content. Below, we’ll explain the role of each field and their significance in real-world projects.

1 Title — Article Title

The Title field determines the article’s headline. It is displayed directly on the page and is also the most important element in the browser tab and search engine results.

In the frontend code, the Title maps to the <title> tag, making it crucial for SEO optimization.

1). Title Field Usage Recommendations

• Keep titles concise and impactful, ideally within 60 characters.

• Incorporate relevant keywords naturally to improve the article’s visibility in search engines.

• Avoid overly generic or repetitive titles to ensure uniqueness.

2 Slug — Page URL Suffix

The Slug field determines the article’s access URL, specifically the last part of the URL. For example:

https://yourdomain.com/blog/this-is-the-slug

The Slug is equally important for SEO and user experience. A clear and concise slug not only makes it easier for users to remember but also helps search engines index the page.

1). Slug Field Usage Recommendations

• Keep it short and use hyphens (-) to separate words (Framer defaults to using hyphens between words).

• Use lowercase letters and avoid spaces or special characters (Framer automatically enforces lowercase and converts spaces to hyphens).

• Make the slug relevant to the article topic, for example: “framer-cms-guide.”

3 Date — Article Date

The Date field records the publication date of the article. It is commonly used for sorting article lists, archiving, and displaying the “publish date” on the frontend page.

1). Date Field Usage Recommendations

• For news, blogs, or changelog websites, the date is especially important, helping users quickly assess the freshness of the content.

• If articles are frequently updated, consider displaying the “last updated date” as well.

4 Image — Article Cover Image

The Image field is typically used as the article’s cover image or thumbnail. It not only affects the visual appeal of the page but also appears in social media share cards and search result previews.

1). Image Field Usage Recommendations

• Use clear, high-quality images, with recommended aspect ratios of 16:9 or 4:3.

• Give images descriptive file names (e.g., framer-cms-fields.png) to help with SEO.

• Add alt text to images so search engines understand their content and to improve accessibility for users.

• Maintain a consistent style to enhance overall visual cohesion.

5 Categories — Article Categories

The Categories field is used to assign categories to an article. It helps create a clear information structure on the website, allowing users to find related content more quickly.

1). Categories Field Usage Recommendations

• Keep category names concise and clear, for example: “Tutorials,” “Updates,” “Design Ideas.”

• Avoid having too many or duplicate categories, as this can make the structure appear cluttered.

• On the frontend, categories can be used to create article navigation or filters.

6 Content — Article Body

The Content field is the core field of an article, containing the main text, formatting, images, and references. It is the part that users actually read and from which they obtain information.

1). Content Field Usage Recommendations

• Keep the structure clear and use paragraphs appropriately.

• Insert images or quotes moderately to enhance readability.

• Pay attention to SEO-related elements, such as H2/H3 headings, summaries, and keyword placement.

Framer CMS six default fields already cover the core elements of an article page: Title, Slug, Date, Image, Categories, and Content. Understanding their roles and configuring them according to your needs is the first step to efficiently managing content with Framer CMS.

Conclusion

Through this article, you should now have a clear and systematic understanding of the field system in Framer CMS. From grasping the core role of default fields, to learning how to add and configure custom fields, and finally to applying them flexibly in real projects, fields are no longer just a backend setting—they are key to dynamic and structured content management.

Mastering the use of fields not only helps you manage content more efficiently but also enhances the flexibility and professionalism of page design and data presentation. In future projects, you’ll find that leveraging fields is like holding a master key, allowing you to easily handle diverse content requirements.

If you want to further improve your website’s content management efficiency or need professional Framer development support, contact Jane Framer Studio—we provide a one-stop solution from design to development.