---
title: "Key Concept"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/search-integration/key-concepts/
description: "Catalyst provides a powerful, cost-effective search that queries volumes of records in your application's, Data Store and provides instant results."
last_updated: 2026-08-17T12:16:04Z
service: Cloud Scale
type: general
---

# Key Concepts

Before you learn about implementing search in your application, it's important to familiarize yourself with some fundamental concepts.

### Indexed Columns

As mentioned earlier, Catalyst Search is only available for columns whose _Search Index_ constraint is enabled in the Data Store. If a column is not indexed, that is, if the _Search Index_ constraint for the column is disabled, the search query cannot access the column. It will not be able to obtain the column's value for a record in the table.

To enable search for a particular column in a table, you must ensure that it is an indexed column.

You can enable the Search Index constraint for a column when you create it. Refer to the [Data Store documentation](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/data-store/columns/#create-a-new-column) for information on creating a new column.

### Indexing an Existing Column in the Data Store

To enable the _Search Index_ constraint for an existing column in a table in the Data Store:

1. Navigate to **Develop** and then **Data Store**.

2. Click the table's name from the list.

3. In the _Schema View_ section, click the ellipsis icon corresponding to the required column and click **Edit**.

![catalyst_search_data_store_edit](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/search/catalyst_search_data_store_edit.webp)

4. Enable the **Search Index** toggle switch.

 ![catalyst_search_data_store_update](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/search/catalyst_search_data_store_update.webp)

5. Click **Update**.

This will initiate the indexing process. Once the indexing is complete, you will receive a notification in your console alerting you of its success or failure. After the column is indexed, it can be accessed by search queries from your application. You can check whether a column is search indexed from the _Schema View_ page.

You can disable the _Search Index_ constraint for an existing column in the same way.

> **Note:** The *Search Index* constraint is automatically disabled for the default column ROWID and automatically enabled for the other default columns (CREATORID, CREATEDTIME, and MODIFIEDTIME). You cannot modify these values.