# Core concepts

> Configurations, tables, fields, projects, records and the data model behind Insight.

Insight shows the same structured data as the rest of GIMLabs. A handful of
concepts explain everything you see in the grid.

## Configuration

A **configuration** is the profile that defines the tables, fields, units and
lists your company's data uses. Insight groups everything by configuration: you
pick one (when your company has more than one) and its tables fill the sidebar.
Administrators manage configurations in [Product OS](https://os.gimlabs.io).

## Table

A **table** is a named block of data - for example *Location Details* or *Sample
Information*. Tables usually map to AGS groups. Each one holds many **records**,
and the sidebar shows how many. Select a table to read it.

## Field (column)

A **field** is a single column within a table - *Depth*, *Sample reference*,
*SPT N value*, and so on. Fields carry a **type** (text, number, date and more)
and sometimes a **unit**, which Insight uses to format values for display. Some
fields are marked **key** or **required**; Insight highlights these so they are
easy to pick out.

## Project

A **project** is the site or investigation a record belongs to. Every row in the
grid carries its **Project ID** and **Project Name**, and you can
[filter](/insight/explorer/filtering) the grid to one or more projects.

## Record

A **record** is one row of data - one location, one sample, one test result.
Records are read-only in Insight: you can browse and export them, but never
change them.

## Inherited columns

Geotechnical data is hierarchical: a sample belongs to a location, a test belongs
to a sample, and so on. When a table includes columns that live on a **parent**
record (or a related one), Insight resolves them for you and shows them inline -
so a test row can display its location and sample details without you opening
those tables. The column header notes which table such a field comes from.

## Geology codes

Some tables hold geological descriptions, tagged with an AGS **source code**.
Insight recognises two: **GEOL** (Field Geological Descriptions) and **DLOG**
(Driller Geological Description). The [geology overlay](/insight/explorer/geology)
uses these to show stratum descriptions alongside your records.