Text
This topic describes the string/text data types, supported in Budibase
The text data type stores a string of UTF-8 characters. A text column is a good choice if you want to store data like names or addresses It is a common data type and one you are more than likely going to use.
Creating a text column
The process for creating a text column takes a few seconds.
- First, click the
Create column
button. - Give your text column a name - such as 'Name'.
- By default the text data type will be selected; so there's no need to change it.
- Click
Save Column
.
Using the text data type
In the Design section, will be able to use a variety of components for Displaying text, as well as a number of form Text inputs for accepting user input.
Convertible types
The text data type can be converted into another related type.
![Changing the Text type](https://files.readme.io/6d1161e-Screenshot_2023-02-10_at_13.57.29.png)
Changing the Text type
The most common reason to change the type of a text column will be to make it compatible with one of the following Form components:
Options
![Options type](https://files.readme.io/0eabb7e-Screenshot_2023-02-10_at_14.04.49.png)
Options type
Allows a single value to be chosen from a dropdown of options.
Any existing text value will be kept, however it will appear as a null in the dropdown.
![Selecting an option](https://files.readme.io/cca9391-Screenshot_2023-02-10_at_14.07.55.png)
Selecting an option
Long Form Text
![Long form text type](https://files.readme.io/e48cadb-Screenshot_2023-02-10_at_15.07.44.png)
Long form text type
Updated 8 months ago