---
title: "Access system fields"
slug: "access-system-fields"
abstract: "How to access system fields using the Sitecore.FieldIDs class."
---
# Access system fields

You can use the `Sitecore.FieldIDs` class to access system fields. For example, to access the archive date field of the */Sitecore/Content/Home/Sample* item in the *Master* database:

```csharp
Sitecore.Data.Database master = Sitecore.Configuration.Factory.GetDatabase("master");

Sitecore.Data.Items.Item sample = master.GetItem("/sitecore/content/home/sample");

Sitecore.Data.Fields.DateField archiveField =

sample.Fields[Sitecore.FieldIDs.ArchiveDate];

DateTime archiveWhen = archiveField.DateTime;

```