User Table

The user table in Bubble is the built-in database table that stores every registered user account in your app. In Bubble's terminology, this is the User data type, and it behaves like a table with one row per user.

Every Bubble app with authentication relies on this table. It stores credentials, profile data, and any custom fields you add to track information about your users.

Key Takeaways

• Stores all user accounts: The user table contains one record for every person who has signed up to your Bubble app.
• Accessed in the Data editor: You can view, search, edit, and delete user records directly from Bubble's Data tab in the editor.
• Separate test and live tables: The user table exists in both your test and live databases. Records in one environment do not appear in the other.
• Extendable with custom fields: You can add any number of custom fields to the user table to store additional information about each user beyond the defaults.

What is User Table in Bubble?

The user table in Bubble is the built-in User data type that acts as a database table containing one record per registered user. It stores authentication data alongside any custom profile fields you define for your app.

When developers talk about a "user table," they mean the structured database storage where each row represents one user account. In Bubble, this is exactly what the User data type provides, displayed as a table in the Data editor.

• Default fields on every user record: Each user record in the table automatically includes fields for email, encrypted password, a unique ID, and a few Bubble-managed system fields you cannot remove.
• Custom fields extend the table: You define additional columns for the user table by adding new fields to the User data type in the Data editor. Every user record then has those fields available.
• Viewable and editable in the editor: During development, you can open the Data editor in Bubble and browse your user table, search records, and edit individual field values directly without building an admin interface first.

The user table is automatically populated when users sign up through your app. You can also add users manually through the Data editor during testing or initial setup.

How the User Table Works in Bubble

Bubble's user table is a standard database table under the hood, accessible through the Data editor during development and through your app's workflows at runtime. Every signup creates a new row, and every login reads from it.

The user table connects to Bubble's authentication system at a deeper level than regular data types. This is why user records behave slightly differently from records in your custom data types.

• Signup adds a row: When a user completes your signup flow, Bubble's "Sign the user up" action creates a new record in the user table with the email, encrypted password, and any additional fields you specify in the action.
• Login reads from the table: Bubble's login action searches the user table for a record matching the entered email, compares the password hash, and establishes a session if they match.
• Search in workflows: You can search the user table in Bubble workflows just like any other data type. Use "Do a search for Users" to find specific users based on any field value.

One important difference: the user table's password field is always encrypted and never accessible in workflows or expressions. You can never read or display a user's password, which is the correct and secure behavior.

Why the User Table Matters for No-Code Apps

The user table is the foundation of every multi-user Bubble app. It determines what you know about each person, how you identify them throughout your app, and what data you can use to personalize their experience.

Without the user table, an app cannot have individual accounts. Everything flows from this table, from authentication to personalization to role-based access.

• Identity across the app: Every reference to "Current User" in your Bubble editor points to a record in the user table. It is the anchor for all user-specific logic in your app.
• Profile data lives here: Any information about the user as a person, including their name, photo, plan, or preferences, belongs in the user table so it is accessible anywhere in the app as "Current User's [field]."
• Audit trail potential: You can add fields like "Last login date," "Account created date," or "Last active" to the user table to track engagement and support churn analysis.

For B2B apps, the user table often works alongside an Organization data type, where users belong to organizations. Understanding how multi-tenancy works in SaaS applications helps you structure this relationship correctly in Bubble.

How to Manage the User Table in Bubble

Manage the user table in Bubble through the Data editor for direct record access, through admin panel pages you build in your app for ongoing management, and through privacy rules to control which user fields are accessible to other parts of the app.

Direct management through the Data editor is useful during development. For live apps, you should build an admin panel that lets authorized users manage the user table through your app's interface.

• Data editor for development: In the Bubble editor, go to Data and select the User type to view all records in test or live mode, edit individual fields, delete records, or import users via CSV.
• Admin panel for production: Build a page in your app accessible only to admin-role users that displays and manages the user table through standard Bubble elements like repeating groups and forms.
• Privacy rules for security: Set field-level privacy rules on the User data type to control which fields other logged-in users can read, which prevents users from accessing each other's sensitive information.

Keeping the user table clean and well-structured from the start, with clear field naming and appropriate privacy rules, pays dividends as your app scales and your user base grows.

Conclusion

The user table is the backbone of identity and authentication in every Bubble app. Its structure determines what you know about users, what they can see, and how your app personalizes their experience. Taking time to design it thoughtfully at the beginning of a project, with the right custom fields and privacy rules in place, sets a much stronger foundation than adding fields reactively as the app grows. At LOW/CODE Agency, we've helped 450+ clients build and scale apps on Bubble and other no-code platforms. Our clients include global brands like Medtronic, American Express, Coca-Cola, Zapier, and Sotheby's.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I view the user table in Bubble?

Open the Bubble editor, go to the Data tab, and select the User data type. You can toggle between your test and live databases from the same view.

Can I add custom columns to Bubble's user table?

Yes. In the Data editor, select the User data type and add new fields. These fields appear on every user record and are accessible throughout your app.

How do I search for a specific user in the Bubble data editor?

Use the search bar in the Data editor when viewing the User type. You can filter by email or any other field to find the specific record you need.

Can I delete a user record directly from Bubble's data editor?

Yes. You can select and delete individual user records from the Data editor. Be careful in live mode as this removes the user's account permanently.

How many users can Bubble's user table hold?

Bubble does not publish an exact record limit, but the database scales with your plan. Higher plans support more data and handle larger user tables more efficiently.

Is Bubble's user table encrypted?

Bubble encrypts passwords before storage. Other fields are stored in Bubble's database. For sensitive personal data, follow applicable privacy regulations and use Bubble's privacy rules to restrict field access.