Column is a vertical series of cells in a table, similar to a column in a spreadsheet or a field in a database. In the tech world, columns are like the different attributes or properties of an object, except instead of being stored in a class, they're stored in a table row like some kind of primitive caveman data structure.

How to use it in a sentence

• I was trying to query the user table in the database, but I couldn't remember the name of the column that stored the user's email address. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the haystack is a bunch of poorly named columns and the needle is the data I actually need.

• The product manager asked me to add a new column to the analytics table to track the user's favorite emoji, because apparently that's the key metric we've been missing to drive our business forward. I'll get right on that, right after I finish my other high-priority tasks like refactoring the CSS and updating the company's Twitter bio.

If you actually want to learn more...

• Evolutionary Database Design - This article dives into the nitty-gritty of database refactoring, including how to handle changes to columns without breaking everything. Perfect for when you need to evolve your database schema without causing a mass extinction event.

• The 'largest stock profit or loss' puzzle: efficient computation in R - This article shows you how to use R to efficiently compute the largest stock profit or loss by comparing prices across different columns. It's like playing the stock market, except with less risk and more data wrangling.

• PostgreSQL: Documentation: 14: CREATE TABLE - The official PostgreSQL documentation on creating tables, including riveting details on defining columns and their data types. It's a real page-turner, assuming you're the type of person who gets excited about SQL syntax.

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.