Data sources
DataSourceType tells the Experiences SDK how to retrieve, filter, and order content for a player source (widget, entry point, or embedded container). Pick the type that matches how you want to select content, then configure the parameters for that type.
Data source types
| Type | Use when | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Labels | You filter and prioritize content with label expressions (most common) | Labels data source · Labels mechanism |
| Free text | Viewers search by query against content metadata | Free text search |
| Content IDs | You already have specific content IDs to show (for example, from your backend ranking). ID-based delivery adds integration and maintenance complexity.* | IDs data source |
| Recommendations | You want For you or Trending feeds for Moments and Stories | Recommendations data source · Content recommendations |
| Composite | You need one feed built from an ordered list of data sources (parallel fetch, merge, dedupe) | Composite data source |
* Content ID-based integrations considerations
- ID-based integration is valid but adds complexity to integration and maintenance. Before you commit to this path, talk to Support & Configuration to confirm the need and use case.
- When labels or free text can express the same selection, prefer those data source types instead.
Shared ordering and limits
Several data source types share the same order types, advanced order options, and item count settings. See Ordering and item limits for the full reference.
Widgets also support read-status ordering via shouldOrderWidgetByReadStatus (default true) so unread items surface before read items. See Ordering and item limits.
Related documentation
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Player sources | Where data sources attach in the SDK (widgets, entry points, and containers) |
| Labels mechanism | What labels are, filter vs priority, and explicit viewer interests |
| Content recommendations | Trending, explicit personalization, and implicit For you |
| CMS-configured widgets | Widgets whose settings come from Experiences CMS |
Updated about 1 month ago
Did this page help you?