What is the primary distinction between standard values and normal items in Sitecore?

The primary distinction between standard values and normal items in Sitecore hinges on their roles and functionalities within the content management system. Standard values are associated with templates and serve as default field values for items created from those templates. This means that when a new item is created based on a template, the fields in that item will initially be populated with the values defined in the standard values—unless they are overridden with different values. Standard values ensure consistency and a convenient way to manage default settings for new content items.

On the other hand, normal items represent specific instances of content created from these templates. They hold the actual data that users interact with, such as the information displayed on a website. These items can vary widely based on user input, meaning they can have different values in their fields than those specified in the standard values.

This understanding is crucial for effectively managing content in Sitecore, as it delineates how default configurations can streamline the creation of new items while allowing for customization on a per-item basis.