--- title: "Common fields" manual: "TCA Reference" version: "13.4" permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:fields-common@13.4" source: "BestPractises/CommonFields.rst" modified: "2026-09-15T18:49:03+00:00" --- # Common fields ## Mandatory fields If a table has a TCA definition, TYPO3 will automatically create the following fields: - **`uid`** An auto-incrementing unique identifier. This field is the table key and is used as a reference in relationships between records. - **`pid`** The `uid` field of the parent page. A record is situated on its parent page. If this value is 0 the record is not connected to a page. These fields are not defined anywhere else in the TCA configuration. It is not possible to use other names for these fields. ## Fields used by convention > [!WARNING] > It is possible to change the names of the following fields, but it is > strongly discouraged. Doing so breaks convention and may lead to compatibility > issues with third party extensions. > > All the fields mentioned below are added to the database automatically. You do > not need to define these fields in `ext_tables.sql` and doing so may lead to > problems later on. You only need to configure the fields in the TCA php files. ## Soft delete - **`deleted`** This field enables soft delete in records. Configure it by setting [ctrl->delete](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-delete@13.4): **EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/tx_myextension_domain_model_something.php** ```php [ 'delete' => 'deleted', // ... ], ]; ``` > [!WARNING] > If you do not configure this field, records will be hard deleted. > The backend DataHandler and Extbase will automatically execute > (hard) `DELETE` statements. The `deleted` field is not visible in backend forms. It is handled separately by the DataHandler and therefore does not need to be defined in the `columns` section. ## Enablecolumns > [!NOTE] > **Changed in version 13.3** > > The column definitions for these settings are > [auto-created](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-auto-created-columns@13.4). > See also [Migration](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-enablecolumns-migration@13.4). - **`hidden`** This field enables soft hiding of records. Configure it by setting [ctrl->enablecolumns->disabled](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-enablecolumns@13.4): **EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/tx_myextension_domain_model_something.php** ```php [ 'enablecolumns' => [ 'disabled' => 'hidden', ], // ... ], 'palettes' => [ 'visibility' => [ 'showitem' => 'hidden', ], ], 'types' => [ 0 => [ 'showitem' => ' --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:general, [...], --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:access, --palette--;;visibility, ', ], ], ]; ``` - **`starttime` and `endtime`** These fields can enable records at a starttime and disable them at an endtime. Configure them by setting [ctrl->enablecolumns->starttime or endtime](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-enablecolumns@13.4): **EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/tx_myextension_domain_model_something.php** ```php [ 'enablecolumns' => [ 'disabled' => 'hidden', 'starttime' => 'starttime', 'endtime' => 'endtime', ], // ... ], 'palettes' => [ 'access' => [ 'showitem' => 'starttime, endtime', ], 'visibility' => [ 'showitem' => 'hidden', ], ], 'types' => [ 0 => [ 'showitem' => ' --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:general, [...], --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:access, --palette--;;visibility, --palette--;;access, ', ], ], ]; ``` - **`fe_group`** This field defines which field is used for access control. Configure it by setting [ctrl->enablecolumns->fe_group](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-enablecolumns@13.4): **EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/tx_myextension_domain_model_something.php** ```php [ 'enablecolumns' => [ 'fe_group' => 'fe_group', ], // ... ], 'palettes' => [ 'access' => [ 'label' => 'LLL:EXT:frontend/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_ttc.xlf:palette.access', 'showitem' => ' fe_group, ', ], ], 'types' => [ 0 => [ 'showitem' => ' --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:general, [...], --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:access, --palette--;;access, ', ], ], ]; ``` > [!WARNING] > These fields that enable records ("enable fields") are only respected in the frontend if you > use the correct queries and Extbase repository settings in your extension code. > See [Enablecolumns / enablefields usage](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:enablefields-usage@13.4) for more information. ## Manual sorting in the backend - **`sorting`** This field is used to sort records in the backend. Configure it by setting [ctrl->sortby](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-sortby@13.4): **EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/tx_myextension_domain_model_something.php** ```php [ 'sortby' => 'sorting', ], ]; ``` > [!WARNING] > **Attention** > > The sortby field contains an integer and is managed by the DataHandler. It > should not be defined in the [Field definitions (columns)](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:columns@13.4) section in a TCA file. The value of this > field can be changed at any time by the DataHandler. > > Use [default_sortby](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-default-sortby@13.4) if you want to > sort by a field that belongs to the domain. ## Fields managed by the DataHandler The following fields are automatically set when a record is written by the [DataHandler](https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/reference-coreapi/13.4/en-us/ApiOverview/DataHandler/Database/Index.html#datahandler-basics). They should never be displayed in backend forms or explicitly set. They do not need to be defined in the [Field definitions (columns)](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:columns@13.4) section of the TCA. **EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/tx_myextension_domain_model_something.php** ```php [ 'tstamp' => 'tstamp', 'crdate' => 'crdate', 'origUid' => 't3_origuid', // ... ], ]; ``` - **`tstamp`** This field is automatically updated to the current timestamp when the record is updated or saved in the DataHandler. It can be configured by setting [ctrl->tstamp](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-tstamp@13.4). - **`crdate`** This field is automatically set to the current timestamp if the record is created by the DataHandler. It can be configured by setting [ctrl->crdate](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-crdate@13.4). - **`t3_origuid`** Field name containing the uid of the original record if a record is created as a copy or new version of another record. It can be configured by setting [ctrl->origUid](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl-reference-origuid@13.4).