Reference Field

The reference field enables users to link one content model to another. For instance, consider two content models, Product and Category. A product may belong to multiple categories. In such a scenario, we create a reference field in the Product content model that refers to the Category model.

In this tutorial, we will learn how to use reference field. As an example, we will use the Product content model that we created in the Create Content Model tutorial. We will create another content model Category, and give the reference of Category in Product. We will do this in four steps:

• Step 1: Create a Category content model.
• Step 2: Add content entries to the Category content model.
• Step 3: Update the Product content model and add a category reference field to it.
• Step 4: Create a content entry in the Product content model with reference to the Category content model.

Step 1: Create 'Category' Content Model

We will create a category content model with the following attributes and fields.

If you are not familiar with how to create a content model, please follow the Create Content Model tutorial.

1. Create a content model with the following attributes:

   Field	Value
   Name	Category
   Group	If you have created a group, select that group, else select Ungrouped
   Description	Demo Category content model

2. Add the following field to the Category content model:

   Field	Field Type
   Name	Text

Step 2: Create 'Category' Content Entries

1. From the Side Menu, Click Headless CMS > Categories.

2. Click + NEW ENTRY.

   ✔️ The New Content Entry screen opens.

3. In the Name textbox, type Clothes.

4. Click SAVE & PUBLISH.

Optional: Similarly, you can create another Category content entry with name Accessories.

Step 3: Update 'Product' Content Model

1. From the Side Menu, Click Headless CMS > Models.

   ✔️ The Content Models screen opens.

2. Hover on the Product content model.

3. Click the EDIT CONTENT MODEL icon (✏️).

   ✔️ Screen to configure the content model’s fields opens.

4. Drag and drop the REFERENCE field in the EDIT tab.

   ✔️ Field Settings - Reference screen opens.

5. In the Label textbox, type Category.

6. In the Content Models dropdown, click Category.

7. Click the Use as a list of references button.

   Note: Since a product can belong to multiple categories, enabling Use as a list of references will allow us to associate multiple categories to a product.

8. Click SAVE FIELD.

   ✔️ Screen to configure the content model’s fields opens.

9. Click SAVE.

Step 4: Create 'Product' Content Entry With a Reference to 'Category'

1. From the Side Menu, Click Headless CMS > Products.

2. Click + NEW ENTRY.

   ✔️ The New Content Entry screen opens.

3. In the Name textbox, type Men’s Tiro ‘21 Pants.

4. In the Description textbox, type Men’s tapered track pants for versatile wear.

5. In the Price textbox, type 28.

6. In the Category dropdown, click Clothes.

7. Click SAVE & PUBLISH.