> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.validio.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Domains

> Organize glossary terms and data assets by business area using domains.

Domains are organizational entities for categorizing glossary terms and data assets by business area. For example, you might create domains such as "Finance", "Marketing", or "Engineering" to group related terms and provide clear ownership boundaries.

Domains are also the primary nodes in the [Domain Lineage](https://docs.validio.io/docs/lineage/about-domain-lineage.md) graph, which visualizes how data flows between business areas.

Domains are located under the **Catalog > Domains** tab.

![The Domains tab listing domains with their description and owner](https://mintcdn.com/validio/h4NQPs1kJwlpB1Yj/images/docs/catalog/1003-domains-page.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=h4NQPs1kJwlpB1Yj\&q=85\&s=f7c09fb9d298d68cab1bbaf69861e336)

Domains page

## Prerequisites

Viewing domains requires `domains:READ` permission. Creating, editing, archiving, and deleting domains requires `domains:WRITE` permission. Approving domain changes when [catalog approval workflows](https://docs.validio.io/docs/access-and-settings/catalog-approval-workflows.md) are enabled requires `domains:APPROVE`. For more information, see [About Validio RBAC](https://docs.validio.io/docs/access-and-settings/about-validio-rbac.md).

## Domain properties

The domains list page displays all domains in a table with the following columns:

| Property | Description |
| :- | :- |
| Name | A unique name for the domain. |
| Description | A free-text description of the domain. |
| Owner | A user assigned to the domain. |

Each domain row has an Actions menu, where you can manage (Update and Delete) individual domains. See [Managing domains](#managing-domains).

## Browse domains

You can search and sort to find relevant domains:

* **Search** -- Type keywords into the search bar to filter by domain name and description.
* **Sort** -- Use the sort menu to change the sort field and the ordering of domains.

## View domain sidebar

Click a domain row to open the sidebar, which shows:

* **Header**: Domain name and description, with inline editing. The description supports markdown formatting.
* **Linked resources**: Links to view catalog assets associated with this domain in the assets list or lineage.
* **Resource info**: The domain ID and timestamps for creation and last update.

![The domain sidebar showing the Accounting domain's description, linked resources, and resource info](https://mintcdn.com/validio/h4NQPs1kJwlpB1Yj/images/docs/catalog/1003-domain-sidebar.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=h4NQPs1kJwlpB1Yj\&q=85\&s=b691c32157efb27083db08be16b4db7e)

Sidebar for Accounting domain

## Managing domains

You can create, edit, archive, and delete domains from the Domains tab. Editing, archiving, and deleting can be done from the sidebar or the actions menu on each domain row.

> [!NOTE]
>
> When [catalog approval workflows](https://docs.validio.io/docs/access-and-settings/catalog-approval-workflows.md) are enabled for the workspace, creating, updating, archiving, unarchiving, and deleting domains are staged as drafts and take effect only after a second person approves them.

![The update domain dialog with fields for name, description, and owner](https://mintcdn.com/validio/h4NQPs1kJwlpB1Yj/images/docs/catalog/1003-domain-update.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=h4NQPs1kJwlpB1Yj\&q=85\&s=5623f1d648e6a8e3b668689328473ec2)

Update domain Name, Description, or Owner

### Create a domain

1. Navigate to **Catalog > Domains**.
2. Click **New domain**.
3. Enter the domain **Name** (required).
4. Optionally add a **Description**.
5. Click **Create** to save the domain.

### Edit a domain

1. Click a domain row to open the sidebar, or use the actions menu on the domain row.
2. Click **Update** to open the update dialog.
3. Modify the domain properties.
4. Click **Save**.

### Assign an owner

1. In the domain row, click the icon under the **Owner** column.
2. Select a user from the list.

### Delete a domain

1. Click the actions menu on a domain row, or use the actions in the sidebar.
2. Select **Delete**.
3. Confirm the deletion.

Deleting a domain removes it from any glossary terms that reference it, but does not delete the glossary terms themselves.

### Archive or unarchive a domain

Archive a domain to retire it without deleting it. An archived domain leaves the domain list and can no longer be picked for a glossary term, but it is kept and can be unarchived later.

1. Click the actions menu on a domain row, or use the actions in the sidebar.
2. Select **Archive**.
3. Confirm in the dialog.

A domain that still holds glossary terms, or that an open term draft would move a term into, cannot be archived. Move the terms to another domain, archive or delete them, or change their drafts first. Only published domains with no pending changes can be archived.

To find archived domains, filter the list by **Lifecycle** and select **Archived**. To bring a domain back, select **Unarchive** from its actions menu.

## Related resources

* [Business Glossary](https://docs.validio.io/docs/catalog/business-glossary.md)
* [Catalog Assets](https://docs.validio.io/docs/catalog/catalog-assets.md)
* [About Domain Lineage](https://docs.validio.io/docs/lineage/about-domain-lineage.md)