diff --git a/docarray/array/abstract_array.py b/docarray/array/abstract_array.py
index 150e1ef89d8..4482a553989 100644
--- a/docarray/array/abstract_array.py
+++ b/docarray/array/abstract_array.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def _to_node_protobuf(self) -> 'NodeProto':
         """
         from docarray.proto import NodeProto
 
-        return NodeProto(chunks=self.to_protobuf())
+        return NodeProto(document_array=self.to_protobuf())
 
     @abstractmethod
     def traverse_flat(
diff --git a/docarray/base_document/mixins/proto.py b/docarray/base_document/mixins/proto.py
index 57c38be4141..cb71d964c1f 100644
--- a/docarray/base_document/mixins/proto.py
+++ b/docarray/base_document/mixins/proto.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from docarray.base_document.abstract_document import AbstractDocument
 from docarray.base_document.base_node import BaseNode
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _PROTO_TYPE_NAME_TO_CLASS
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from docarray.proto import DocumentProto, NodeProto
@@ -12,8 +13,6 @@
 except ImportError:
     torch_imported = False
 else:
-    from docarray.typing.tensor.torch_tensor import TorchTensor
-
     torch_imported = True
 
 
@@ -24,61 +23,51 @@ class ProtoMixin(AbstractDocument, BaseNode):
     @classmethod
     def from_protobuf(cls: Type[T], pb_msg: 'DocumentProto') -> T:
         """create a Document from a protobuf message"""
-        from docarray.typing import (  # TorchTensor,
-            ID,
-            AnyEmbedding,
-            AnyUrl,
-            ImageUrl,
-            Mesh3DUrl,
-            NdArray,
-            PointCloud3DUrl,
-            TextUrl,
-        )
 
         fields: Dict[str, Any] = {}
 
         for field in pb_msg.data:
             value = pb_msg.data[field]
 
-            content_type = value.WhichOneof('content')
-
-            # this if else statement need to be refactored it is too long
-            # the check should be delegated to the type level
-            content_type_dict = dict(
-                ndarray=NdArray,
-                embedding=AnyEmbedding,
-                any_url=AnyUrl,
-                text_url=TextUrl,
-                image_url=ImageUrl,
-                mesh_url=Mesh3DUrl,
-                point_cloud_url=PointCloud3DUrl,
-                id=ID,
+            content_type_dict = _PROTO_TYPE_NAME_TO_CLASS
+
+            content_key = value.WhichOneof('content')
+            content_type = (
+                value.type if value.WhichOneof('docarray_type') is not None else None
             )
 
             if torch_imported:
-                content_type_dict['torch_tensor'] = TorchTensor
+                from docarray.typing import TorchEmbedding
+                from docarray.typing.tensor.torch_tensor import TorchTensor
+
+                content_type_dict['torch'] = TorchTensor
+                content_type_dict['torch_embedding'] = TorchEmbedding
 
             if content_type in content_type_dict:
                 fields[field] = content_type_dict[content_type].from_protobuf(
-                    getattr(value, content_type)
+                    getattr(value, content_key)
                 )
-            elif content_type == 'text':
-                fields[field] = value.text
-            elif content_type == 'nested':
+            elif content_key == 'document':
                 fields[field] = cls._get_field_type(field).from_protobuf(
-                    value.nested
+                    value.document
                 )  # we get to the parent class
-            elif content_type == 'chunks':
+            elif content_key == 'document_array':
                 from docarray import DocumentArray
 
                 fields[field] = DocumentArray.from_protobuf(
-                    value.chunks
+                    value.document_array
                 )  # we get to the parent class
-            elif content_type is None:
+            elif content_key is None:
                 fields[field] = None
+            elif content_type is None:
+                if content_key == 'text':
+                    fields[field] = value.text
+                elif content_key == 'blob':
+                    fields[field] = value.blob
             else:
                 raise ValueError(
-                    f'type {content_type} is not supported for deserialization'
+                    f'type {content_type}, with key {content_key}  is not supported for'
+                    f' deserialization'
                 )
 
         return cls.construct(**fields)
@@ -133,4 +122,4 @@ def _to_node_protobuf(self) -> 'NodeProto':
 
         :return: the nested item protobuf message
         """
-        return NodeProto(nested=self.to_protobuf())
+        return NodeProto(document=self.to_protobuf())
diff --git a/docarray/proto/docarray.proto b/docarray/proto/docarray.proto
index 39f8354b223..64770bd6794 100644
--- a/docarray/proto/docarray.proto
+++ b/docarray/proto/docarray.proto
@@ -30,57 +30,24 @@ message NdArrayProto {
 //
 message NodeProto {
 
