feat(content): support indexed custom field sorting

.changeset/collection-list-columns.md

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"emdash": minor
+"@emdash-cms/admin": minor
+---
+
+Adds collection-configured custom field columns to admin content lists. Collection seeds and schema APIs can declare up to four supported fields through `admin.listColumns`; EmDash validates them when building the manifest and renders their stored values between the title and status columns.

.changeset/indexed-custom-field-sorting.md

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"emdash": minor
+"@emdash-cms/admin": minor
+---
+
+Adds opt-in database indexes for scalar custom fields and stable cursor pagination when ordering content lists by those fields.

docs/src/content/docs/concepts/collections.mdx

@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ Every field supports these properties:
 | `type`         | `FieldType` | One of the 16 field types                    |
 | `required`     | `boolean`   | Whether the field must have a value          |
 | `unique`       | `boolean`   | Whether values must be unique across entries |
+| `indexed`      | `boolean`   | Allow efficient sorting by this field        |
 | `defaultValue` | `unknown`   | Default value for new entries                |
 | `validation`   | `object`    | Type-specific validation rules               |
 | `widget`       | `string`    | Custom widget identifier                     |
@@ -228,6 +229,15 @@ Every field supports these properties:
 	`version`, `live_revision_id`, `draft_revision_id`, `terms`, `bylines`, `byline`.
 </Aside>
 
+Set `indexed: true` when a collection query needs to use a custom field in `orderBy`. Indexes are
+supported for `string`, `url`, `number`, `integer`, `boolean`, `datetime`, `select`, `reference`,
+and `slug` fields. EmDash rejects indexed JSON, rich content, and other non-scalar field types.
+
+<Aside type="caution">
+	Indexes improve ordered reads but use additional storage and add work to content writes. Only index
+	fields that are used for sorting.
+</Aside>
+
 ## Validation rules
 
 The `validation` object varies by field type. Its full shape is:

docs/src/content/docs/reference/field-types.mdx

@@ -386,12 +386,18 @@ All fields support these common properties:
 | `type`         | `FieldType` | Field type (required)               |
 | `required`     | `boolean`   | Require a value (default: false)    |
 | `unique`       | `boolean`   | Enforce uniqueness (default: false) |
+| `indexed`      | `boolean`   | Enable indexed custom-field sorting |
 | `defaultValue` | `unknown`   | Default value for new entries       |
 | `validation`   | `object`    | Type-specific validation rules      |
 | `widget`       | `string`    | Custom widget override              |
 | `options`      | `object`    | Widget configuration                |
 | `sortOrder`    | `number`    | Display order in admin              |
 
+`indexed` is available for scalar fields: `string`, `url`, `number`, `integer`, `boolean`,
+`datetime`, `select`, `reference`, and `slug`. An indexed field can be passed as the `orderBy`
+field in content list queries. Avoid indexing fields that are not used for sorting because every
+index adds storage and write overhead.
+
 ## Reserved field slugs
 
 These slugs are reserved and cannot be used:

docs/src/content/docs/reference/mcp-server.mdx

@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ Add a new field to a collection's schema. This adds a column to the database tab
 | `validation` | `object` | No | Constraints: `min`, `max`, `minLength`, `maxLength`, `pattern`, `options` |
 | `options` | `object` | No | Widget config: `collection` (for references), `rows` (for textarea) |
 | `searchable` | `boolean` | No | Include in full-text search index |
+| `indexed` | `boolean` | No | Enable indexed sorting by this field |
 | `translatable` | `boolean` | No | Whether this field is translatable (default true) |
 
 Field types: `string`, `text`, `number`, `integer`, `boolean`, `datetime`, `select`, `multiSelect`, `portableText`, `image`, `file`, `reference`, `json`, `slug`.

docs/src/content/docs/themes/seed-files.mdx

@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ Each collection definition creates a content type in the database:
 | `type`         | `string`  | Yes      | Field type                           |
 | `required`     | `boolean` | No       | Validation: field must have a value  |
 | `unique`       | `boolean` | No       | Validation: value must be unique     |
+| `indexed`      | `boolean` | No       | Enable indexed sorting by this field |
 | `defaultValue` | `any`     | No       | Default value for new entries        |
 | `validation`   | `object`  | No       | Additional validation rules          |
 | `widget`       | `string`  | No       | Admin UI widget override             |

packages/admin/src/components/ContentList.tsx

@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ export interface ContentListSort {
 	direction: "asc" | "desc";
 }
 
+export interface ContentListColumn {
+	slug: string;
+	label: string;
+	kind: string;
+	options?: Array<{ value: string; label: string }>;
+}
+
 /** Status filter values. `"all"` clears the status filter. */
 export type ContentStatusFilter = "all" | "published" | "draft" | "scheduled" | "archived";
 
