```yml models: - name: columns: - name: data_type: [description](/reference/resource-properties/description): [quote](/reference/resource-properties/columns#quote): true | false [data_tests](/reference/resource-properties/data-tests): ... config: [tags](/reference/resource-configs/tags): ... [meta](/reference/resource-configs/meta): ... - name: ... ``` ```yml sources: - name: tables: - name: columns: - name: [description](/reference/resource-properties/description): data_type: [quote](/reference/resource-properties/columns#quote): true | false [data_tests](/reference/resource-properties/data-tests): ... config: [tags](/reference/resource-configs/tags): ... [meta](/reference/resource-configs/meta): ... - name: ... ``` ```yml seeds: - name: columns: - name: [description](/reference/resource-properties/description): data_type: [quote](/reference/resource-properties/columns#quote): true | false [data_tests](/reference/resource-properties/data-tests): ... config: [tags](/reference/resource-configs/tags): ... [meta](/reference/resource-configs/meta): ... - name: ... ``` ```yml snapshots: - name: columns: - name: [description](/reference/resource-properties/description): data_type: [quote](/reference/resource-properties/columns#quote): true | false [data_tests](/reference/resource-properties/data-tests): ... config: [tags](/reference/resource-configs/tags): ... [meta](/reference/resource-configs/meta): ... - name: ``` ```yml analyses: - name: columns: - name: [description](/reference/resource-properties/description): data_type: - name: ``` Columns are not resources in and of themselves. Instead, they are child properties of another resource type. They can define sub-properties that are similar to properties defined at the resource level: - `tags` - `meta` - `data_tests` - `description` Because columns are not resources, their `tags` and `meta` properties are not true configurations even when nested under a `config` block. They do not inherit the `tags` or `meta` values of their parent resources. However, you can select a generic test, defined on a column, using tags applied to its column or top-level resource; see [test selection examples](/reference/node-selection/test-selection-examples#run-tests-on-tagged-columns). Columns may optionally define a `data_type`, which is necessary for: - Enforcing a model [contract](/reference/resource-configs/contract) - Use in other packages or plugins, such as the [`external`](/reference/resource-properties/external) property of sources and [`dbt-external-tables`](https://hub.getdbt.com/dbt-labs/dbt_external_tables/latest/) ### `quote` The `quote` field can be used to enable or disable quoting for column names. ```yml models: - name: model_name columns: - name: column_name quote: true | false ``` ```yml sources: - name: source_name tables: - name: table_name columns: - name: column_name quote: true | false ``` ```yml seeds: - name: seed_name columns: - name: column_name quote: true | false ``` ```yml snapshots: - name: snapshot_name columns: - name: column_name quote: true | false ``` ```yml analyses: - name: analysis_name columns: - name: column_name quote: true | false ``` ### Default The default quoting value is `false` ### Explanation This is particularly relevant to those using Snowflake, where quoting can be particularly fickle. This property is useful when: - A source has a column that needs to be quoted to be selected, for example, to preserve column casing - A seed was created with `quote_columns: true` ([docs](/reference/resource-configs/quote_columns)) on Snowflake - A model uses quotes in the SQL, potentially to work around the use of reserved words ```sql select user_group as "group" ``` Without setting `quote: true`: - [Data tests](/docs/build/data-tests) applied to this column may fail due to invalid SQL - Documentation may not render correctly, e.g. `group` and `"group"` may not be matched as the same column name. ### Example #### Add data tests to a quoted column in a source table This is especially relevant if using Snowflake: ```yml sources: - name: stripe tables: - name: payment columns: - name: orderID quote: true data_tests: - not_null ``` Without `quote: true`, the following error will occur: ``` $ dbt test -s source:stripe.* Running with dbt=0.16.1 Found 7 models, 22 tests, 0 snapshots, 0 analyses, 130 macros, 0 operations, 0 seed files, 4 sources 13:33:37 | Concurrency: 4 threads (target='learn') 13:33:37 | 13:33:37 | 1 of 1 START test source_not_null_stripe_payment_order_id............ [RUN] 13:33:39 | 1 of 1 ERROR source_not_null_stripe_payment_order_id................. [ERROR in 1.89s] 13:33:39 | 13:33:39 | Finished running 1 tests in 6.43s. Completed with 1 error and 0 warnings: Database Error in test source_not_null_stripe_payment_order_id (models/staging/stripe/src_stripe.yml) 000904 (42000): SQL compilation error: error line 3 at position 6 invalid identifier 'ORDERID' compiled SQL at target/compiled/jaffle_shop/schema_test/source_not_null_stripe_payment_orderID.sql ``` This is because dbt is trying to run: ```sql select count(*) from raw.stripe.payment where orderID is null ``` Instead of: ```sql select count(*) from raw.stripe.payment where "orderID" is null ```