# Append values to a field
This feature allows the user to append a non array field's value to an array type of field. The user keeps on editing the non array field and with every new entry a new row is created in the array field.
Confused? Let's dig a bit..
### What is the difference between [Copy field values](https://docs.senpiper.com/form-builder/creating-forms/additional-form-settings/conditions/copy-field-values) and Append values?
| Copy field values | Append field values |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
This is used to copy a non-array field to a non-array field or copy from an array type of field to an array type of field
|
This is used to append non-array field values to an array type of field.
|
### Need more explanation?
Let's understand with an example of two fields, **Field A** and **Field B.**
User objective: To copy field values from Field A to Field B.
For understanding purpose lets assume that Field A is non array and Field B is an array type field in both the cases.
**Case 1:** We use [Copy field values](https://docs.senpiper.com/form-builder/creating-forms/additional-form-settings/conditions/copy-field-values) condition on Field B. This means, the value entered in Field A is copied to Field B.
Now what happens?
1. The user enters a value **India** in Field A and Field B automatically shows its value as **India.**
2\. The user enters a value **USA** in Field A and Field B automatically shows its value as USA. The moment user changes the value **India** to **USA** without creating a successful submission, the value **India** is lost and the new value **USA** is the only visible value.
What if I need to retain India/USA and all other values entered in real time before creating a successful submission.
There comes the **Append values** condition. Let's see Case 2.
**Case 2**: We use **Append field values** condition on Field B. This means, the value entered in Field A gets appended to Field B.
Now what happens?
1. The user enters a value **India** in Field A and Field B automatically shows its value as **India.**
2\. The user enters a value **USA** in Field A and Field B automatically shows its value as USA. The moment user changes the value **India** to **USA** without creating a successful submission**,** the previous value **India** makes the 1st row and the new value **USA** makes the 2nd row of **Field B.**
So, the user can keep on giving new values to **Field A** and these values will be appended to **Field B** in the same order the user entered values in **Field A.** Once the intended list is created, the user can create a submission via clicking on **Submit** button.
### What is the use case?
Let's suppose we need to create a list of names of all the students in the class. So, we create a form with a non array textfield titled **Name** to record Name of the students and an array type of textfield titled **List** with **Append values** condition set on it.
While creating submission, we enter 1st student name N**aveen** in the field **Name** and this value **Naveen** automatically populates in 1st row of the field **List.** We delete **Naveen** from the field **Name** and enter 2nd name **Shradha** in the same submission and this value **Shradha** populates automatically in the 2nd row of the field **List**. We erase off **Shradha** and enter the third value for the field **Name** as **Deepak** and the value **Deepak** automatically populates the 3rd row of the field **List** and so on**.**
Hence, we managed to create a list of all students in a single submission.
### Is there any restriction?
Yes. There are two restrictions as of now.
1. The user can append only textfield/select/multiselect/radio/email/phone fields. So, going by our [**Field A/Field B**](#need-more-explanation) example. **Field A** can be any of the fields mentioned in this point.
2. The can append to only textfield type of field. So, in our example, **Field B** can be only textfield type.
The two possible scenarios for creating Append condition on a field ([Field B ](#need-more-explanation)in address) can be:
1. Create an array type textfield and apply Append condition on it.
Field A: can be any one of these - textfield/select/multiselect/radio/email/phone
Field B: textfield array type field.
2\. Create a section array with multiple textfields as its columns.
Field B: section array with textfield type columns. Let's assume we created 4 columns.
Field A: there is no one field here now. We create 4 different fields which can be any of the types mentioned (textfield/select/multiselect/radio/email/phone) and append them to section array columns.
### Conclusion
To summarise,
1. We can create input fields as textfield/select/multi-select/radio/email/phone field. Input fields are those whose values we want to append.
2. We can create output fields as textfields only ( outside the section or inside the section).
3. Input field is a non-array type of field and output field should always be the **array** type field.