@@ -63,6 +70,8 @@ export interface ContentListProps {
 	collection: string;
 	collectionLabel: string;
 	items: ContentItem[];
+	/** Validated custom-field columns from the collection manifest. */
+	listColumns?: ContentListColumn[];
 	trashedItems?: TrashedContentItem[];
 	isLoading?: boolean;
 	isTrashedLoading?: boolean;
@@ -157,6 +166,7 @@ export function ContentList({
 	collection,
 	collectionLabel,
 	items,
+	listColumns = [],
 	trashedItems = [],
 	isLoading,
 	isTrashedLoading,
@@ -315,7 +325,7 @@ export function ContentList({
 			}
 		})();
 	};
-	const colSpan = (i18n ? 5 : 4) + (bulkEnabled ? 1 : 0);
+	const colSpan = (i18n ? 5 : 4) + listColumns.length + (bulkEnabled ? 1 : 0);
 
 	return (
 		<div className="space-y-4">
@@ -504,6 +514,15 @@ export function ContentList({
 										onSortChange={onSortChange}
 										label={t`Title`}
 									/>
+									{listColumns.map((column) => (
+										<th
+											key={column.slug}
+											scope="col"
+											className="px-4 py-3 text-start text-sm font-medium"
+										>
+											{column.label}
+										</th>
+									))}
 									<SortableTh
 										field="status"
 										sort={sort}
@@ -575,6 +594,7 @@ export function ContentList({
 											onDuplicate={onDuplicate}
 											showLocale={!!i18n}
 											urlPattern={urlPattern}
+											listColumns={listColumns}
 											selectable={bulkEnabled}
 											selected={selectedIds.has(item.id)}
 											onToggleSelect={toggleOne}
@@ -943,6 +963,7 @@ interface ContentListItemProps {
 	onDuplicate?: (id: string) => void;
 	showLocale?: boolean;
 	urlPattern?: string;
+	listColumns: ContentListColumn[];
 	selectable?: boolean;
 	selected?: boolean;
 	onToggleSelect?: (id: string) => void;
@@ -955,6 +976,7 @@ function ContentListItem({
 	onDuplicate,
 	showLocale,
 	urlPattern,
+	listColumns,
 	selectable,
 	selected,
 	onToggleSelect,
@@ -984,6 +1006,9 @@ function ContentListItem({
 					{title}
 				</Link>
 			</td>
+			{listColumns.map((column) => (
+				<ContentListCustomCell key={column.slug} column={column} value={item.data[column.slug]} />
+			))}
 			<td className="px-4 py-3">
 				<StatusBadge
 					status={item.status}
@@ -1071,6 +1096,74 @@ function ContentListItem({
 	);
 }
 
+function ContentListCustomCell({
+	column,
+	value,
+}: {
+	column: ContentListColumn;
+	value: unknown;
+}): React.ReactNode {
+	const text = formatListColumnValue(column, value);
+	return (
+		<td className="max-w-48 px-4 py-3 text-sm">
+			<span className="block truncate" title={text}>
+				{text}
+			</span>
+		</td>
+	);
+}
+
+function formatListColumnValue(column: ContentListColumn, value: unknown): string {
+	if (value === null || value === undefined || value === "") return "—";
+
+	const optionLabel = (optionValue: unknown): string => {
+		const text = scalarListColumnValue(optionValue);
+		if (text === undefined) return "—";
+		return column.options?.find((option) => option.value === text)?.label ?? text;
+	};
+
+	switch (column.kind) {
+		case "select":
+			return optionLabel(value);
+		case "multiSelect": {
+			let values: unknown[];
+			if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+				values = value;
+			} else if (typeof value === "string") {
+				try {
+					const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(value);
+					values = Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed : [value];
+				} catch {
+					values = [value];
+				}
+			} else {
+				values = [value];
+			}
+			return values.length > 0 ? values.map(optionLabel).join(", ") : "—";
+		}
+		case "boolean":
+			return value === true || value === 1 || value === "1" || value === "true" ? "✓" : "—";
+		case "datetime": {
+			const text = scalarListColumnValue(value);
+			if (text === undefined) return "—";
+			const date = new Date(text);
+			return Number.isNaN(date.getTime()) ? text : date.toLocaleDateString();
+		}
+		case "number":
+		case "string":
+		default:
+			return scalarListColumnValue(value) ?? "—";
+	}
+}
+
+function scalarListColumnValue(value: unknown): string | undefined {
+	if (typeof value === "string") return value;
+	if (typeof value === "number" || typeof value === "bigint" || typeof value === "boolean") {
+		return String(value);
+	}
+	return undefined;
+}
+
 interface TrashedListItemProps {
 	item: TrashedContentItem;
 	onRestore?: (id: string) => void;

packages/admin/src/components/FieldEditor.tsx

@@ -32,6 +32,32 @@ import { AllowedTypesEditor } from "./AllowedTypesEditor";
 
 const SLUG_INVALID_CHARS_REGEX = /[^a-z0-9]+/g;
 const SLUG_LEADING_TRAILING_REGEX = /^_|_$/g;
+const SEARCHABLE_FIELD_TYPES = new Set<FieldType>([
+	"string",
+	"text",
+	"portableText",
+	"slug",
+	"url",
+]);
+const INDEXABLE_FIELD_TYPES = new Set<FieldType>([
+	"string",
+	"url",
+	"number",
+	"integer",
+	"boolean",
+	"datetime",
+	"select",
+	"reference",
+	"slug",
+]);
+
+function isSearchableFieldType(type: FieldType | null): type is FieldType {
+	return type !== null && SEARCHABLE_FIELD_TYPES.has(type);
+}
+
+function isIndexableFieldType(type: FieldType | null): type is FieldType {
+	return type !== null && INDEXABLE_FIELD_TYPES.has(type);
+}
 
