---
schema_version: "1"
id: 7f30819f530ac85ea90f17670406baab57675212aff3164d204bf1ca484847cd
title: Create an Attribute
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_cab_create_an_attribute.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_cab_create_an_attribute.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 924fefc45eea694a38f8f6a1d5438574bd161792949b8337e927e8c10ae74686
description: Follow these steps to create an attribute in Contact Builder.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Create an Attribute

Follow these steps to create an attribute in Contact Builder.

Create an attribute either directly on the contact record or within an attribute group.

1. To access data extensions you create, follow the directions in this step.
    1. Click the Data Extensions tab.
    2. To edit and click the data extension name, navigate to the data extension.
2. To access data extensions or tables created by the system, such as MobileConnect Demographics or MobilePush Demographics, follow the directions in this step.
    1. On the Data Designer page, click the attribute group containing the data extension or table to edit.
    2. Click **View & Edit**.
    3. Hover over the name of the data extension or table.
    4. Click the ![Edit Attribute Icon](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mc_contact_data-264-0-0-production-enus/0e4d875c-8c8c-4be4-8f13-c8278eafbbf9/mc_contact_data/images/cab_editattribute.png) icon.
3. Click **Create Attribute**.
4. Enter a descriptive name for your attribute in the Attribute Name field.
5. Select the data type for the attribute in the Data Type dropdown menu.
6. To encrypt the data in the attribute, choose the Encrypt Data checkbox. After you add records to this attribute, you can't change the encryption setting.
7. For text attributes, you can select different options to mask the values presented in the text. Choose the checkbox under the Type dropdown menu and select your masking options.
    - Mask all characters
    - Mask all except for first word
    - Mask all except for last character
    - Mask all except for last 4 characters
    - Mask all except for last word
8. To assign a default value to an attribute, enter that value in the Default Value field. The default value must match the data type for the attribute.
9. Select whether the attribute must contain a value for the contact using the **Required** and **Not Required** buttons.
10. Click **Complete**.