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. 1. First, click the `Create column` button. 2. Give your text column a name - such as 'Name'. 3. By default the text data type will be selected; so there's no need to change it. 4. Click `Save Column`. *** ## Using the text data type In the Design section, will be able to use a variety of components for [Displaying text](doc:displaying-text), as well as a number of form [Text inputs](doc:text-inputs) for accepting user input. *** ## Convertible types The text data type can be converted into another related type.

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](doc:forms) components: * [Options picker](doc:option-picker) * [Long Form Field](https://docs.budibase.com/docs/text-inputs#long-form-field) * [Barcode/QR Field](doc:barcodeqr-field)
### Options

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
### Long Form Text

Long form text type