Field naming conventions

When you create a data table, you must follow specific conventions for naming fields. This topic provides guidelines for standardizing field names within a database.

Field naming suggestions

• Use either all uppercase letters or all lowercase letters for field names. Do not use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Start field names with letters.

• Use field names that well represent the data content of the column, for example, "NAME".

• Do not start or end field names with underscores (_).

• Do not start field names with digits.

• Do not use reserved words or keywords in field names.

• Do not enclose digits in underscores (_) in field names.

• Do not use plural forms in field names.

• Use feature names that represent the functionality of the field or use standard abbreviations, separated by an underscore. The recommended format is "BUSINESS NAME_FIELD FEATURE". For example, "TASK_NUM", "CREATE_DATE", "STATION_DESC", and "TASK_ID".