-
-
   oneof content {
     bytes blob = 1;
-
     // the ndarray of the image/audio/video document
     NdArrayProto ndarray = 2;
-
     // a text
     string text = 3;
-
     // a sub Document
-    DocumentProto nested = 4;
-
+    DocumentProto document = 4;
     // a sub DocumentArray
-    DocumentArrayProto chunks = 5;
-
-    NdArrayProto embedding = 6;
-
-    string any_url = 7;
-
-    string image_url = 8;
-
-    string text_url = 9;
-
-    string id = 10;
-
-    NdArrayProto torch_tensor = 11;
-
-    string mesh_url = 12;
-
-    string point_cloud_url = 13;
-
-    string audio_url = 14;
-
-    NdArrayProto audio_ndarray = 15;
-
-    NdArrayProto audio_torch_tensor = 16;
-
-    string video_url = 17;
-
-    NdArrayProto video_ndarray = 18;
-
-    NdArrayProto video_torch_tensor = 19;
+    DocumentArrayProto document_array = 5;
+  }
 
+  oneof docarray_type {
+    string type = 6;
   }
 
 }
 
-
-
 /**
  * Represents a Document
  */
diff --git a/docarray/proto/pb2/docarray_pb2.py b/docarray/proto/pb2/docarray_pb2.py
index da5d3df5a46..d0729658ff7 100644
--- a/docarray/proto/pb2/docarray_pb2.py
+++ b/docarray/proto/pb2/docarray_pb2.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from google.protobuf import struct_pb2 as google_dot_protobuf_dot_struct__pb2
 
 DESCRIPTOR = _descriptor_pool.Default().AddSerializedFile(
-    b'\n\x0e\x64ocarray.proto\x12\x08\x64ocarray\x1a\x1cgoogle/protobuf/struct.proto\"A\n\x11\x44\x65nseNdArrayProto\x12\x0e\n\x06\x62uffer\x18\x01 \x01(\x0c\x12\r\n\x05shape\x18\x02 \x03(\r\x12\r\n\x05\x64type\x18\x03 \x01(\t\"g\n\x0cNdArrayProto\x12*\n\x05\x64\x65nse\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1b.docarray.DenseNdArrayProto\x12+\n\nparameters\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x17.google.protobuf.Struct\"\x8a\x05\n\tNodeProto\x12\x0e\n\x04\x62lob\x18\x01 \x01(\x0cH\x00\x12)\n\x07ndarray\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x12\x0e\n\x04text\x18\x03 \x01(\tH\x00\x12)\n\x06nested\x18\x04 \x01(\x0b\x32\x17.docarray.DocumentProtoH\x00\x12.\n\x06\x63hunks\x18\x05 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1c.docarray.DocumentArrayProtoH\x00\x12+\n\tembedding\x18\x06 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x12\x11\n\x07\x61ny_url\x18\x07 \x01(\tH\x00\x12\x13\n\timage_url\x18\x08 \x01(\tH\x00\x12\x12\n\x08text_url\x18\t \x01(\tH\x00\x12\x0c\n\x02id\x18\n \x01(\tH\x00\x12.\n\x0ctorch_tensor\x18\x0b \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x12\x12\n\x08mesh_url\x18\x0c \x01(\tH\x00\x12\x19\n\x0fpoint_cloud_url\x18\r \x01(\tH\x00\x12\x13\n\taudio_url\x18\x0e \x01(\tH\x00\x12/\n\raudio_ndarray\x18\x0f \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x12\x34\n\x12\x61udio_torch_tensor\x18\x10 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x12\x13\n\tvideo_url\x18\x11 \x01(\tH\x00\x12/\n\rvideo_ndarray\x18\x12 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x12\x34\n\x12video_torch_tensor\x18\x13 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x42\t\n\x07\x63ontent\"\x82\x01\n\rDocumentProto\x12/\n\x04\x64\x61ta\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32!.docarray.DocumentProto.DataEntry\x1a@\n\tDataEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\"\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x13.docarray.NodeProto:\x02\x38\x01\";\n\x12\x44ocumentArrayProto\x12%\n\x04\x64ocs\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32\x17.docarray.DocumentProto\"\x86\x01\n\x0fUnionArrayProto\x12=\n\x0e\x64ocument_array\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32#.docarray.DocumentArrayStackedProtoH\x00\x12)\n\x07ndarray\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x42\t\n\x07\x63ontent\"\xd6\x01\n\x19\x44ocumentArrayStackedProto\x12+\n\x05list_\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1c.docarray.DocumentArrayProto\x12\x41\n\x07\x63olumns\x18\x02 \x03(\x0b\x32\x30.docarray.DocumentArrayStackedProto.ColumnsEntry\x1aI\n\x0c\x43olumnsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12(\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x19.docarray.UnionArrayProto:\x02\x38\x01\x62\x06proto3'
+    b'\n\x0e\x64ocarray.proto\x12\x08\x64ocarray\x1a\x1cgoogle/protobuf/struct.proto\"A\n\x11\x44\x65nseNdArrayProto\x12\x0e\n\x06\x62uffer\x18\x01 \x01(\x0c\x12\r\n\x05shape\x18\x02 \x03(\r\x12\r\n\x05\x64type\x18\x03 \x01(\t\"g\n\x0cNdArrayProto\x12*\n\x05\x64\x65nse\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1b.docarray.DenseNdArrayProto\x12+\n\nparameters\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x17.google.protobuf.Struct\"\xe7\x01\n\tNodeProto\x12\x0e\n\x04\x62lob\x18\x01 \x01(\x0cH\x00\x12)\n\x07ndarray\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x12\x0e\n\x04text\x18\x03 \x01(\tH\x00\x12+\n\x08\x64ocument\x18\x04 \x01(\x0b\x32\x17.docarray.DocumentProtoH\x00\x12\x36\n\x0e\x64ocument_array\x18\x05 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1c.docarray.DocumentArrayProtoH\x00\x12\x0e\n\x04type\x18\x06 \x01(\tH\x01\x42\t\n\x07\x63ontentB\x0f\n\rdocarray_type\"\x82\x01\n\rDocumentProto\x12/\n\x04\x64\x61ta\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32!.docarray.DocumentProto.DataEntry\x1a@\n\tDataEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\"\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x13.docarray.NodeProto:\x02\x38\x01\";\n\x12\x44ocumentArrayProto\x12%\n\x04\x64ocs\x18\x01 \x03(\x0b\x32\x17.docarray.DocumentProto\"\x86\x01\n\x0fUnionArrayProto\x12=\n\x0e\x64ocument_array\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32#.docarray.DocumentArrayStackedProtoH\x00\x12)\n\x07ndarray\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x16.docarray.NdArrayProtoH\x00\x42\t\n\x07\x63ontent\"\xd6\x01\n\x19\x44ocumentArrayStackedProto\x12+\n\x05list_\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b\x32\x1c.docarray.DocumentArrayProto\x12\x41\n\x07\x63olumns\x18\x02 \x03(\x0b\x32\x30.docarray.DocumentArrayStackedProto.ColumnsEntry\x1aI\n\x0c\x43olumnsEntry\x12\x0b\n\x03key\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12(\n\x05value\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b\x32\x19.docarray.UnionArrayProto:\x02\x38\x01\x62\x06proto3'
 )
 
