Data Type

You might say

The amount column is stored as text and cannot be summed. Change it to a number type, and switch date to a real date picker.

A data type is the format agreement for one piece of information: text, number, date, or an on/off value.If the amount field is a number type, phones show a numeric keyboard and records can be summed; stored as text, it can neither compare nor total. A date type opens a date picker and enables time sorting. The type fixes the format before entry, while validation checks at submit—two things that happen in order.

Know first

Field

Same field, different types, different abilities

Amount field¥1,2o0 Sum fails: the letter o slipped in

Date field312 Text cannot sort and formats drift

The test: will you compute or sort on it laterA phone number looks numeric but is never summed—text serves better.

How the type shapes what you see

Number: A numeric keyboard on entry; the list can sum and compare. Amounts, quantities, and stock should be numbers.

Date: Phones open a date picker with one consistent format; sorting and filtering by time work. Typing dates by hand is text and none of this works.

Choice: Pick from fixed options such as "following up / won / archived" instead of everyone wording their own.

Quick checkChoose the best answer

The quote tool needs to "sort by date." Which type should the date field use?

A date typeA text type, typing "Mar 2" manuallyA number type, entering 0302 for March 2

You can say this to an AI Agent

Check the field types: amount as a number, date as a date picker, status as a fixed set of options. Amount seems stored as text and cannot be summed; after fixing the types, try summing and sorting by date.

Learn next

1Field→2Validation→