---
title: "TCA Reference"
manual: "TCA Reference"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:start@main"
source: "Index.rst"
start: true
modified: "2026-09-15T18:56:37+00:00"
---

# TCA Reference

-   *Version:* release
-   *Language:* en
-   *Author:* TYPO3 contributors
-   *License:*

    This document is published under the
    [Open Publication License](https://www.opencontent.org/openpub/).

-   *Rendered:* today

---

This document is the complete reference of the *Table Configuration Array*
`$GLOBALS['TCA']`, which is a very central element of the TYPO3 architecture.

---

**Table of Contents:**

**About table configuration**

-   [Introduction](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:introduction-1@main)
-   [Examples](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:examples-1@main)
-   [Best practices](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:best-practices@main)

**Reference**

-   [Field definitions (columns)](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:field-definitions-columns@main)
-   [Field types (config > type)](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:field-types-config-type@main)
-   [Table properties (ctrl)](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:table-properties-ctrl@main)
-   [Grouping fields (palettes)](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:grouping-fields-palettes@main)
-   [Record types](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:record-types@main)