 _builder.BuildMessageAndEnumDescriptors(DESCRIPTOR, globals())
@@ -32,17 +32,17 @@
     _NDARRAYPROTO._serialized_start = 125
     _NDARRAYPROTO._serialized_end = 228
     _NODEPROTO._serialized_start = 231
-    _NODEPROTO._serialized_end = 881
-    _DOCUMENTPROTO._serialized_start = 884
-    _DOCUMENTPROTO._serialized_end = 1014
-    _DOCUMENTPROTO_DATAENTRY._serialized_start = 950
-    _DOCUMENTPROTO_DATAENTRY._serialized_end = 1014
-    _DOCUMENTARRAYPROTO._serialized_start = 1016
-    _DOCUMENTARRAYPROTO._serialized_end = 1075
-    _UNIONARRAYPROTO._serialized_start = 1078
-    _UNIONARRAYPROTO._serialized_end = 1212
-    _DOCUMENTARRAYSTACKEDPROTO._serialized_start = 1215
-    _DOCUMENTARRAYSTACKEDPROTO._serialized_end = 1429
-    _DOCUMENTARRAYSTACKEDPROTO_COLUMNSENTRY._serialized_start = 1356
-    _DOCUMENTARRAYSTACKEDPROTO_COLUMNSENTRY._serialized_end = 1429
+    _NODEPROTO._serialized_end = 462
+    _DOCUMENTPROTO._serialized_start = 465
+    _DOCUMENTPROTO._serialized_end = 595
+    _DOCUMENTPROTO_DATAENTRY._serialized_start = 531
+    _DOCUMENTPROTO_DATAENTRY._serialized_end = 595
+    _DOCUMENTARRAYPROTO._serialized_start = 597
+    _DOCUMENTARRAYPROTO._serialized_end = 656
+    _UNIONARRAYPROTO._serialized_start = 659
+    _UNIONARRAYPROTO._serialized_end = 793
+    _DOCUMENTARRAYSTACKEDPROTO._serialized_start = 796
+    _DOCUMENTARRAYSTACKEDPROTO._serialized_end = 1010
+    _DOCUMENTARRAYSTACKEDPROTO_COLUMNSENTRY._serialized_start = 937
+    _DOCUMENTARRAYSTACKEDPROTO_COLUMNSENTRY._serialized_end = 1010
 # @@protoc_insertion_point(module_scope)
diff --git a/docarray/typing/__init__.py b/docarray/typing/__init__.py
index 864ad7b2f67..9d23f0b7730 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/__init__.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/__init__.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 __all__ = [
     'NdArray',
+    'NdArrayEmbedding',
     'AudioNdArray',
     'VideoNdArray',
     'AnyEmbedding',
diff --git a/docarray/typing/abstract_type.py b/docarray/typing/abstract_type.py
index c03d4336f6c..97bf9a2c1a2 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/abstract_type.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/abstract_type.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 
 class AbstractType(BaseNode):
+    _proto_type_name: str
+
     @classmethod
     def __get_validators__(cls):
         yield cls.validate
diff --git a/docarray/typing/id.py b/docarray/typing/id.py
index bf39d771746..02ee39245b6 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/id.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/id.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 from pydantic import BaseConfig, parse_obj_as
 from pydantic.fields import ModelField
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
+
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from docarray.proto import NodeProto
 
