Optimal reference and configuration data modeling strategies

Power Platform applications often use lists of reference data. A list of countries or a lookup table listing all the functions within an organization are typical examples. Users select from these lists of reference data to categorize and process records.

Modeling reference data

When planning the structure of reference data within Power Platform applications, solution architects consider the benefits versus the additional complexity adding new tables brings to the solution:

• Create a table instead of a Choice or Choices column if there is a chance the list may need to be enhanced with related information (for example, currencies related to a list of countries).
• Use standard built-in tables if the use case closely matches the table’s function.
• Use Azure DevOps Build Tools where possible to promote reference data.
• Maintain the unique IDs of reference data to keep referential integrity and help...