---
title: "Type Builder"
description: "A cloud-based content modeling interface in the Prismic web UI."
meta_title: "What Is the Type Builder?"
category: "concepts"
audience: developers
tags: ["new"]
lastUpdated: "2026-04-28T19:30:59.000Z"
---

The Type Builder is a cloud-based interface for [content modeling](https://prismic.io/docs/content-modeling.md) directly in the Prismic web UI. Use it to create and manage [page types](https://prismic.io/docs/content-modeling.md#page-types), [custom types](https://prismic.io/docs/content-modeling.md#custom-types), and [slices](https://prismic.io/docs/slices.md) by hand.

If you work with AI tools like [Claude Code](https://claude.com/product/claude-code), [Codex](https://openai.com/codex/), or [Cursor](https://cursor.com/), point them to the [Prismic CLI](https://prismic.io/docs/cli.md) for content modeling instead.

> **Important**
>
> Type Builder is rolling out to new users. If you do not have access, use [Slice Machine](https://prismic.io/docs/slice-machine.md).

# Access the Type Builder

To access the Type Builder, open your repository in Prismic and click on the **Switch to type builder** button. The sidebar lists three categories: **Page types**, **Custom types**, and **Slices**. Select a category to view and manage its items.

# Features

The Type Builder is used to [model content](https://prismic.io/docs/content-modeling.md):

* **Page types**: Define the structure of your website's pages.
* **Custom types**: Define non-page content like settings, navigation, and categories.
* **Slices**: Create reusable page sections made up of [fields](https://prismic.io/docs/fields.md).
* **Fields**: Add and configure fields for your content models.

Changes made in the Type Builder are saved directly to your Prismic repository.

# Connect your application

Use the [Prismic CLI](https://prismic.io/docs/cli.md) to connect the Type Builder to your local codebase. The CLI syncs content models, generates TypeScript types, and integrates Prismic into your website.

# Type Builder and Slice Machine

The Type Builder and the Prismic CLI together replace [Slice Machine](https://prismic.io/docs/slice-machine.md). Previously, content modeling required running Slice Machine locally. Now, the Type Builder handles content modeling in the browser, and the Prismic CLI handles syncing models, generating types, and generating component files.

Here's how the two approaches compare:

|                      | Type Builder                                                    | Slice Machine                           |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| **Content modeling** | In the Prismic web UI (browser)                                 | Locally in your development environment |
| **Setup**            | None, accessible from the Prismic web UI (browser)              | `npx @slicemachine/init`                |
| **Pushing changes**  | Changes are saved directly                                      | Changes must be pushed to Prismic       |
| **TypeScript types** | Generated via the [Prismic CLI](https://prismic.io/docs/cli.md) | Generated by Slice Machine              |
| **Slice simulator**  | In the Prismic web UI (browser)                                 | Hosted by Slice Machine                 |

Slice Machine is still supported in existing projects.

# Migrate to the Type Builder

Follow these steps to move an existing [Slice Machine](https://prismic.io/docs/slice-machine.md) project to the Type Builder. The migration takes a few minutes and is mostly automated.

1. **Push local changes**

   If you have unpushed local changes in Slice Machine, push them before continuing. Start Slice Machine, click **Review changes**, and **Push**.

   > **Important**
   >
   > You will lose local changes not committed in Git or pushed to Prismic.

2. **Install the skill**

   If you are using Prismic with an AI tool like Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor, install the Prismic skill. The skill teaches your agent how to use the [Prismic CLI](https://prismic.io/docs/cli.md) alongside the Type Builder.

   ```sh
   npx skills add --global prismicio/skills
   ```

   [Learn more about Prismic with AI](https://prismic.io/docs/ai.md)

3. **Run the automatic migration**

   Call the Prismic CLI's `init` command to migrate from [Slice Machine](https://prismic.io/docs/slice-machine.md) to the Type Builder.

   ```sh
   npx prismic init
   ```

   The command performs the following:

   * Replaces `slicemachine.config.json` with `prismic.config.json`.
   * Pulls models from Prismic into your project.
   * Uninstalls Slice Machine and your project's adapter.

   You can now use the Type Builder, and agents will use the Prismic CLI.