title: "Tables" description: "A table defines an entity type in the system." It represents a collection of rows where each row corresponds to one instance of that entity.
Tables
Definition
A table defines an entity type in the system.
It represents a collection of rows where each row corresponds to one instance of that entity.
A table is a schema-level configuration object that controls:
- how information is stored
- how records are created
- how the entity appears in navigation
- how it is exposed through integrations
- how forms and lists are generated
When a table is created, history tracking (audit logging) is automatically enabled for that table. All changes to rows in the table are therefore recorded and can later be inspected through the audit system.
Configuration fields
Each table defines the following configuration properties.
Name
Human-readable labels used throughout the interface.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Singular name | Label used when referring to a single record |
| Plural name | Label used when referring to multiple records |
These names are used in forms, navigation, and record views.
API name
Identifiers used when interacting with the API.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Singular API name | Identifier used for a single entity |
| Plural API name | Identifier used for collections |
Constraints:
- Must be unique across all tables
- Allowed characters:
a–z,0–9,_ - Must be lowercase
- Cannot start with a number
Description
Optional text describing the purpose of the table.
Used as documentation for administrators.
Tags
Tags define labels used in the mobile navigation.
These labels group tables and allow filtering of entity types when browsing the mobile interface.
Behavior:
- Tags appear as labels in the mobile navigation
- Tables without tags are not visible in mobile table navigation
Options table
Marks the table as a static value table.
Behavior:
- Editable only by administrators
- Used as a dropdown source in other tables
Typical examples include values such as gender, country, or status types.
These tables normally contain a small and rarely changing set of rows.
Main entity table
Marks the table as a primary entity type.
Behavior:
- Appears in the mobile Add menu
- Allows users to create records of this type directly
Tables without this setting enabled cannot be created directly from the mobile interface.
System columns
Every table automatically includes the following system-managed columns.
| Column | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
id |
serial4 |
Internal primary key |
sys_ins |
timestamptz |
Creation timestamp |
sys_up |
timestamptz |
Last update timestamp |
sys_usr |
int4 |
User that performed the last modification |
_id |
text |
Optional external identifier used for imports |
sys_tbl |
int4 |
Internal table identifier |
These columns are always present and cannot be removed.
_id column
The _id column is used for external identifiers during data import.
Behavior:
- Nullable
- Can only be set through file import
- Not editable through normal system operations
Column and relation ordering
Each table defines an explicit order for its columns and relations.
This ordering affects:
- automatically generated forms
- list views
The order does not affect database structure or API responses.
Modification
Table configuration can be modified after creation.
The following properties may be changed:
- names
- API names
- description
- tags
- options table setting
- main entity table setting
Changes apply immediately to the system configuration.
Deletion
Tables can be deleted.
Deletion behavior:
- no cascading delete
- no soft delete
- removal is immediate
Deleting a table permanently removes the table and its configuration.
Related components
Tables interact with several other system components.
| Component | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Columns | Define the attributes stored in each row |
| Relations | Connect records across tables |
| Classifications | Evaluate conditions based on table data |
| Permissions | Control access to table records |
| Interface | Generates forms and lists from table structure |
| Integrations | Exposes table data through APIs and imports |
Related resources
Understand the concept