Fields and Field Types

Fields are named, reusable UI components that collect, display, and store single pieces of information that are required when processing a Case. Fields can be added directly to a Case Type to capture information input by a user that is important to the resolution of a Case, or fields can be used to describe a data object.

In the following figure, the Customer data object consists of fields including Account ID, Coverage level, Email address, Enrollment, First Name, Full Name, Globally unique ID (which is automatically generated by Pega Platform™), and Last Name: 

When you create a field, you also assign a Field Type. The Field Type determines the format of the data that can be entered into the field, and, as a result, the type of information that is stored in the system. Field Types also determine the type of control that is automatically paired with the field in the user interface. By assigning a Field Type, you ensure that users provide valid information in the field and that the system displays data in the correct format.

For example, a field named Metro area would be assigned a Field Type of Text and store the value Boston, as shown in the following Booking form:

When creating a field, Pega Platform predicts the Field Type. By default, the Field Type is Text (single line). In the example below, when you name the field Arrival date, the system detects date in the name and sets the Field Type to Date only.

Pega Platform includes a variety of Field Types for use in an application.

 The following table shows a list of simple Field Types available in Pega and the information that each type stores.

Field Type	Type of Data	Field Example
Text (single-line)	Any single line of text.
Text (paragraph)	A large text box that accepts multiple lines of text.
Boolean	Allows users to select a checkbox to indicate one of two possible responses.
Currency	Currency symbols and values are stored based on the default currency type.
Date & time	UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) value normalized to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Date automatically displays in a localized format.
Date only	Calendar date with a localized format.
Decimal	Numbers with a fractional component. Use this Field Type when fractions are needed.
Email	Valid email format with an @ symbol. An email field is an action-oriented control, meaning the value stored in the field is displayed as a link. For an email, the link initiates users' default email application.
Integer	Positive and negative whole numbers, including the value zero (0).
Percentage	Positive and negative decimal numbers entered as a decimal and displayed as a percentage. For example, .5 displays as 50%.
Phone	Digits display in a localized format. A phone field is an action-oriented control, meaning the value stored in the field displays as a link. For example, if users access the application on a mobile device, the phone number link initiates a phone call.
Picklist	A list of predefined values.
Time only	UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) value normalized to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
URL	Web address. A URL field is an action-oriented control, meaning the value stored in the field displays as a link. For a URL, the link initiates the user's default browser and opens the target web page.
Attachment	Documents or files.
Location	Address input or automatic geolocation.
Prediction	Displays the results of a Prediction. Predictions contain fields, which you can configure on the UX tab as standard text and decimal fields. If you have access to Prediction Studio, the Prediction field displays a link to the source Prediction.	You can use this field to display the probability of missing a service-level-agreement.
Address	A region-specific address format. The UI displays the Country field as a dropdown list. Depending on that selection, the UI displays a set of country-specific fields.
User reference	Enter or select a user ID that exists in the system. The drop-down list or search field shows a list of every operator mapped to the current application rule.