TCA basics · Question 1 of 12
What is the Table Configuration Array (TCA) used for in TYPO3?
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Answer
- A It describes database tables and their fields so that TYPO3 can build backend forms from it and process data correctly
Explanation
The TCA is a large PHP array in $GLOBALS['TCA'] that describes, for every table managed in the backend, which fields exist, how they appear in the form and how they are validated when saved. The FormEngine builds the editing forms from it, the DataHandler uses it when saving, and since TYPO3 v13 TYPO3 even derives many database columns from it automatically. An extension defines its own table, for example, in the file Configuration/TCA/tx_shop_product.php, which returns the array via return. The database credentials, on the other hand, live in $GLOBALS['TYPO3_CONF_VARS']['DB'] (file config/system/settings.php), not in the TCA.