@@ -12,6 +14,7 @@
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='ID')
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='id')
 class ID(str, AbstractType):
     """
     Represent an unique ID
@@ -44,7 +47,7 @@ def _to_node_protobuf(self) -> 'NodeProto':
         """
         from docarray.proto import NodeProto
 
-        return NodeProto(id=self)
+        return NodeProto(text=self, type=self._proto_type_name)
 
     @classmethod
     def from_protobuf(cls: Type[T], pb_msg: 'str') -> T:
diff --git a/docarray/typing/proto_register.py b/docarray/typing/proto_register.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4a1fe77dad9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docarray/typing/proto_register.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+from typing import Callable, Dict, Type
+
+from docarray.typing.abstract_type import AbstractType
+
+_PROTO_TYPE_NAME_TO_CLASS: Dict[str, Type[AbstractType]] = {}
+
+
+def _register_proto(
+    proto_type_name: str,
+) -> Callable[[Type[AbstractType]], Type[AbstractType]]:
+    """Register a new type to be used in the protobuf serialization.
+
+    This will add the type key to the global registry of types key used in the proto
+    serialization and deserialization. This is for internal usage only.
+
+     EXAMPLE USAGE
+
+        .. code-block:: python
+
+            from docarray.typing.proto_register import register_proto
+            from docarray.typing.abstract_type import AbstractType
+
+
+            @register_proto(proto_type_name='my_type')
+            class MyType(AbstractType):
+                ...
+
+    :param cls: the class to register
+    :return: the class
+    """
+
+    if proto_type_name in _PROTO_TYPE_NAME_TO_CLASS.keys():
+        raise ValueError(
+            f'the key {proto_type_name} is already registered in the global registry'
+        )
+
+    def _register(cls: Type['AbstractType']) -> Type['AbstractType']:
+        cls._proto_type_name = proto_type_name
+
+        _PROTO_TYPE_NAME_TO_CLASS[proto_type_name] = cls
+        return cls
+
+    return _register
diff --git a/docarray/typing/tensor/abstract_tensor.py b/docarray/typing/tensor/abstract_tensor.py
index d1342bd1b1c..b179665f9ff 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/tensor/abstract_tensor.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/tensor/abstract_tensor.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     from pydantic import BaseConfig
     from pydantic.fields import ModelField
 
-    from docarray.proto import NdArrayProto
+    from docarray.proto import NdArrayProto, NodeProto
 
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='AbstractTensor')
 TTensor = TypeVar('TTensor')
@@ -70,7 +70,19 @@ def __instancecheck__(cls, instance):
 class AbstractTensor(Generic[TTensor, T], AbstractType, ABC):
 
     __parametrized_meta__: type = _ParametrizedMeta
-    _PROTO_FIELD_NAME: str
+    _proto_type_name: str
+
+    def _to_node_protobuf(self: T) -> 'NodeProto':
+        """Convert itself into a NodeProto protobuf message. This function should
+        be called when the Document is nested into another Document that need to be
+        converted into a protobuf
+        :param field: field in which to store the content in the node proto
+        :return: the nested item protobuf message
+        """
+        from docarray.proto import NodeProto
+
+        nd_proto = self.to_protobuf()
+        return NodeProto(ndarray=nd_proto, type=self._proto_type_name)
 
     @classmethod
     def __docarray_validate_shape__(cls, t: T, shape: Tuple[Union[int, str]]) -> T:
diff --git a/docarray/typing/tensor/audio/audio_ndarray.py b/docarray/typing/tensor/audio/audio_ndarray.py
index 1d619f0cdf8..807cbd55fbb 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/tensor/audio/audio_ndarray.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/tensor/audio/audio_ndarray.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from typing import TypeVar
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.audio.abstract_audio_tensor import AbstractAudioTensor
 from docarray.typing.tensor.ndarray import NdArray
 
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='AudioNdArray')
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='audio_ndarray')
 class AudioNdArray(AbstractAudioTensor, NdArray):
     """
     Subclass of NdArray, to represent an audio tensor.
@@ -52,8 +54,6 @@ class MyAudioDoc(Document):
 
     """
 
-    _PROTO_FIELD_NAME = 'audio_ndarray'
-
     def to_audio_bytes(self):
         tensor = (self * MAX_INT_16).astype('<h')
         return tensor.tobytes()
diff --git a/docarray/typing/tensor/audio/audio_torch_tensor.py b/docarray/typing/tensor/audio/audio_torch_tensor.py
index 13269ba6ef5..d74ca407afd 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/tensor/audio/audio_torch_tensor.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/tensor/audio/audio_torch_tensor.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from typing import TypeVar
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.audio.abstract_audio_tensor import AbstractAudioTensor
 from docarray.typing.tensor.audio.audio_ndarray import MAX_INT_16
 from docarray.typing.tensor.torch_tensor import TorchTensor, metaTorchAndNode
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='AudioTorchTensor')
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='audio_torch_tensor')
 class AudioTorchTensor(AbstractAudioTensor, TorchTensor, metaclass=metaTorchAndNode):
     """
     Subclass of TorchTensor, to represent an audio tensor.
@@ -50,8 +52,6 @@ class MyAudioDoc(Document):
 
