# Database Tables ## Overview The App Database stores data in Tables. A Database Table is like a spreadsheet. It's a collection of data about a specific topic, such as Customers, Products, etc. {% embed url="" %} Video: Database Features {% endembed %} *** ## Table Fields A Database Table is made up of smaller categories of data called fields (also known as a *Column* or *Attribute*). e.g. A Database Table about customers might have fields such as: *CustomerID*, *First Name*, *Last Name*, *Phone Number*, *Email Address* and *Notes*.

### Field Types Fields are defined by specifying it's name and the type of data you want it to contain. The table below lists the supported field types:

Type	Sub-Type	Description
Text	Allow any text	Simple text
	Multi-line	Simple text spanning multiple lines
	Multi-line HTML	Formatted text spanning multiple lines
	Email	Email addresses
	Phone	Phone Numbers
	Password	Passwords with encryption
	List of Values	Allows only a Pre-defined set of simple text
	Files	Used for uploading and associating files. This field will store information about the files.
Numeric	-	Integer numbers within the approx. range -2 million to +2 million (32-bit signed)
Numeric (decimals)	-	Real numbers within the range (64-bit double precision)
Date/Time	-	A timestamp containing the date and time.
Yes/No	-	Boolean values like true or false, yes or no, on or off, etc
Large Numeric	-	Integer numbers (64-bit signed)

### Unique Fields A Database Table can have a single or a group of fields marked as unique. In the case of a single field being marked as unique, no two rows can have the same value for this field. In case of a group of fields, the combination of values across these fields must be unique for each record in the table. *** ### ID Field Every Database Table in Zingy gets an automatically assigned ID field. The value of this ID field is automatically generated and is guaranteed to be unique across all the records in the specific table. *** ## Table Records Database Tables store data in the form of records. A record (also called a *Row* or *Tuple*) is an individual entry in the table. For example, in the Database Table about customers, each record would contain specific information about one customer which is the data of the fields: *CustomerID*, *First Name*, *Last Name*, *Phone Number*, *Email Address* and *Notes* .

The above image shows a record selected in the *Customers* Database Table. The record is for the customer named *Max Mustermann*. *** ## Creating a Database Table In the App Editor, go to the **`Data`** tab and use the :heavy\_plus\_sign:**`New Table`** icon to add a new Database Table to your App.

In the screen that follows, you simply provide the name of the table (unique to your app) and add one or more fields by using the **`Add Field`** button.

The image below shows the information required for adding a field to the table.


Field Title	The general name for the field e.g. Address Line 1.
Type and Sub-Type	The type of data for the field. See here for more details.
Field ID	The Field ID gets automatically derived from the Field Title and is used internally to refer to the field.
Unique	Enable if no two rows can have the same value for this field. See here for more details.
Description	Optional text describing the field.
Values	For the List of Values sub-type for Text type fields, this contains a comma-separated text for the allowed values.

The the fields you want have been added click the **`Save Table`** button to create the table. *** ## Modifying a Table {% hint style="danger" %} Altering the structure of a table is irreversible and can be time-consuming, especially if the table already contains data. We advise against making such changes unless absolutely necessary. {% endhint %} If you need to modify a table's structure e.g. to add new fields or remove fields, click on the table and select the **`Edit`** option from the popup menu.

The image below shows an annotated example of the screen that shows for editing a Database Table.

Database Table edit screen showing the field edit button **(1)**, field delete button **(2)**, add field button **(3)** and the Save table button **(4)**.

The table below explains the annotations in the image above.


	Edit a field's title, type, sub-type, etc. If the table contains data, any field type changes will result in the existing data being converted to the new field type. This maybe a lengthy process depending on the amount of records in the table.
	Delete a field from the table. If the table contains data, this will result in the field being removed from all exiting records.This maybe a lengthy process depending on the amount of records in the table.
	Add a new field to the table. If the table contains data, this will result in the new field being added to all existing records and initialized with a default value depending on the type of the field. This maybe a lengthy process depending on the amount of records in the table.
	Save the changes and start the conversion process.

*** ## Deleting a Table {% hint style="danger" %} Database Table delete is permanent and not reversible. {% endhint %} To delete a Database Table and it's data, click on the table and select the **`Delete`** option from the popup menu.

*** ## Access (Security) Rules To configure role based access for a Database Table, click on the table and select the **`Access (Security)`** option from the popup menu.

Access rules can be configured for 4 types of operations (*View*, *Add*, *Modify* and *Delete*) as shown below:

Operation	Description
View	Listing records, looking up records, etc
Add	Creating or adding new records
Modify	Editing records (NOTE: this also requires View permission)
Delete	Deleting records

Table operation Access rules edit button

By default all registered [Users](/app-editor/app-users.md) of the app and members of the Admin [group](/app-editor/app-user-groups.md) are allowed on the four operations (*View*/*Add*/*Modify*/*Delete*). You can change this by clicking on any of the **`Edit`** buttons highlighted in the image above.

Access Rules modification showing group selection **(1)**, role selection **(2)**, group add button **(3)** and the group delete icon **(4)**.

* To allow a [group](/app-editor/app-user-groups.md), select it **(1)**, choose the minimum role level **(2)** and click on the Add button **(3)**. * To grant public access to an operation, select the "Public" group. * To remove a group click on the 'x' icon **(4)**. Note: The "Admin" group cannot be removed. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.zingy.ai/app-editor/data/database-tables.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.