> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.reyapp.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Data
> Use Rey's built-in database to store and manage structured app data in tables — no external service, setup, or backend code required.
Every Rey project includes a built-in database that lets you store, organize, and retrieve structured data directly inside your app. Think of it as a lightweight spreadsheet that lives alongside your UI — you can read from it, write to it, and display its contents on the canvas without ever leaving Rey or connecting to an outside service.
## Open the Data panel
Click the **database icon** in the top toolbar to open the **Data** panel. From here you can see every table in your app, add new ones, and edit entries.
New projects come with two sample tables — **Actors (Sample)** and **Movies (Sample)** — that you can inspect, edit, or delete.
## Edit mode vs. live app
You work with data inside **edit mode**, which is sandboxed from your published app:
* Table setup (new tables, fields, permissions) is **promoted** to the live app the next time you publish.
* Entries and changes you make in edit mode are sandboxed — they do **not** affect the data in your live app.
See [Edit mode & Live mode](/publishing/edit-and-live-mode) for the full breakdown.
## Tables, entries, and fields
Data in Rey is organized into **tables**. Each table has:
* **Entries** — individual records (rows).
* **Fields** — the typed columns that describe each entry.
* **Permissions** — who can read and write entries at runtime.
To create your first table, see [Tables](/data/tables).
## Add entries manually
You can populate your table directly in the Data panel without writing any code.
In the Data panel, click the table you want to edit. The table grid opens on the right.
Click **+ New entry**. A new empty row appears.
Click any cell and type a value. Press **Tab** to move to the next field, or **Enter** to move down to the next entry.
Rey saves entries automatically as you type.
Add a handful of realistic sample entries before building your UI. Seeing real content in your list components makes it much easier to design and test layouts.
## Bind a table to a List component
Once your table has data, you can display its entries on the canvas by binding the table to a **List** component.
Click the **+ button** in the bottom-right of the canvas, open the **Layout** category, and choose **List**.
Click the List to select it, open the property toolbar above it, and choose **Data**. Select your table — Rey immediately populates the list with one item per entry.
Tap any element inside the List — for example, a Text label in the item template — and open its property toolbar.
Choose **Data field** in the property toolbar, then pick the field to display (e.g., `Users > display_name`). The element now renders real data from that field and updates automatically when entries change.
## Read and write data with actions
Use database **actions** in your app's logic to interact with the database at runtime.
Creates a new entry in a table. Map form inputs or variables to each field you want to populate.
Edits an existing entry. Specify the entry and provide the new field values.
Removes an entry permanently — typically passed from the item the user tapped.
To add a database action, select a component, open the **Logic** tab in the property toolbar, click **+ Add action**, and choose the database action you need. See [Logic](/building/interactions) for the full flow.
## Filter and sort a List
You can narrow and reorder the entries displayed in a List component without writing any queries. Select the List, choose **Data** in the property toolbar, and use **+ Add filter** and **+ Add sort** to configure them. Rey applies filters and sorts live on the canvas.