Dataverse, the data backbone of Microsoft Power Platform, offers a wide variety of data types for storing and managing data. Choosing the right data type is critical for ensuring that your data is stored efficiently and processed correctly. Below is a table outlining the key Dataverse data types along with a brief description of each.
| Data Type | Description | Examples of Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Stores text-based data. Can be used for short or long text fields. | Names, addresses, descriptions |
| Whole Number | Stores integer values. | Quantities, counts, ages |
| Decimal Number | Stores numbers with decimal places, with precise control over precision and scale. | Prices, weights, measurements |
| Currency | Specialized number field for storing monetary values. Supports currency formatting. | Product prices, total sales, budgets |
| Date and Time | Stores date and time values. Supports options for storing only dates or both date and time. | Birthdates, event schedules, timestamps |
| Boolean | Stores true/false values. | Yes/no answers, checkboxes |
| Option Set | Stores predefined options as selectable values. | Gender, status, categories |
| MultiSelect Option Set | Stores multiple predefined options that can be selected at once. | Skills, tags, product categories |
| Lookup | Creates a relationship to another table, storing references to records in that table. | Foreign keys, relationships between students and courses |
| File | Allows file attachments to be stored in the database. | Uploading documents, storing images |
| Image | Stores an image for each record. | Profile pictures, product images |
| Choice | Provides multiple pre-defined options for the user to choose from. Similar to Option Set but more flexible. | Types of users, priorities |
| Floating Point Number | Stores approximate decimal numbers with a large range but less precision. | Scientific calculations, approximate values |
| GUID | Stores globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) for uniquely identifying records. | Unique keys, primary keys in relational models |
| Stores valid email addresses. | Contact information, user accounts | |
| Phone Number | Stores phone numbers in various formats. | Contact details, customer service numbers |
| URL | Stores website links or other URLs. | Website fields, social media profiles |
| Lookup (1) | Defines a one-to-many relationship between tables. | Customer-orders relationship, parent-child record relationships |
| Lookup (N) | Defines a many-to-many relationship between tables. | Courses-students relationships, product-tag relationships |
| Rich Text | Allows for formatting within text fields (e.g., bold, italics, lists). | Notes, descriptions, formatted documentation |
| Auto Number | Automatically generates a unique number for each record. | Invoice numbers, ticket numbers |
Key Points to Consider:
- Text vs. Choice: Text is versatile for user-inputted data, but if the field has a limited set of values, an Option Set or MultiSelect Option Set provides better control.
- Numbers: Use Whole Number for integers, Decimal for precise decimal values, and Floating Point for large ranges with less precision.
- Lookups: Use Lookup fields for creating relationships between tables, essential for modeling complex data relationships.
- Boolean: Perfect for simple Yes/No or True/False answers, improving logic clarity in your apps.
For more details, check the official Dataverse documentation.
This blog post can help users navigate through Dataverse data types and optimize their Power Platform applications.