What is the main distinction between content items and media items in Sitecore?

The main distinction between content items and media items in Sitecore is that content items refer to text and page layouts. In Sitecore, content items are typically used to represent structured content such as articles, pages, and other textual information that can be displayed on a website. They are often associated with fields that contain text, rich text, or references to other content items that contribute to the structure and organization of a site’s content hierarchy.

Conversely, media items encompass various file types such as images, videos, and documents. These items are uploaded and stored in Sitecore's media library and are primarily utilized for enriching content items with visual and audio elements. While media items support the overall content strategy by providing multimedia resources, their primary function is not to represent content structure or layout, which is where content items come into play.

Understanding this distinction aids developers and content managers in organizing and managing their resources effectively within the Sitecore environment, ensuring that each item type is used appropriately according to its intended purpose.