How to handle duplicates in Bubble.io’s database?

Learn how to manage duplicates in Bubble.io's database effectively by identifying, detecting, automating removal, and adding constraints to keep your data clean and unique.

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Overview

Handling duplicates in Bubble.io’s database is crucial for data integrity and smooth app functionality. This guide walks you through identifying and managing duplicate records efficiently. Start by defining what counts as a duplicate and create unique identifiers. Set up workflows to detect duplicates when new data is added and automate periodic cleanups. Implement constraints to prevent duplicates at the point of entry and use unique constraints on key fields to maintain data integrity. Follow these steps to ensure a clean, efficient database.

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How to handle duplicates in Bubble.io’s database?

Identify Duplicate Data

Start by identifying what constitutes a duplicate in your database. Typically, duplicates are records that have one or more fields with identical values.
Create a new field in the database that will serve as a unique identifier for identifying duplicates. This could be a combination of multiple fields, for example, "email_phone_number".
Ensure that this unique identifier is generated whenever a new record is created, either through workflows or conditionally in your database structure.

Create a Workflow to Detect Duplicates

Navigate to your Bubble.io app’s editor and go to the “Workflow” tab.
Set up a workflow that triggers when new data is added to the database, e.g., when a user submits a form.
Add an action in this workflow to perform a search in the database for existing records that have the same unique identifier.
If the search returns any records, it means a duplicate exists. You can then decide to either prevent the duplication or update the existing record instead of creating a new one.
If the search doesn't return any records, proceed with creating the new data entry.

Automate Duplicate Removal

Sometimes, you might already have duplicates in your database and may want to clean them up automatically.
Create a new workflow that runs periodically (e.g., daily) using Bubble.io's “API workflows” and schedule it in the "Backend Workflows" tab.
In this workflow, search your database for records where the unique identifier matches more than once.
Use conditions to determine which duplicate(s) to keep and which to delete. For instance, you might want to keep the most recently created record.
Add an action to delete the duplicate records based on your conditions.

Add Constraints to Prevent Duplicates

Bubble.io allows you to add constraints to your input forms that can help prevent duplicates from being entered in the first place.
Go to the design tab and locate the input element or form where users add data.
Add a condition to this input element that checks the value against the database's existing entries.
If a duplicate is detected, display an error message and prevent the form from being submitted.

Use Unique Constraints in Database Fields

Consider setting unique constraints on specific fields in your database to prevent duplicates automatically.
Go to the "Data" tab and navigate to the data type where you need to enforce uniqueness.
For critical fields, like "Email" or "Username", click on the field and set it as unique. This way, Bubble.io will not allow duplicates for this field regardless of the data entry method.

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