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  1. Core Reference

Data

Creating, reading and changing data.

Last updated 1 year ago

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This core reference entry is suited for beginner-level builders.

To learn about this topic more in-depth, we recommend reading the suggested articles below:

Data

  • Article series:

    • Article: Understanding the Bubble database, and how to work with data.

    • Article: Uploading, downloading and securing files.

    • Article series:

      • Translating your app's static texts.

    • Article series:

      • Article: Saving data temporarily on a page or element.

        • Article: Saving and reading data from the browser's URL bar.


Dynamic expressions

When you work with data in Bubble, you'll often be relying on dynamic expression to load, aggregate and manipulate it in different ways. The article below explains how dynamic expressions work.

Article series:


The Data tab

The Data tab in the Bubble editor is where you view and manage your app's data types and data, as well as other categories of data like files and option sets.


Securing the database

Database data is protected server-side by using privacy rules. These are conditions that are automatically applied every time a user tries to access a specific data type/field.

Most Bubble apps will be managing data stored in a database. This section of the reference covers how you access data, manages and compares results, searching and setting up security.

Data sources: the source from which you fetch data

Data sources are where you get your data from when building a dynamic expression. It is going to be the first section of the expression. Sources of data can be the current user, a search from the database, data from an external API, some page and browser information, etc.

Operators and comparisons: change, evaluate and compare data

Operators and comparisons are used to work with the results of the data from the data source. For example:

Change (manipulate the data in real-time)

  • Change a text to uppercase

  • Add a number to an existing number

  • Add a number of days to a date

Evaluate/compare (return a yes or a no)

  • Check if data has a certain value (i.e. Name equals John)

  • Check if the current user is logged in

  • Check if a date is bigger than today's date

  • Check if the current user's age is the same as another user's age

: find the data you are looking for in the database

Searching is used to find specific data in the database. To do that, you instruct Bubble:

  • What kind of data you are looking for (i.e. Users or Products)

  • Provide constraints

setting up your database securely to maintain your user's privacy

Privacy and security are cornerstones of all apps that handle sensitive data.

Privacy and security can be a very important part of your app's structure, and we highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the different tools Bubble offers. The core reference explains each setting, but if you are new to the subject, we encourage you to read through our user manual security guide:

User manual article series:

Article:

Article:

Bubble Academy:

Bubble Academy:

Bubble Academy;

Bubble Academy:

Bubble Academy: (finding data in the database)

Bubble Academy:

Bubble Academy:

The data tab
Protecting data with privacy rules
The Data Tab: Bubble Introduction Series [7/10]
How to Add a Data Type as a Custom Field | Bubble Quick Tip
How to Instantly Modify Data With Autobinding | Bubble Quick Tip
How to Name Your Data Types & Fields | Bubble Quick Tip
How to use the Do a search for expression
How to use search constraints
How to use Ignore empty constraints
Data
The database
Files
Static data
App texts
Option sets
Temporary data
Custom states
URL parameters
Dynamic expressions
List of data sources
List of Operators and Comparisons
Search
List of search tools and settings
Privacy:
List of privacy rule settings
Protecting data with privacy rules