The primary field is always the first column, or field, in any table. It represents a description of each record in the table and cannot be deleted, moved, or hidden. 

Choosing a primary field value

The primary field identifies a record wherever Airtable shows that record outside its own table. Linked record cells display the primary field value of each record they link to, and so do record previews and the expanded record title. Airtable also matches on the primary field value when you paste into a linked record field.

A primary field value that doesn't tell one record apart from another is therefore hard to read everywhere except the table the record lives in.

Airtable doesn't require primary field values to be unique, so keeping them distinct is up to you. A useful primary field value is:

• Unique across the table, or close to it.

• Readable on its own, without the rest of the record for context.

• Short enough to read inside a linked record cell.

When a record describes an event rather than a thing-a site visit, a shift, an order-combine the few fields that together make it unique. A field visit record might combine the date, the customer, and the visit type, giving values like "2026-03-04 North Shore Hospital Pre-sale". If two people could log the same visit type at the same place on the same day, add the person's name (or some other identifier) as well.

Reviewing and editing primary fields

To review and edit a primary field:

1. Open your Airtable home screen.

2. Open your desired base.

3. Click the primary field's field header.

4. Select Edit field and click Save.

Changing primary fields 

To change a primary field for a table:

1. Open your Airtable home screen.

2. Open your desired base.

3. Click the primary field's field header.

4. Click Change primary field.

5. Click the dropdown arrow under "Primary field" and select your desired primary field.

6. Click Change primary field.

Duplicating information in primary fields 

To create a new field storing your current primary field's information:

1. Open your Airtable home screen.

2. Open the base hosting the primary field you want to duplicate.

3. Click the primary field's field header.

4. Select Duplicate field.

   1. Allowing you to duplicate the name, cells, or both.

Supported field types in the primary field 

Airtable currently supports customizing primary fields as the following field types:

• Single line text

• Long text

• Date

• Phone number

• Email

• URL

• Number

• Currency

• Percent

• Duration

• Formula

• Autonumber

• Barcode

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