 // ============================================================================
 // Types
@@ -67,6 +93,7 @@ interface FieldFormState {
 	required: boolean;
 	unique: boolean;
 	searchable: boolean;
+	indexed: boolean;
 	minLength: string;
 	maxLength: string;
 	min: string;
@@ -89,6 +116,7 @@ function getInitialFormState(field?: SchemaField): FieldFormState {
 			required: field.required,
 			unique: field.unique,
 			searchable: field.searchable,
+			indexed: field.indexed ?? false,
 			minLength: field.validation?.minLength?.toString() ?? "",
 			maxLength: field.validation?.maxLength?.toString() ?? "",
 			min: field.validation?.min?.toString() ?? "",
@@ -111,6 +139,7 @@ function getInitialFormState(field?: SchemaField): FieldFormState {
 		required: false,
 		unique: false,
 		searchable: false,
+		indexed: false,
 		minLength: "",
 		maxLength: "",
 		min: "",
@@ -138,7 +167,7 @@ export function FieldEditor({ open, onOpenChange, field, onSave, isSaving }: Fie
 		}
 	}, [open, field]);
 
-	const { step, selectedType, slug, label, required, unique, searchable } = formState;
+	const { step, selectedType, slug, label, required, unique, searchable, indexed } = formState;
 	const { minLength, maxLength, min, max, pattern, options } = formState;
 	const setField = <K extends keyof FieldFormState>(key: K, value: FieldFormState[K]) =>
 		setFormState((prev) => ({ ...prev, [key]: value }));
@@ -312,12 +341,8 @@ export function FieldEditor({ open, onOpenChange, field, onSave, isSaving }: Fie
 		}
 
 		// Only include searchable for text-based fields
-		const isSearchableType =
-			selectedType === "string" ||
-			selectedType === "text" ||
-			selectedType === "portableText" ||
-			selectedType === "slug" ||
-			selectedType === "url";
+		const isSearchableType = isSearchableFieldType(selectedType);
+		const isIndexableType = isIndexableFieldType(selectedType);
 
 		const input: CreateFieldInput = {
 			slug,
@@ -326,6 +351,7 @@ export function FieldEditor({ open, onOpenChange, field, onSave, isSaving }: Fie
 			required,
 			unique,
 			searchable: isSearchableType ? searchable : undefined,
+			indexed: isIndexableType ? indexed : undefined,
 			validation: Object.keys(validation).length > 0 ? validation : null,
 		};
 
@@ -441,17 +467,20 @@ export function FieldEditor({ open, onOpenChange, field, onSave, isSaving }: Fie
 								onCheckedChange={(checked) => setField("unique", checked)}
 								label={<span className="text-sm">{t`Unique`}</span>}
 							/>
-							{(selectedType === "string" ||
-								selectedType === "text" ||
-								selectedType === "portableText" ||
-								selectedType === "slug" ||
-								selectedType === "url") && (
+							{isSearchableFieldType(selectedType) && (
 								<Switch
 									checked={searchable}
 									onCheckedChange={(checked) => setField("searchable", checked)}
 									label={<span className="text-sm">{t`Searchable`}</span>}
 								/>
 							)}
+							{isIndexableFieldType(selectedType) && (
+								<Switch
+									checked={indexed}
+									onCheckedChange={(checked) => setField("indexed", checked)}
+									label={<span className="text-sm">{t`Indexed`}</span>}
+								/>
+							)}
 						</div>
 
 						{/* Type-specific validation */}

packages/admin/src/components/index.ts

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ export { Header } from "./Header";
 
 // Page components
 export { Dashboard, type DashboardProps } from "./Dashboard";
-export { ContentList, type ContentListProps } from "./ContentList";
+export { ContentList, type ContentListColumn, type ContentListProps } from "./ContentList";
 export { ContentEditor, type ContentEditorProps, type FieldDescriptor } from "./ContentEditor";
 export { MediaLibrary, type MediaLibraryProps } from "./MediaLibrary";
 export { MediaPickerModal, type MediaPickerModalProps } from "./MediaPickerModal";

packages/admin/src/lib/api/client.ts

@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ export interface AdminManifest {
 			supports: string[];
 			hasSeo: boolean;
 			urlPattern?: string;
+			listColumns?: string[];
 			fields: Record<
 				string,
 				{