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---
stage: Data Stores
group: Database
2022-09-21 17:13:33 -04:00
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
2022-08-04 20:09:38 -04:00
---
# Database Dictionary
This page documents the database schema for GitLab, so data analysts and other groups can
locate the feature categories responsible for specific database tables.
## Location
Database dictionary metadata files are stored in the `gitlab` project under `db/docs/` .
## Example dictionary file
```yaml
---
table_name: terraform_states
classes:
- Terraform::State
feature_categories:
- infrastructure_as_code
description: Represents a Terraform state backend
introduced_by_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/26619
milestone: '13.0'
```
## Schema
| Attribute | Type | Required | Description |
|----------------------|---------------|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `table_name` | String | yes | Database table name |
| `classes` | Array(String) | no | List of classes that respond to `.table_name` with the `table_name` |
| `feature_categories` | Array(String) | yes | List of feature categories using this table |
| `description` | String | no | Text description of the information stored in the table and it's purpose |
| `introduced_by_url` | URL | no | URL to the merge request or commit which introduced this table |
| `milestone` | String | no | The milestone that introduced this table |
## Adding tables
When adding a new table, create a new file under `db/docs/` named
`<table_name>.yml` containing as much information as you know about the table.
Include this file in the commit with the migration that creates the table.
## Dropping tables
When dropping a table, you must remove the metadata file from `db/docs/`
in the same commit with the migration that drops the table.
