---
title: "Create a Data Streams Channel"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/data-streams/implementation/create-channel/
description: "Step-by-step guide to creating a new Data Streams channel in the Catalyst Console with access control configuration."
last_updated: 2026-10-08T06:34:32Z
service: Cloud Scale
type: general
related_links:
  - name: "Channels Overview"
    url: /en/cloud-scale/help/data-streams/channels-overview/
  - name: "Setup Access Control"
    url: /en/cloud-scale/help/data-streams/implementation/setup-access-control/
  - name: "Publish Data with SDK"
    url: /en/cloud-scale/help/data-streams/implementation/publish-data-sdk/
  - name: "Key Concepts"
    url: /en/cloud-scale/help/data-streams/key-concepts/
---

# Create a Channel

To create a new Data Streams channel:

1. Access **Data Streams** from the service menu under *Cloud Scale*.
  ![Navigate to Data Streams in Catalyst Console](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/data-streams/navigate-data-streams.webp)

2. Click the **Create Channel** button.
  ![Create Channel button in Data Streams](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/data-streams/create-channel-button.webp)

3. Enter a descriptive name for your channel (e.g., "user-notifications", "order-updates", "live-chat").
  ![Channel creation form with name and access control](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/data-streams/channel-creation-form.webp)

4. Select an access control type to determine how subscribers will be authenticated when connecting to this channel:
   - **User Roles** — Restricts channel access to authenticated users with specific roles. Select **User Roles** from the dropdown and choose one or more roles from your Catalyst Authentication configuration. Use this when subscribers are authenticated users in your application with defined roles.
   - **Custom Logic** — Delegates authentication to an Advanced I/O function you define. Select **Custom Logic** from the dropdown and choose an existing function. Use this when you need custom authentication logic (SSO, API keys, anonymous users, device-based access).

> **Note:** For detailed access control configuration, refer to [Setup Access Control](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/data-streams/implementation/setup-access-control/). To create user roles, refer to the [User Roles documentation](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/authentication/introduction/).

5. Click **Create**.
  ![Create button to finalize channel creation](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/data-streams/channel-create-button.webp)

Your channel is ready to receive and distribute data. You will be redirected to the *Test Data Flow* section where you can verify that data flows correctly between publishers and subscribers. The **Channel ID** (required for all SDK and API interactions) is available in the *General Details* section of the *Dashboard* tab.

![Test Data Flow section after channel creation](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/data-streams/channel-created-test-data-flow.webp)

> **Note:** Always use the Channel ID in your code, not the Channel Name. The Channel ID never changes.