     """
 
-    _PROTO_FIELD_NAME = 'audio_torch_tensor'
-
     def to_audio_bytes(self):
         import torch
 
diff --git a/docarray/typing/tensor/embedding/ndarray.py b/docarray/typing/tensor/embedding/ndarray.py
index 05158658a58..631268e7c26 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/tensor/embedding/ndarray.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/tensor/embedding/ndarray.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.embedding.embedding_mixin import EmbeddingMixin
 from docarray.typing.tensor.ndarray import NdArray
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='ndarray_embedding')
 class NdArrayEmbedding(NdArray, EmbeddingMixin):
     alternative_type = NdArray
diff --git a/docarray/typing/tensor/embedding/torch.py b/docarray/typing/tensor/embedding/torch.py
index 4486474bed0..6178144045f 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/tensor/embedding/torch.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/tensor/embedding/torch.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Any  # noqa: F401
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.embedding.embedding_mixin import EmbeddingMixin
 from docarray.typing.tensor.torch_tensor import TorchTensor
 
@@ -11,5 +12,6 @@ class metaTorchAndEmbedding(torch_base, embedding_base):
     pass
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='torch_embedding')
 class TorchEmbedding(TorchTensor, EmbeddingMixin, metaclass=metaTorchAndEmbedding):
     alternative_type = TorchTensor
diff --git a/docarray/typing/tensor/ndarray.py b/docarray/typing/tensor/ndarray.py
index 8286e7fba78..d5d3edf6ab3 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/tensor/ndarray.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/tensor/ndarray.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.abstract_tensor import AbstractTensor
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
     from pydantic.fields import ModelField
 
     from docarray.computation.numpy_backend import NumpyCompBackend
-    from docarray.proto import NdArrayProto, NodeProto
+    from docarray.proto import NdArrayProto
 
 from docarray.base_document.base_node import BaseNode
 
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ class metaNumpy(AbstractTensor.__parametrized_meta__, tensor_base):  # type: ign
     pass
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='ndarray')
 class NdArray(np.ndarray, AbstractTensor, Generic[ShapeT]):
     """
     Subclass of np.ndarray, intended for use in a Document.
@@ -83,7 +85,6 @@ class MyDoc(BaseDocument):
         )
     """
 
-    _PROTO_FIELD_NAME = 'ndarray'
     __parametrized_meta__ = metaNumpy
 
     @classmethod
@@ -158,18 +159,6 @@ def unwrap(self) -> np.ndarray:
         """
         return self.view(np.ndarray)
 
-    def _to_node_protobuf(self: T) -> 'NodeProto':
-        """Convert itself into a NodeProto protobuf message. This function should
-        be called when the Document is nested into another Document that need to be
-        converted into a protobuf
-        :param field: field in which to store the content in the node proto
-        :return: the nested item protobuf message
-        """
-        from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
-        nd_proto = self.to_protobuf()
-        return NodeProto(**{self._PROTO_FIELD_NAME: nd_proto})
-
     @classmethod
     def from_protobuf(cls: Type[T], pb_msg: 'NdArrayProto') -> 'T':
         """
diff --git a/docarray/typing/tensor/torch_tensor.py b/docarray/typing/tensor/torch_tensor.py
index 808fb7a23bd..cdbd75f2a71 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/tensor/torch_tensor.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/tensor/torch_tensor.py
@@ -4,13 +4,14 @@
 import numpy as np
 import torch  # type: ignore
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.abstract_tensor import AbstractTensor
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from pydantic.fields import ModelField
     from pydantic import BaseConfig
     import numpy as np
-    from docarray.proto import NdArrayProto, NodeProto
+    from docarray.proto import NdArrayProto
     from docarray.computation.torch_backend import TorchCompBackend
 
 from docarray.base_document.base_node import BaseNode
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ class metaTorchAndNode(
     pass
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='torch_tensor')
 class TorchTensor(
     torch.Tensor, AbstractTensor, Generic[ShapeT], metaclass=metaTorchAndNode
 ):
@@ -83,7 +85,6 @@ class MyDoc(BaseDocument):
     """
 
     __parametrized_meta__ = metaTorchAndNode
-    _PROTO_FIELD_NAME = 'torch_tensor'
 
     @classmethod
     def __get_validators__(cls):
@@ -171,18 +172,6 @@ def from_ndarray(cls: Type[T], value: np.ndarray) -> T:
         """
         return cls._docarray_from_native(torch.from_numpy(value))
 
