---
title: "tcaDescription"
manual: "TCA Reference"
version: "13.4"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:tca-property-fieldinformation-tcadescription@13.4"
source: "ColumnsConfig/CommonProperties/FieldInformation/TcaDescription.rst"
rendered: "2026-10-01T16:43:17+00:00"
---

# tcaDescription {#tca-property-fieldinformation-tcadescription}

Use this `fieldInformation` to allow adding a more detailed description to the
form element. `tcaDescription` will read the `description` part of the
TCA column definition. If that value starts with `LLL:` it will render a
translated output. Else it will render the text unmodified.

![Shows a red rect where the tcaDescription as part of fieldInformation is rendered](../../../Images/ManualScreenshots/FieldInformationTcaDescription.png)

-   **tcaDescription**

    -   *Type:* array
    -   *TCA path:* $GLOBALS\['TCA'\]\[$table\]\['columns'\]\[$field\]\['config'\]\['fieldInformation'\]\['tcaDescription'\]
    -   *Scope:* Display

    > [!NOTE]
    > The HTML tags for this specific area are limited to:
    > `<a>`, `<br>`, `<br/>`, `<div>`, `<em>`, `<i>`, `<p>`, `<strong>`,
    > `<span>`, `<code>`.

`tcaDescription` is activated for most of the TYPO3 form elements by default.

## Examples {#tca-property-fieldinformation-tcadescription-examples}

### Activate tcaDescription {#tca-property-fieldinformation-tcadescription-examples-activatetcadescription}

For most of the TYPO3 own form elements it is not needed to activate
`tcaDescription` as it is activated by default. Before adding `tcaDescription`
to any kind of form elements you have to make sure the element supports the
rendering of [fieldInformation](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:confval-fieldinformation@13.4).

**EXT:my_extkey/Configuration/TCA/Overrides/pages.php**

```php
<?php

$GLOBALS['TCA']['pages']['columns']['my_own_column'] = [
  'label' => 'My own column',
  'description' => 'LLL:EXT:my_extkey/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_tca.xlf:pages.my_own_column.description',
  'config' => [
    'type' => 'input',
    'renderType' => 'mySpecialRenderingForInputElements',
    'default' => '',
    'fieldInformation' => [
      'tcaDescription' => [
        'renderType' => 'tcaDescription',
      ],
    ],
  ],
];

```

### Render a description {#tca-property-fieldinformation-tcadescription-examples-renderdescription}

As `tcaDescription` is activated for most of the TYPO3 own form elements,
it just needs to set the [description](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:confval-columns-description@13.4) property:

**EXT:seo/Configuration/TCA/Overrides/pages.php**

```php
<?php

$GLOBALS['TCA']['pages']['columns']['canonical_link'] = [
  'exclude' => true,
  'label' => 'LLL:EXT:seo/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_tca.xlf:pages.canonical_link',
  'description' => 'LLL:EXT:seo/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_tca.xlf:pages.canonical_link.description',
  'displayCond' => 'FIELD:no_index:=:0',
  'config' => [
    'type' => 'link',
    'allowedTypes' => ['page', 'url', 'record'],
    'size' => 50,
    'appearance' => [
      'browserTitle' => 'LLL:EXT:seo/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_tca.xlf:pages.canonical_link',
      'allowedOptions' => ['params', 'rel'],
    ],
  ],
];

```