Developers · Data

Database Fields and Tables

Last updated 1 November 2026

This document explains how databases are built and structured on Insites.

Database Fields

A 'Database Field' or 'Column' is an element of a database table that holds a specific type of data, such as dates, integers, strings, and files. A field is defined by its and data . Fields are defined in the YAML configuration files whenever a Database Table is created. For example:

properties:
- name: name
  type: string
- name: enabled
  type: boolean
- name: age
  type: integer

The above configuration adds three database fields:

name of type string
enabled of type boolean
age of type integer

Note that at the YAML code level, Database Fields are declared using the keyword .

Important

The codes and configuration files displayed in this article demonstrates how Insites work at the technical level. However, the Insites Instance Administration provides a user interface for a smoother and more intuitive user experience. Visit our Databases documentation to learn more.

Database Field Types

The table below lists available data types for Database Field configurations that are used to create fields on the database. In addition, the database fields' corresponding user interface elements are also outlined:

Field Type	UI Element
Array	Card Select (Multiple) Checkbox File (Multiple) Input (Multiple) Select (Multiple) Table
Boolean	Toggle
Date	Date
DateTime	Date and Time
Data Source	Search Select
Data Source (Multiple)	Search (Multiple) Select (Multiple)
Decimal	Decimal Stepper
Geo JSON	Code
Float	Decimal Stepper
Integer	Number Stepper
Media	Media - File Media - Image
String	Address Card Select Code Color Email HTML Input Link Markdown Multi-line Phone Radio Select
Time	Time

Database Tables

A Table is an object that describes and contains all Database Item objects that belong to it.

Tables define object types that will exist in your application and describe the properties each object can have. For example, if your application manages data labelled as 'books', you can create a Table with the name 'book' that will have the properties 'title' and 'author' (both having the type 'string'). The main function of a Table is to allow you to define the structure of your data.

Tip

When you build a table under Databases in the Instance Admin, it writes the same kind of YAML file for you, at . In GraphQL, that table is named .

Defining Tables

Put tables for your site in . Put tables that belong to a module in or .

The example below shows the BookList Table :

name: book_list
properties:
  - name: author
    type: string
  - name: title
    type: string

A basic visual representation of such a table is displayed below. The table contains records (or Database Items) with mock (sample) data.

id	Author	Title
0001	Tom Clancy	The Hunt for Red October
0002	Jane Austen	Pride and Prejudice
0003	C.S. Lewis	The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
0004	George Orwell	1984
0005	Hamilton, A., Madison, J., Rossiter, C., Jay, J., & Kesler, C. R. (2005).	The Federalist Papers

Note that the column (or property) labeled is automatically created by Insites; no need to create it either on the YAML file or in the Databases screen of the Instance Admin.

Database Configuration Properties

Property	Description	Required
name	Name of your Table. Best practice is to keep it lower case. Example:	Yes
properties	Array of properties you want to contain within your records. Equivalent to a column or database field in a database table.	No