---
title: "Managing Custom Field Definitions"
date: 2026-04-04
author: "Bojan Josifoski"
url: https://samplehq.io/support/managing-custom-field-definitions/
description: "Custom field definitions control which metadata fields appear on every sample in your library. Only account owners can manage field definitions. The Custom Fields page lists all field definitions with"
---

# Managing Custom Field Definitions

Custom field definitions control which metadata fields appear on every sample in your library. Only account owners can manage field definitions.

![Custom Fields page in SampleHQ showing field definitions for Finish, Dimensions, and MOQ with type and required status](https://samplehq.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/custom-fields-samplehq.png)The Custom Fields page lists all field definitions with their type and required status.

## Creating a custom field

- Go to **Samples > Custom Fields** in the sidebar.

- Click **Add Custom Field**.

- Enter a field name (e.g., Finish, Dimensions, MOQ).

- Choose the field type: text, textarea, number, email, URL, date, select, radio, checkbox, or file upload.

- Set whether the field is required or optional.

- For select and radio types, add the list of options.

- Save the field.

## Editing and deleting fields

Each field in the list has **Edit** and **Delete** buttons. Editing a field updates it across all existing samples. Deleting a field removes it from all samples, but data already entered in that field is preserved as orphaned data.

## Cleaning up orphaned data

If you delete a field definition, the data previously entered under that field remains in the database. Use the **Clean Up Orphaned Data** button to permanently remove data from deleted fields.