What are Standard Values in Sitecore? (DUPLICATE)

What are Standard Values in Sitecore?

Standard values let you define default field values, default settings, and insert options for a data template. They appear in the content tree as a child item of the data template called __Standard Values. Standard values are used when a field value for an item is set to NULL. When viewing an item in the Content Editor, any field that contains a standard value is indicated by the token [standard value] immediately next to the field title.

Standard values provide initial values for all items based on a given data template. Each data template can have a standard values item, which can contain a standard value for each field in that data template and each of its base templates.

Here’s how standard values work:

1. Template Creation: When creating a template in Sitecore, you can set standard values, defining default field values for items created from that template.
2. Default Field Values: These predefined values serve as defaults for fields within items based on the template. Upon item creation, these values are automatically applied unless explicitly overridden.
3. Field Inheritance: If an item’s field lacks a value, Sitecore checks if standard values are defined for its template. If so, and the field remains empty, Sitecore populates it with the corresponding value from the standard values.

Key benefits and applications of _Standard Values in Sitecore 10 include:

1. Consistency: _Standard Values ensure consistency across items by providing default values for common fields. This consistency enhances user experience and maintains coherence in content presentation.
2. Efficiency: By automatically populating fields with default values, _Standard Values save time for content authors during item creation. This streamlines the content creation process, reduces errors, and enhances productivity.
3. Centralized Maintenance: Updates to default values or field configurations can be made centrally within the _Standard Values item. This centralized approach simplifies maintenance tasks and ensures that updates are applied consistently across all items based on the template.
4. Fallback Mechanism: _Standard Values serve as a fallback mechanism, ensuring that essential information is always present in items, even if users forget to input it manually. This helps maintain data integrity and prevents incomplete or missing content.
5. Versioning and History: Versioning of _Standard Values items allows tracking changes over time and facilitates reverting to previous versions if necessary. This provides a history of default values and enables effective management of revisions.
6. Integration with Workflow: _Standard Values seamlessly integrate with Sitecore’s workflow features, enabling the definition of approval processes and content governance rules. This ensures that changes to standard values undergo appropriate review and approval before being applied to items.