> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://usdr.gitbook.io/elections/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://usdr.gitbook.io/elections/airtable-basics.md).
# Airtable Basics
Some helpful resources for getting familiar with Airtable.
## Airtable Dictionary
A list of words Airtable uses or that we may use to refer to actions you can do in Airtable.
| Word | Definition | Actions |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [**workspace**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/creating-and-deleting-airtable-workspaces) | A collection of bases shared among a team of people. | |
| [**base**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/airtable-bases-overview) | It belongs to a workspace. A base is a database that contains all of the information you need for a specific project, stored in one or more tables. | |
| [**table**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/tables-overview) | Contains a list of items of the same type—like people, ideas, or projects. | |
| [**fields**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/supported-field-types-in-airtable-overview) | A category in a table. These are the columns that define the information type. | Each field can store a different type of information, like text, checkboxes, file attachments, ratings, select options, and more.
You can also choose to show or hide specific fields, which allows you to focus on a smaller subset of relevant fields without changing or deleting any of the underlying data.
|
| [**record**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/adding-duplicating-and-deleting-airtable-records) | An individual item in a table. These are the rows that contain the information. | You can [**expand a record**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/expanding-records) to see all its associated details in a card-like layout. |
| [**field customization menu**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/field-type-overview#field-configuration-menu) | Allows you to change a field's type and adjust its formatting | |
| [**Views**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/getting-started-with-airtable-views) | Let you customize how information is displayed in a table: all the underlying information is the same, but how and what is shown can differ. | The order in which records appear is specific to a view.
You can make as many views as you'd like and switch back and forth between them depending on what you want to see, when.
|
| [**Filtering conditions**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/filtering-records-using-conditions) | These allow you to hide certain records from a view depending on values in their fields. | |
| [**sort**](https://support.airtable.com/docs/sorting-records-in-airtable-views) | Applied so that your records appear in a particular order according to the values in specific fields. | You can also manually rearrange records |
{% hint style="info" %}
When you first open up Airtable, you'll see a bunch of colorful icons arranged into different groups. The groups are workspaces, and the icons are bases.
{% endhint %}
## Airtable Academy
Your login to Airtable comes with access to [Airtable Academy](https://academy.airtable.com/). Here, you can learn at your own pace by exploring courses, webinars, user guides, and learning paths.
{% embed url="" %}
We recommend the Introduction to Airtable course.
{% endembed %}
## Advanced Resources
Here are additional Airtable resources that might be useful. Some of these are more advanced and used for coding, but are interesting for context:
* [Airtable YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHH6_KYYWUYaWzD5CPNQ6ng) - Watch these videos first, they give a great overview of how Airtable works and how to think about data in Airtable. They’re short.
* [Airtable Guides](https://support.airtable.com/hc/en-us/sections/360009677453) - from their support pages, useful guides on many topics.
* [Airtable API](https://airtable.com/api) - gives you info for any bases you can access.
* [Airtable API Reference](https://www.airtable.com/developers/scripting/api) - additional info about Airtable's API.
* [Formula field reference](https://support.airtable.com/hc/en-us/articles/203255215-Formula-field-reference) - for creating formulas on fields, not automation scripts.