You create tables in the Catalyst console or via the CLI, defining columns with types such as INTEGER, VARCHAR, BOOLEAN, and TIMESTAMP. The Datastore is accessible from within Catalyst functions using the SDK’s datastore methods, or via the Catalyst REST API for external access. Each Catalyst project gets its own isolated Datastore instance. Row-level operations like insert, update, delete, and query are all supported, and you can write multi-table JOIN queries using standard SQL syntax.
Use the Datastore for structured application data that requires relational queries, such as customer records, order lines, or configuration tables. It is the right choice when your Catalyst function needs to read or write data that has clear relationships between entities. Indian SMBs building custom Zoho extensions that need to persist data beyond what Zoho CRM custom fields support often use the Catalyst Datastore as their primary application database.
The Datastore is optimised for application-level read and write operations rather than large analytical queries over millions of rows. For bulk data analysis, export data to Zoho Analytics instead. Each table in the Datastore has a system-generated ROWID column as the primary key. Free plan projects have storage limits, so check the current plan limits in the Catalyst console before designing a data-heavy application.
A Mumbai-based distributor builds a Catalyst application to track dealer credit limits across 200 dealers in Maharashtra. They create a Datastore table with columns for dealer ID, credit limit in INR, outstanding balance, and last updated timestamp. A Catalyst function queries this table whenever a new order is placed in Zoho CRM, checks the available credit, and either approves or holds the order automatically.
No. The Catalyst Datastore is a relational SQL database that supports structured schemas and JOIN queries. The NoSQL Table in Catalyst is a separate key-value store designed for simple, fast lookups without a fixed schema. Choose the Datastore when your data has relationships and needs SQL querying; choose NoSQL Tables for simpler key-value storage with flexible attributes.
Yes. The Catalyst REST API exposes Datastore operations so external applications can insert, update, query, and delete rows using authenticated HTTP requests. This allows third-party tools or existing Node.js backends to use the Catalyst Datastore as a shared data layer alongside Catalyst functions.
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