Umbraco Dynamic Root

What is it?

Dynamic Roots allow content pickers to have a starting point (origin) that is determined dynamically rather than being a fixed node. This includes two extension types:

• Dynamic Root Origin: Defines where the picker starts (e.g., current page, site root, nearest ancestor of type)
• Dynamic Root Query Step: Defines navigation steps from the origin (e.g., find nearest ancestor, get children of type)

These enable flexible content picker configurations that adapt based on context.

Documentation

Always fetch the latest docs before implementing:

• Extension Types: https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/customizing/extending-overview/extension-types
• Content Picker: https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/fundamentals/backoffice/property-editors/built-in-umbraco-property-editors/content-picker
• Foundation: https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/customizing/foundation

Workflow

1. Fetch docs - Use WebFetch on the URLs above
2. Ask questions - What starting point logic? What query steps needed?
3. Generate files - Create manifest(s) based on latest docs
4. Explain - Show what was created and how to test

Minimal Examples

Dynamic Root Origin Manifest

import type { ManifestDynamicRootOrigin } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/extension-registry';

const manifest: ManifestDynamicRootOrigin = {
  type: 'dynamicRootOrigin',
  alias: 'My.DynamicRootOrigin.SiteRoot',
  name: 'Site Root Origin',
  meta: {
    originAlias: 'SiteRoot',
    label: 'Site Root',
    description: 'Start from the root of the current site',
    icon: 'icon-home',
  },
};

export const manifests = [manifest];

Dynamic Root Query Step Manifest

import type { ManifestDynamicRootQueryStep } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/extension-registry';

const manifest: ManifestDynamicRootQueryStep = {
  type: 'dynamicRootQueryStep',
  alias: 'My.DynamicRootQueryStep.NearestBlog',
  name: 'Nearest Blog Query Step',
  meta: {
    queryStepAlias: 'NearestBlog',
    label: 'Nearest Blog',
    description: 'Find the nearest blog ancestor',
    icon: 'icon-article',
  },
};

export const manifests = [manifest];

Multiple Origins and Steps

import type { ManifestDynamicRootOrigin, ManifestDynamicRootQueryStep } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/extension-registry';

const originManifests: ManifestDynamicRootOrigin[] = [
  {
    type: 'dynamicRootOrigin',
    alias: 'My.DynamicRootOrigin.CurrentPage',
    name: 'Current Page Origin',
    meta: {
      originAlias: 'CurrentPage',
      label: 'Current Page',
      description: 'Start from the page being edited',
      icon: 'icon-document',
    },
  },
  {
    type: 'dynamicRootOrigin',
    alias: 'My.DynamicRootOrigin.Parent',
    name: 'Parent Page Origin',
    meta: {
      originAlias: 'Parent',
      label: 'Parent Page',
      description: 'Start from the parent of current page',
      icon: 'icon-arrow-up',
    },
  },
];

const queryStepManifests: ManifestDynamicRootQueryStep[] = [
  {
    type: 'dynamicRootQueryStep',
    alias: 'My.DynamicRootQueryStep.Children',
    name: 'Children Query Step',
    meta: {
      queryStepAlias: 'Children',
      label: 'Children',
      description: 'Get all child pages',
      icon: 'icon-tree',
    },
  },
  {
    type: 'dynamicRootQueryStep',
    alias: 'My.DynamicRootQueryStep.Ancestors',
    name: 'Ancestors Query Step',
    meta: {
      queryStepAlias: 'Ancestors',
      label: 'Ancestors',
      description: 'Get ancestor pages',
      icon: 'icon-navigation-up',
    },
  },
];

export const manifests = [...originManifests, ...queryStepManifests];

Backend Implementation Required

Dynamic roots require backend C# implementation to handle the actual query logic:

// Example C# implementation for a custom origin
public class SiteRootDynamicRootOrigin : IDynamicRootOrigin
{
    public string OriginAlias => "SiteRoot";

    public Task<Guid?> GetOriginAsync(Guid contentKey, string? entityType)
    {
        // Return the site root GUID based on the content's position
        // Implementation depends on your site structure
        return Task.FromResult<Guid?>(GetSiteRootForContent(contentKey));
    }
}

// Example C# implementation for a custom query step
public class NearestBlogQueryStep : IDynamicRootQueryStep
{
    public string QueryStepAlias => "NearestBlog";

    public Task<IEnumerable<Guid>> ExecuteAsync(Guid originKey, string? entityType)
    {
        // Find nearest blog ancestor from the origin
        // Return matching content GUIDs
        return Task.FromResult(FindNearestBlogAncestors(originKey));
    }
}

// Register in Composer
public class DynamicRootComposer : IComposer
{
    public void Compose(IUmbracoBuilder builder)
    {
        builder.DynamicRootSteps()
            .AddOrigin<SiteRootDynamicRootOrigin>()
            .AddQueryStep<NearestBlogQueryStep>();
    }
}

Origin Meta Properties

Property	Description
originAlias	Unique identifier matching backend implementation
label	Display name in picker configuration
description	Help text explaining the origin
icon	Icon shown in configuration UI

Query Step Meta Properties

Property	Description
queryStepAlias	Unique identifier matching backend implementation
label	Display name in picker configuration
description	Help text explaining the query step
icon	Icon shown in configuration UI

That's it! Always fetch fresh docs, keep examples minimal, generate complete working code.