docs: Clarify usecase of data files

Fixes #1769
This commit is contained in:
digitalcraftsman 2016-09-16 17:05:38 +02:00
parent 0c49370ca0
commit bca567faea

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@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ Data Files can also be used in [themes](/themes/overview/), but note: If the sam
## The Data Folder
As explained in [Source Organization](/overview/source-directory/), the `data` folder is where you can store additional data for Hugo to use when generating your site. These files must be YAML, JSON or TOML files (using either the `.yml`, `.yaml`, `.json` or `toml` extension) and the data will be accessible as a `map` in `.Site.Data`.
The `data` folder is where you can store additional data for Hugo to use when generating your site. Data files aren't used to generate standalone pages - rather they're meant supplemental to the content files. This feature can extend the content in case your frontmatter would grow immensely. Or perhaps your want to show a larger dataset in a template (see example below). In both cases it's a good idea to outsource the data in their own file.
These files must be YAML, JSON or TOML files (using either the `.yml`, `.yaml`, `.json` or `toml` extension) and the data will be accessible as a `map` in `.Site.Data`.
**The keys in this map will be a dot chained set of _path_, _filename_ and _key_ in file (if applicable).**