# Tables

## Very basic table

A table in Kontrl is a **bunch of data that belongs together**. Think of a **table in SQL**, **a collection in MongoDB or REST** or any other data source which has data that belongs together in some way or another.

A table only has a few mandatory settings.

```js
const kontrl = require("kontl");

kontrl.table({
  // How would you like to identify this table?
  name: "",
  // The fields of this table that are used to uniquely identify the data.
  identifier: ["id"],  
  // Which fields does this table have?
  fields: [
    "first_name",
    "last_name",
    "email"
  ],
  // The resolver, telling kontrl where it should get the data for this table.
  // See "resolvers" section for more information.
  resolver: kontrl.resolver.postgres(pgclient, "users")
});
```

This is the **simplest** representation of a table. There are **many more optional settings**.

If you define your table in this way, kontrl will work and give you **basic** CRUD functionality.

## Table groups

Once you have more than one or two tables it can be a real benefit to group your tables together.

```js
kontrl.table({
  
  // Other settings

  name: "posts",
  group: "Blog"
});

kontrl.table({
  
  // Other settings

  name: "comments",
  group: "Blog"
});
```

When two or more tables are in the same group, they will be shown in the dashboard as being in the same group.

## Hiding a table

Sometimes a table has to exist but you don't want to show this table to the user. Say for example the join table in a many to many relation.

In that case it's possible to hide a table in the table settings.

```js
kontrl.table({
  
  // Other settings

  settings:{
    hidden: true
  }
})
```