-    def _to_node_protobuf(self: T) -> 'NodeProto':
-        """Convert Document into a NodeProto protobuf message. This function should
-        be called when the Document is nested into another Document that need to be
-        converted into a protobuf
-        :param field: field in which to store the content in the node proto
-        :return: the nested item protobuf message
-        """
-        from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
-        nd_proto = self.to_protobuf()
-        return NodeProto(**{self._PROTO_FIELD_NAME: nd_proto})
-
     @classmethod
     def from_protobuf(cls: Type[T], pb_msg: 'NdArrayProto') -> 'T':
         """
diff --git a/docarray/typing/tensor/video/video_ndarray.py b/docarray/typing/tensor/video/video_ndarray.py
index 5cf6efc0057..345499634e5 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/tensor/video/video_ndarray.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/tensor/video/video_ndarray.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.ndarray import NdArray
 from docarray.typing.tensor.video.video_tensor_mixin import VideoTensorMixin
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@
     from pydantic.fields import ModelField
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='video_ndarray')
 class VideoNdArray(NdArray, VideoTensorMixin):
     """
     Subclass of NdArray, to represent a video tensor.
@@ -21,8 +23,6 @@ class VideoNdArray(NdArray, VideoTensorMixin):
 
     """
 
-    _PROTO_FIELD_NAME = 'video_ndarray'
-
     @classmethod
     def validate(
         cls: Type[T],
diff --git a/docarray/typing/tensor/video/video_torch_tensor.py b/docarray/typing/tensor/video/video_torch_tensor.py
index 60dce18da3f..92a477915e9 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/tensor/video/video_torch_tensor.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/tensor/video/video_torch_tensor.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.torch_tensor import TorchTensor, metaTorchAndNode
 from docarray.typing.tensor.video.video_tensor_mixin import VideoTensorMixin
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@
     from pydantic.fields import ModelField
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='video_torch_tensor')
 class VideoTorchTensor(TorchTensor, VideoTensorMixin, metaclass=metaTorchAndNode):
     """
     Subclass of TorchTensor, to represent a video tensor.
@@ -21,8 +23,6 @@ class VideoTorchTensor(TorchTensor, VideoTensorMixin, metaclass=metaTorchAndNode
 
     """
 
-    _PROTO_FIELD_NAME = 'video_torch_tensor'
-
     @classmethod
     def validate(
         cls: Type[T],
diff --git a/docarray/typing/url/any_url.py b/docarray/typing/url/any_url.py
index adea38e7b67..700c1af2e3a 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/url/any_url.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/url/any_url.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from pydantic import errors, parse_obj_as
 
 from docarray.typing.abstract_type import AbstractType
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from pydantic.networks import Parts
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='AnyUrl')
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='any_url')
 class AnyUrl(BaseAnyUrl, AbstractType):
     host_required = (
         False  # turn off host requirement to allow passing of local paths as URL
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ def _to_node_protobuf(self) -> 'NodeProto':
         """
         from docarray.proto import NodeProto
 
-        return NodeProto(any_url=str(self))
+        return NodeProto(text=str(self), type=self._proto_type_name)
 
     @classmethod
     def validate_parts(cls, parts: 'Parts', validate_port: bool = True) -> 'Parts':
diff --git a/docarray/typing/url/audio_url.py b/docarray/typing/url/audio_url.py
index 1646b4eb0e0..f04fdb1c7fa 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/url/audio_url.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/url/audio_url.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 from pydantic import parse_obj_as
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.audio.audio_ndarray import MAX_INT_16, AudioNdArray
 from docarray.typing.url.any_url import AnyUrl
 
@@ -11,30 +12,18 @@
     from pydantic import BaseConfig
     from pydantic.fields import ModelField
 
-    from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='AudioUrl')
 
 AUDIO_FILE_FORMATS = ['wav']
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='audio_url')
 class AudioUrl(AnyUrl):
     """
     URL to a .wav file.
     Can be remote (web) URL, or a local file path.
     """
 
-    def _to_node_protobuf(self: T) -> 'NodeProto':
-        """Convert Document into a NodeProto protobuf message. This function should
-        be called when the Document is nested into another Document that needs to
-        be converted into a protobuf
-
-        :return: the nested item protobuf message
-        """
-        from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
-        return NodeProto(audio_url=str(self))
-
     @classmethod
     def validate(
         cls: Type[T],
diff --git a/docarray/typing/url/image_url.py b/docarray/typing/url/image_url.py
index 29063c46dcc..4e7300a33d9 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/url/image_url.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/url/image_url.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.url.any_url import AnyUrl
 from docarray.typing.url.helper import _uri_to_blob
 
@@ -12,30 +13,18 @@
     from pydantic import BaseConfig
     from pydantic.fields import ModelField
 
-    from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='ImageUrl')
 
 IMAGE_FILE_FORMATS = ('png', 'jpeg', 'jpg')
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='image_url')
 class ImageUrl(AnyUrl):
     """
     URL to a .png, .jpeg, or .jpg file.
     Can be remote (web) URL, or a local file path.
     """
 
-    def _to_node_protobuf(self) -> 'NodeProto':
-        """Convert Document into a NodeProto protobuf message. This function should
-        be called when the Document is nested into another Document that needs to
-        be converted into a protobuf
-
-        :return: the nested item protobuf message
-        """
-        from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
-        return NodeProto(image_url=str(self))
-
     @classmethod
     def validate(
         cls: Type[T],
diff --git a/docarray/typing/url/text_url.py b/docarray/typing/url/text_url.py
index 179022a4a03..0b6ddaacdad 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/url/text_url.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/url/text_url.py
@@ -1,29 +1,17 @@
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
-
-if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from docarray.proto import NodeProto
+from typing import Optional
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.url.any_url import AnyUrl
 from docarray.typing.url.helper import _uri_to_blob
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='text_url')
 class TextUrl(AnyUrl):
     """
     URL to a text file.
     Can be remote (web) URL, or a local file path.
     """
 
