Asset parameter

The Asset parameter is how editors add media to a composition, entry, or pattern. The parameter can hold one or more assets, sourced from the Uniform Asset Library, connected DAM systems, a data resource, or a custom URL. Each asset carries the metadata needed to deliver optimized media across any channel.

tip

For details on adding the asset parameter to a component, refer to the parameter guide. To add assets to a content type, refer to the field guide.

An asset parameter can pull from several different sources. Each source surfaces in the asset selector sidebar with its own search, filtering, and preview interface.

Pick assets from the built-in Uniform Asset Library or from a connected DAM by using integrations.

You can select assets from any existing data resource for entries. For example, this is useful when you want to use an image from the current product entry on a component in a product detail page.

When the selected data resource exposes a focal point, the parameter automatically connects the asset's focal point field to the data resource's focal point. See connect the focal point to a data resource.

The Custom source lets you point the parameter at an arbitrary external URL that is publicly accessible. The URL field accepts dynamic tokens, so the URL can be resolved at runtime from a data resource.

Only http(s) URLs are supported. Once the URL is locked in, the view switches to the Edit asset pane so you can supply a title, description, and other metadata.

When you open a composition, entry, or pattern that has an asset parameter, the parameter renders inline on the property panel. Its layout varies depending on whether it is empty, or set up for single or multiple assets.

When no assets are selected, a wide drop zone appears, inviting users to add assets by dropping a file or uploading from their computer. Inside the drop zone, beneath the upload prompt, icons are shown for the Uniform Asset Library and each connected DAM integration (such as Cloudinary or Bynder). You can:

  • Drop a file anywhere on the drop zone to upload an asset directly.
  • Click the drop zone to browse for a file to upload.
  • Click any asset source icon to jump straight into the Add to selection step for that source.
Empty asset parameter with drop zone and asset source icons.
An empty asset parameter showing the upload drop zone and asset source icons.

When the asset parameter is set up to hold a single asset, the property panel shows a single, large thumbnail of the asset. You can:

  • Drop a file onto the thumbnail to swap the asset (a Drop to swap overlay appears while you drag). See drag-and-drop upload and swap.
  • Click the Edit button or click on the thumbnail to open the asset's detail view in the asset selector, where you can swap, edit, or remove the asset.
Asset parameter with a single image thumbnail and Edit button.
An asset parameter holding a single asset, with the thumbnail and Edit button.

When the parameter holds multiple assets, the property panel shows a grid of thumbnails with drag handles. You can:

  • Reorder assets by dragging them. The order is preserved in the API response.
  • Drop a file onto a thumbnail to swap that specific asset, or onto the add more tile to append a new asset to the selection.
  • Click Edit on any item to manage the current selection in the asset selector.
Asset parameter with a row of image thumbnails and an upload tile.
An asset parameter holding multiple assets, with thumbnails and an upload tile to add more.

Clicking Edit on the canvas opens a modal with multiple views for selecting, editing, and managing assets on the parameter. You switch between views using the buttons in the modal header.

This is the default view when the parameter holds more than one asset. The header shows a counter of currently selected assets, with Remove all and Add to selection actions on the right.

  • Click any asset in the grid to open it in the Edit asset view.
  • Click the icon on a thumbnail to remove it from the selection. Removing a transient asset also deletes its uploaded file.
Asset selector modal on the Current selection step, showing three selected images in a grid with Remove all and Add to selection actions in the header.
The asset selector's Current selection step, showing the selected assets with Remove all and Add to selection actions.

Click Add to selection (in either the current selection view or directly from the empty state) to open the source picker.

The sidebar on the left lists the available asset sources:

  • Uniform Asset Library: search, filter, sort, and pick from your project's library. The sidebar also shows a quick filter by labels.
  • Integrations: each configured DAM (Cloudinary, Bynder, Scaleflex, and so on) appears as its own source.
  • Data resources: sources backed by data resources.
  • Custom: point at an external custom URL.

