---
updatedAt: 2026-03-01T18:38:37.000Z
agentTools:
  siteIndex: https://techdocs.akamai.com/llms.txt
  projectIndex: https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/llms.txt
---

# Behaviors

Both `default` and `children` rules include a set of `behaviors`, represented as an array of objects. This simple example features the two behaviors that are *always* necessary to activate your property, though, depending on the product, new properties may come with sets of default rules that also include other behaviors. The [`origin`](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/ga-origin) behavior determines how the edge network interacts with your origin servers, and you need the [`cpCode`](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/ga-cp-code) behavior for billing and reporting on traffic.

```json
{
    "rules": {
        "name": "default",
        "options": {
            "is_secure": false
        },
        "behaviors": [
            {
                "name": "origin",
                "options": {
                    "originType": "CUSTOMER",
                    "hostname": "example.com",
                    "forwardHostHeader": "REQUEST_HOST_HEADER",
                    "cacheKeyHostname": "ORIGIN_HOSTNAME",
                    "compress": true,
                    "tcipEnabled": false,
                    "httpPort": 80
                }
            },
            {
                "name": "cpCode",
                "options": {
                    "value": {
                        "id": 12345,
                        "name": "main site"
                    }
                }
            }
        ]
    }
}
```

While nominally optional, default rules typically also specify a [`caching`](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/ga-caching) behavior to position the content on the edge, and a [`report`](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/ga-report) behavior to refine the information you receive in traffic reports.

Each behavior object is identified by a `name` field. It may also feature a [`locked` member](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/advanced-and-locked-features), and most require a nested `options` object. Some behaviors only feature an `enabled` option that toggles whether the behavior is activated, while others require more fields once they're activated. The exact set of options you need to specify for each behavior often varies depending on what you're trying to do, and some options are required based on the value of others. The [behavior](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/ga-behaviors) and [criteria](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/ga-criteria) reference details the requirements for each option.

In the [`origin`](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/ga-origin) example above, the `originType` is set to `CUSTOMER`, in which case your own server is the origin and you need to identify it with the `hostname` field. If the `originType` were set to any other value, the `hostname` would be unnecessary and thus ignored. PAPI silently ignores any unexpected values, but it always warns you about any expected values that are missing. For example, setting the `originType` to `NET_STORAGE` would require another `netStorage` option providing details about your NetStorage account.

# Sibling pages

* [The default rule](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/the-default-rule.md)
* [Criteria](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/criteria.md)
* [Includes](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/includes.md)
* [Advanced and locked features](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/advanced-and-locked-features.md)
* [Custom behaviors and overrides](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/custom-behaviors-and-overrides.md)
* [Dynamic rule updates](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/dynamic-rule-format-updates.md)
* [Rule format schemas](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/rule-format-schemas.md)
* [Use cases and best practices](https://techdocs.akamai.com/property-mgr/reference/validation-best-practices.md)