Question types
The catalog of form question types and which backing field types they're compatible with.
basicA question type is the runtime widget a respondent interacts with. Each type binds to a specific backing-field type; the designer enforces compatibility.
Text input
- Short text. One-line input. Compatible with
text(varchar) fields. Settings: max length, placeholder, regex validation. - Long text. Multi-line text area. Compatible with
textfields without a length cap. - Email. Short text with email validation. Compatible with
textfields. - URL. Short text with URL validation. Compatible with
textfields.
Numeric
- Integer. Whole number input with up/down spinner. Compatible with
integerandbigint. - Decimal. Floating-point input with configurable precision. Compatible with
decimal,float,double. - Percent. Decimal with
%suffix and 0-100 default constraint. Stored as 0-100 (not 0-1.0). - Currency. Decimal with a currency symbol prefix.
Date and time
- Date. Calendar picker. Compatible with
date. - Time. Clock picker. Compatible with
time. - Datetime. Combined. Compatible with
timestamportimestamp with timezone.
Choice
- Single select (dropdown). One option from a list. Compatible with text or pick-list-typed fields.
- Single select (radio buttons). Same data shape; different widget. Use for short lists where one-click is faster than a dropdown.
- Multi-select (checkboxes). Multiple values. Compatible with text-array fields or with a delimited-list convention.
- Single select (autocomplete). For long lists (50+). Searchable; the data shape is the same as the dropdown.
Choice lists can be inline (defined per question) or reference a Pick list item (preferred for reusable vocabularies; see Pick list).
Spatial
- Location (
geopoint). Compatible withpointgeometry. The capture mode decides the control: - Auto (default): a "Capture location" GPS button plus a small map. Tap the map or drag the pin when you are reporting a spot you are not standing on, or have no GPS fix. - Map: the map only; tap or drag the pin. If the map cannot load (no WebGL, or the map library is blocked), the GPS button and latitude and longitude boxes appear instead. - GPS: the GPS button only, no map. - Manual: latitude and longitude boxes. - Draw line / polygon. A map with line/polygon draw tools. Compatible with
line/polygongeometry.
File and media
- Photo. Camera capture or upload. Stored as a feature attachment.
- Audio. Microphone capture or upload.
- Video. Camera capture or upload. Often size-capped per org settings.
- Signature. Touch-pad signature capture. Stored as a PNG attachment: uploaded as soon as you stop signing when there is a connection, otherwise when the response syncs.
- File. Any document upload (PDF, DOCX, etc.).
Special
- Note. A non-input that displays helper text. Doesn't produce a stored value.
- Calculate. A non-input that computes a value from other questions and stores it. Compatible with any field. Common use: a "completed_at" timestamp set to
now()on submit. - Barcode. Camera-based barcode/QR scanner. Compatible with text fields.
See also
- Conditional logic. Showing or hiding questions based on answers.
- Form designer. The visual builder that orchestrates these.