The right pane renders the picker for the selected source. For the Uniform Asset Library this is the same list interface as the standalone asset library. Use the Upload New button in the toolbar to switch the right pane to a dedicated upload view, or drop files anywhere on the grid to start uploading.

The search field auto-focuses when the step opens, and your filter and sort state is remembered as you navigate.

Asset selector modal on the Add to selection step, showing the source sidebar on the left and a grid of assets from the Uniform Asset Library on the right.
The asset selector's Add to selection step, with asset sources in the sidebar and the Uniform Asset Library grid in the right pane.

The Edit asset view is the in-modal detail page for a single selected asset. The layout mirrors the standalone asset editor:

  • Preview on the left (with expand/collapse).
  • Properties on the right (title, description, labels, focal point).
  • Meta section with ID, media type, size, URL, dimensions, and Created / Modified with author.
  • Usage section showing where this asset is referenced.

The header also shows the overrides pill when the asset is sourced from the Uniform Asset Library. Click Remove in the top-right to remove the asset from the parameter selection. The underlying asset record (if any) is not deleted.

For assets sourced from the Uniform Asset Library, the modal offers a fourth view that lets you edit the original asset record without leaving the visual editor. You can reach it by:

  • Opening the overrides pill and selecting Edit original, or
  • Uploading a brand-new asset through the parameter, which opens the modal straight on this view so you can fill out the new asset's metadata.

Edits made here update the original asset and apply everywhere it's used. See the asset editor guide for everything available in this view, including replacing the underlying file and deleting the asset.

When an asset is sourced from the Uniform Asset Library, any property you edit on the parameter becomes an override that only applies to this usage. The original asset in the library is not modified.

The Overrides pill at the top of the asset's detail view shows the current state:

  • Original: the parameter is using the unmodified library values.
  • Overrides: at least one property has been overridden for this usage.

Open the pill menu for two actions:

  • Edit original: opens the Edit original asset view to change the library record itself. Updates propagate to every usage.
  • Reset changes: clears all overrides, reverting the parameter to the library values.

info

Editing a property from inside a composition only affects this usage. The original asset in the library remains untouched. To change the asset everywhere, use Edit original instead.

tip

You can use AI quick edits to modify asset overrides directly from the editor.

When you upload a new file from inside an asset parameter (drop-to-upload, file picker, or the Upload New button), Uniform creates a transient asset:

  1. The file is uploaded to Uniform's storage immediately.
  2. The asset record is not added to the asset library yet; it lives only on the parameter.
  3. The parameter shows the asset with a New chip.
  4. When you save the composition or entry, Uniform persists the transient asset to the library and clears the New state.
  5. If you remove the transient asset from the parameter before saving, the uploaded file is deleted automatically.

This means editors can experiment with uploads without polluting the asset library. Nothing leaks into the library unless the composition or entry is actually saved.

The asset parameter exposes two complementary drop targets:

  • The drop zone (full-width on the empty state, compact on the multi-asset add more tile) accepts one or more files and adds each as a new asset on the parameter.
  • Drop-to-swap on a thumbnail swaps the asset at that position with the dropped file. When you drop multiple files onto a thumbnail, the first file replaces the asset at that position; any additional files are inserted into the selection immediately after.

Both targets work simultaneously. You can drag a file onto a specific thumbnail to swap it, or onto the empty space below the grid to append, without ambiguity about which target receives the drop.

By default, the asset parameter stores the assets that the editor picks directly. A connection menu lets you replace that selection with a dynamic value that resolves at runtime, so the parameter is filled by an upstream system instead.

  • Connect to Uniform asset: connect the parameter to a dynamic-token expression.
  • Connect to custom URL: shortcut that opens the parameter modal directly on the Custom URL source.
  • Disconnect from Uniform asset: convert the dynamic value back into a static value.

For the shape of the asset parameter value returned by the API, the imageFrom utility, TypeScript types, and framework-specific rendering guidance, see rendering assets.

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