-    def _to_node_protobuf(self) -> 'NodeProto':
-        """Convert Document into a NodeProto protobuf message. This function should
-        be called when the Document is nested into another Document that need to
-        be converted into a protobuf
-
-        :return: the nested item protobuf message
-        """
-        from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
-        return NodeProto(text_url=str(self))
-
     def load_to_bytes(self, timeout: Optional[float] = None) -> bytes:
         """
         Load the text file into a bytes object.
diff --git a/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/mesh_url.py b/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/mesh_url.py
index 5b18f5d847b..bd5a1de408e 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/mesh_url.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/mesh_url.py
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, NamedTuple, TypeVar
+from typing import NamedTuple, TypeVar
 
 import numpy as np
 from pydantic import parse_obj_as
 
 from docarray.typing import NdArray
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.url.url_3d.url_3d import Url3D
 
-if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='Mesh3DUrl')
 
 
@@ -17,23 +15,13 @@ class Mesh3DLoadResult(NamedTuple):
     faces: NdArray
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='mesh_url')
 class Mesh3DUrl(Url3D):
     """
     URL to a .obj, .glb, or .ply file containing 3D mesh information.
     Can be remote (web) URL, or a local file path.
     """
 
-    def _to_node_protobuf(self: T) -> 'NodeProto':
-        """Convert Document into a NodeProto protobuf message. This function should
-        be called when the Document is nested into another Document that needs to
-        be converted into a protobuf
-
-        :return: the nested item protobuf message
-        """
-        from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
-        return NodeProto(mesh_url=str(self))
-
     def load(self: T) -> Mesh3DLoadResult:
         """
         Load the data from the url into a named tuple of two NdArrays containing
diff --git a/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/point_cloud_url.py b/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/point_cloud_url.py
index 256b80e5ee3..ad57ff85ace 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/point_cloud_url.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/point_cloud_url.py
@@ -1,34 +1,22 @@
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, TypeVar
+from typing import TypeVar
 
 import numpy as np
 from pydantic import parse_obj_as
 
 from docarray.typing import NdArray
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.url.url_3d.url_3d import Url3D
 
-if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='PointCloud3DUrl')
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='point_cloud_url')
 class PointCloud3DUrl(Url3D):
     """
     URL to a .obj, .glb, or .ply file containing point cloud information.
     Can be remote (web) URL, or a local file path.
     """
 
-    def _to_node_protobuf(self: T) -> 'NodeProto':
-        """Convert Document into a NodeProto protobuf message. This function should
-        be called when the Document is nested into another Document that needs to
-        be converted into a protobuf
-
-        :return: the nested item protobuf message
-        """
-        from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
-        return NodeProto(point_cloud_url=str(self))
-
     def load(self: T, samples: int, multiple_geometries: bool = False) -> NdArray:
         """
         Load the data from the url into an NdArray containing point cloud information.
diff --git a/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/url_3d.py b/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/url_3d.py
index 68191efecfa..cebd7e94080 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/url_3d.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/url/url_3d/url_3d.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.url.any_url import AnyUrl
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='Url3D')
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='url3d')
 class Url3D(AnyUrl, ABC):
     """
     URL to a .obj, .glb, or .ply file containing 3D mesh or point cloud information.
diff --git a/docarray/typing/url/video_url.py b/docarray/typing/url/video_url.py
index ca967a90c2a..7e171ec926a 100644
--- a/docarray/typing/url/video_url.py
+++ b/docarray/typing/url/video_url.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from pydantic.tools import parse_obj_as
 
 from docarray.typing import AudioNdArray, NdArray
+from docarray.typing.proto_register import _register_proto
 from docarray.typing.tensor.video import VideoNdArray
 from docarray.typing.url.any_url import AnyUrl
 
@@ -11,8 +12,6 @@
     from pydantic import BaseConfig
     from pydantic.fields import ModelField
 
-    from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
 T = TypeVar('T', bound='VideoUrl')
 
 VIDEO_FILE_FORMATS = ['mp4']
@@ -24,22 +23,13 @@ class VideoLoadResult(NamedTuple):
     key_frame_indices: NdArray
 
 
+@_register_proto(proto_type_name='video_url')
 class VideoUrl(AnyUrl):
     """
     URL to a .wav file.
     Can be remote (web) URL, or a local file path.
     """
 
