Metadata reference
Last updated:
Manual pages in strombetta/helium-docs use YAML front matter to identify their purpose, ownership domain, applicable version, support state, and review status. This page defines the human-readable metadata contract. Automated schema validation is implemented separately.
Use only documented fields and controlled values. Add a new value only when a concrete navigation, search, validation, ownership, or release requirement needs it.
Minimum front matter
Every published manual page uses these fields:
---
title: Protect ASP.NET Core endpoints
description: Protect application endpoints by applying Helium authorization policies.
content_type: how-to
area: authorization
version: 1.x
status: stable
last_reviewed: 2026-07-30
---
Required fields
title
The page title used by navigation, search, and HTML metadata.
Requirements:
- normally matches the page
H1exactly; - uses sentence case;
- describes the subject or task clearly;
- starts with a verb for how-to pages;
- avoids repeating
Heliumwhen the site context is sufficient.
description
A short description used in search results, cards, and HTML metadata.
Requirements:
- explains what the reader can do or understand;
- remains meaningful outside the local TOC context;
- does not repeat the title without adding information;
- uses one concise sentence in most cases;
- avoids promotional or unsupported claims.
content_type
Identifies the page's dominant editorial purpose.
Allowed values:
| Value | Purpose |
|---|---|
index |
Orient readers within a section or capability. |
overview |
Explain what an area provides and when it applies. |
concept |
Explain a model, relationship, lifecycle, invariant, or behavior. |
tutorial |
Teach through a complete and ordered scenario. |
how-to |
Show how to complete one specific task. |
reference |
Provide exact and systematically structured information. |
troubleshooting |
Diagnose a symptom and resolve it using evidence. |
release |
Explain release changes, compatibility, deprecations, or upgrades. |
A page has one content_type. Supporting sections do not create additional types.
area
Identifies the primary functional or documentation domain that owns the page.
Initial allowed values:
| Group | Values |
|---|---|
| Product and onboarding | product, getting-started, architecture |
| Application capabilities | configuration, identity, onboarding, organizations, authorization, billing, entitlements, communications |
| Extension and operation | extensibility, persistence, durable-processing, hosting, deployment, diagnostics, security, testing, performance |
| Documentation systems | troubleshooting, compatibility, api, contributing |
Select one primary area even when a page links to several domains. Cross-domain relationships belong in the page content and related links.
version
Identifies the documentation line to which the page applies.
Initial allowed values:
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
all |
Version-independent documentation, primarily contribution guidance or stable general concepts. |
1.x |
Applies to the Helium 1.x documentation line. |
preview |
Applies only to unreleased or preview behavior. |
Do not use patch versions for ordinary pages. Add a new version value only when that documentation line exists.
status
Identifies the support state of the documented feature or behavior.
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
stable |
Supported for ordinary use in the applicable release line. |
preview |
Available for evaluation and subject to change. |
deprecated |
Still available but scheduled for replacement or removal. |
legacy |
Maintained primarily for compatibility with an older supported path. |
unsupported |
Documented for clarity but outside the supported product scope. |
status does not represent whether the document is a draft or has completed editorial review.
last_reviewed
The date on which a responsible reviewer last verified the page against the applicable framework behavior and documentation standards.
Format:
last_reviewed: YYYY-MM-DD
Do not update this field for spelling changes, formatting-only changes, or automated migrations that do not include substantive technical review.
Conditional fields
uid
A stable logical identifier that can survive file moves.
uid: authorization-protect-endpoints
Use lowercase words separated by hyphens. Do not include the content type, version, or complete file path. UIDs must be unique.
UIDs are initially recommended for:
- fundamental concepts;
- manual reference pages;
- pages used by learning paths;
- highly linked task pages.
level
Use primarily for tutorials, learning paths, and selected how-to guides.
Allowed values:
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
beginner |
Requires no previous Helium experience and follows the primary supported path. |
intermediate |
Assumes completion of Getting started and combines several Helium concepts. |
advanced |
Requires detailed knowledge of extension, architecture, operation, or compatibility boundaries. |
Level does not determine TOC placement.
audience
Identifies an audience when that distinction changes prerequisites, terminology, or task framing.
Initial allowed values:
developer;technical-lead;operator;contributor.
Example:
audience:
- developer
- operator
Do not add audience metadata merely because several roles might read the page.
keywords
Adds search terms and established synonyms that do not appear naturally in the title or description.
keywords:
- tenant context
- current organization
Do not repeat common terms already used throughout the page or add broad SEO keywords.
owner
Identifies a stable team, functional area, or repository alias responsible for review.
owner: authorization
Prefer stable ownership identifiers over individual names.
source
Identifies framework artifacts closely associated with the page.
source:
- Trombetta.SaaS
- Trombetta.SaaS.Hosting.AspNetCore
Use this field when it supports ownership, drift detection, or automated review routing. It is not required for general overview content.
Presentation fields
Use presentation fields only when the standard article layout does not fit the page. They begin with an underscore because they are interpreted by DocFX rather than by the Helium content model.
_layout
Selects a supported modern-template layout.
| Value | Use |
|---|---|
landing |
Section or product landing pages that do not use the standard three-column article layout. |
chromeless |
Exceptional pages that require no ordinary site chrome. |
The documentation homepage uses landing. Ordinary articles must not set this field.
Layout controls
The following Boolean fields suppress standard navigation elements for exceptional pages:
| Field | Effect |
|---|---|
_disableToc |
Hides the left table of contents. |
_disableAffix |
Hides the right In this article rail. |
_disableBreadcrumb |
Hides the breadcrumb. |
_disableContribution |
Hides the built-in edit action. |
_disableNextArticle |
Hides previous and next article links. |
_disableTocFilter |
Hides the local TOC filter. |
_noindex |
Excludes the page from DocFX search results. |
Do not use these fields to work around an incorrect TOC placement or poor page structure. The homepage may disable article-only controls; ordinary pages inherit the global navigation behavior.