---
title: "Glossary"
manual: "TypoScript Explained"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tsref:glossary@main"
source: "Glossary.rst"
rendered: "2026-09-19T06:55:14+00:00"
---

# Glossary {#glossary}

We use the terms as explained in [TypoScript Syntax](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tsref:typoscript-syntax@main),
with some modifications:

We differentiates between Object paths, Objects,
properties and values.

To reuse the OOP analogy and compare with PHP:

| TypoScript Configuration | PHP classes |
| --- | --- |
| **property** | property |
| **object** (is defined by / is an instantiation of an object type) | object (is defined by / is an instantiation of a class) |
| **object type** = complex data type | class |
| **simple datatype** | PHP primitive data type |
| text = TEXT | $text = new Text() |

Example 1 (assign value to property in object1:

**EXT:site_package/Configuration/Sets/Main/setup.typoscript**

```typoscript
object1 = OBJECTTYPE1
object1 {
  property = value
}

```

Example 2:

**EXT:site_package/Configuration/Sets/Main/setup.typoscript**

```typoscript
# here, object1 is defined as type OBJECTTYPE1
#   "OBJECTTYPE1" is an object type, so is OTHER
object1 = OBJECTTYPE1
object1 {
  object2 = OTHER
  object2 {
    property = value
  }
}

```

Note: OBJECTTYPE1 and OTHER are not real object types (as used in TypoScript) and are used here only to
illustrate the example.

-   **Variable:**

    Is anything on the left side of an assignment, e.g. in Example 1,
    the variable is `property`, the full variable path is `object.property`.
    The variable can be a property with a simple datatype or an "object type".

-   **Property:**

    (= simple variable) A variable with a simple data type. The terms "object"
    and "property" are mutually exclusive. "Object" and "property" are both
    "variables".

-   **"Object":**

    In the context of TypoScript configuration, objects are complex variables and
    have a complex data type. They contain one or more variables.

-   **Value:**

    The right side of the assignment. It must be of the correct data type.

-   **Data type**

    Variables usually have a fixed data type. It may be a **simple data type**
    (such as a string) or it may be a **complex data type** (= **Object Type**).

-   **Simple data type**

    != Complex data type. If a variable has a simple data type, it cannot be
    assigned an object. Hence, it is a property.

-   **Object type**

    = **complex data type**. If a variable is an object and thus
    has a complex data type, it will contain several variables.
    In example 2 above, `object1` has a complex data type, as does
    `object2`, but not `property`. Complex data types are usually
    spelled in full caps, e.g. CONTENT, TEXT, PAGE etc. The exception
    is the abstract complex data type `cObject` from which the data
    type CONTENT, TEXT etc. are derived.

-   **Object path:**

    The full path of an object. In the example above `object1.object2`
    is an object path

-   **Variable path**

    The full path of a variable. In the example above
    `object1.object2.property` is a variable path.

-   **cObject data type**

    This is an (abstract) complex data type. Specific cObject data types,
    such as TEXT, IMAGE etc. are all cObject data types. They are usually
    used for content elements.

-   **Top level objects**

    As described in [TypoScript syntax](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tsref:typoscript-syntax@main)
    TypoScript configuration is converted into a multidimensional PHP array.
    You can view this in the [Submodule "Active TypoScript"](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tsref:submodule-active-typoscript@main). Top level
    objects are located on the top level. Top level objects are for
    example `config`, `page` and `plugin`.