-    def _to_node_protobuf(self: T) -> 'NodeProto':
-        """Convert Document into a NodeProto protobuf message. This function should
-        be called when the Document is nested into another Document that needs to
-        be converted into a protobuf
-        :return: the nested item protobuf message
-        """
-        from docarray.proto import NodeProto
-
-        return NodeProto(video_url=str(self))
-
     @classmethod
     def validate(
         cls: Type[T],
diff --git a/tests/integrations/document/test_proto.py b/tests/integrations/document/test_proto.py
index e405ca4b1b2..adabe6deb84 100644
--- a/tests/integrations/document/test_proto.py
+++ b/tests/integrations/document/test_proto.py
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ class MyDoc(BaseDocument):
         np_embedding=np.zeros((128,)),
         nested_docs=DocumentArray[NestedDoc]([NestedDoc(tensor=np.zeros((128,)))]),
     )
-    doc = MyDoc.from_protobuf(doc.to_protobuf())
+    doc = doc.to_protobuf()
+    doc = MyDoc.from_protobuf(doc)
 
     assert doc.img_url == 'test.png'
     assert doc.txt_url == 'test.txt'
diff --git a/tests/units/document/proto/test_proto_based_object.py b/tests/units/document/proto/test_proto_based_object.py
index 051485f91e1..6d2b7a79b7b 100644
--- a/tests/units/document/proto/test_proto_based_object.py
+++ b/tests/units/document/proto/test_proto_based_object.py
@@ -4,15 +4,6 @@
 from docarray.typing import NdArray
 
 
-def test_nested_item_proto():
-    NodeProto(text='hello')
-    NodeProto(nested=DocumentProto())
-
-
-def test_nested_optional_item_proto():
-    NodeProto()
-
-
 def test_ndarray():
 
     original_ndarray = np.zeros((3, 224, 224))
diff --git a/tests/units/typing/tensor/test_audio_tensor.py b/tests/units/typing/tensor/test_audio_tensor.py
index caa016dbb50..9a2bf64fa69 100644
--- a/tests/units/typing/tensor/test_audio_tensor.py
+++ b/tests/units/typing/tensor/test_audio_tensor.py
@@ -57,14 +57,14 @@ def test_illegal_validation(cls_tensor, tensor):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     'cls_tensor,tensor,proto_key',
     [
-        (AudioTorchTensor, torch.zeros(1000, 2), AudioTorchTensor._PROTO_FIELD_NAME),
-        (AudioNdArray, np.zeros((1000, 2)), AudioNdArray._PROTO_FIELD_NAME),
+        (AudioTorchTensor, torch.zeros(1000, 2), AudioTorchTensor._proto_type_name),
+        (AudioNdArray, np.zeros((1000, 2)), AudioNdArray._proto_type_name),
     ],
 )
 def test_proto_tensor(cls_tensor, tensor, proto_key):
     tensor = parse_obj_as(cls_tensor, tensor)
     proto = tensor._to_node_protobuf()
-    assert str(proto).startswith(proto_key)
+    assert proto_key in str(proto)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
diff --git a/tests/units/typing/tensor/test_video_tensor.py b/tests/units/typing/tensor/test_video_tensor.py
index 214fcdf6e12..d7baf131a39 100644
--- a/tests/units/typing/tensor/test_video_tensor.py
+++ b/tests/units/typing/tensor/test_video_tensor.py
@@ -67,15 +67,15 @@ def test_illegal_validation(cls_tensor, tensor):
         (
             VideoTorchTensor,
             torch.zeros(1, 224, 224, 3),
-            VideoTorchTensor._PROTO_FIELD_NAME,
+            VideoTorchTensor._proto_type_name,
         ),
-        (VideoNdArray, np.zeros((1, 224, 224, 3)), VideoNdArray._PROTO_FIELD_NAME),
+        (VideoNdArray, np.zeros((1, 224, 224, 3)), VideoNdArray._proto_type_name),
     ],
 )
 def test_proto_tensor(cls_tensor, tensor, proto_key):
     tensor = parse_obj_as(cls_tensor, tensor)
     proto = tensor._to_node_protobuf()
-    assert str(proto).startswith(proto_key)
+    assert proto_key in str(proto)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
diff --git a/tests/units/typing/url/test_audio_url.py b/tests/units/typing/url/test_audio_url.py
index 5d0f042fd71..21280aa8eb9 100644
--- a/tests/units/typing/url/test_audio_url.py
+++ b/tests/units/typing/url/test_audio_url.py
@@ -105,4 +105,4 @@ def test_illegal_validation(path_to_file):
 def test_proto_audio_url(file_url):
     uri = parse_obj_as(AudioUrl, file_url)
     proto = uri._to_node_protobuf()
-    assert str(proto).startswith('audio_url')
+    assert 'audio_url' in str(proto)
diff --git a/tests/units/typing/url/test_video_url.py b/tests/units/typing/url/test_video_url.py
index 46bd60ea648..ef395092a93 100644
--- a/tests/units/typing/url/test_video_url.py
+++ b/tests/units/typing/url/test_video_url.py
@@ -123,4 +123,4 @@ def test_illegal_validation(path_to_file):
 def test_proto_video_url(file_url):
     uri = parse_obj_as(VideoUrl, file_url)
     proto = uri._to_node_protobuf()
-    assert str(proto).startswith('video_url')
+    assert 'video_url' in str(proto)