User Manual
In-depth guides covering every part of building on Bubble — from design and data to security and deployment.
By Support and 3 others4 authors358 articles
Introduction to the Manual
Learn how the User Manual is structured and how to navigate it effectively.
Introduction
New? Start Here
Getting started with the User ManualHow to use the Bubble Manual efficiently
Building for Web & Mobile
Understand the difference between web and native mobile apps, and choose the right approach for what you're building.
Native mobile basicsThe core concepts you need before building a native iOS or Android app on Bubble.5 articles
In-app purchasesSet up and manage in-app purchases for Apple and Android, including subscriptions and production checklists.8 articles
Mobile FAQsFrequently asked questions about building for mobile. 25 articles
The Bubble Editor
Get familiar with the editor's layout, tabs, and tools — the environment where you'll build everything.
How the Bubble editor worksThe article introduces the Bubble editor, explaining its structure, key features, and tools for app design and deployment.
The editor layoutThe article describes the Bubble editor's tab-based layout for app development, including design and workflow.
The Workflow tabThis article explains the Bubble editor's Workflow tab, where you set up events and actions for app interactions.
The Data tabThe article describes the Bubble editor's Data tab for managing app data, including database, privacy rules, and file management.
The Styles tabThis article explains the Bubble editor's Styles Tab for managing visual themes and style variables for a consistent app design.
The Plugins tab
The Settings tabThis article outlines the Bubble editor's Settings tab for managing app configurations like plans, domains, and collaboration.
Custom domain and DNS
Settings overview
Native mobile settings
Web app settings
The Design tabHow the Design tab works, including the element tree and property editor.3 articles
Property Editor BetaWhat's new in the redesigned property editor, currently in beta, and how to migrate from the current version.4 articles
Editor toolsBuilt-in tools that help you search, check for issues, and document your work.4 articles
Getting started with Bubble
Turn your ideas into web applications effortlessly with our no-code platform.
Creating & Managing ProjectsThis section covers how to create, manage and delete projects connected to your Bubble account
Building for...A native mobile app and a web app are not fundamentally different. They both offer the user a visual interface built on top of a foundation of workflows and a database.3 articles
Building your first appEmbark on the journey of creating your first app, turning your ideas into a functional digital tool.1 article
The Bubble editorThis section covers how to navigate the Bubble editor.2 articles
Transitioning to BubbleThis collection explains how Bubble leverages traditional web technologies to enable visual app development, making it accessible for non-coders while maintaining compatibility and security.4 articles
Your First App
A guided path through planning and building your first Bubble app — from idea to working product.
Planning your app's featuresLearn how to identify and plan essential features for your app's first version, ensuring a focused and user-centric development process.
Planning your database structurePlan your app's database structure by focusing on data types, fields, and relationships.
Designing your UI/UXExplore design resources and tools to create visually appealing and user-friendly apps, focusing on UI and UX principles.
Design
Build your app's interface using Bubble's design tools, elements, and layout system.
How design works in BubbleThis article highlights the importance of design and how Bubble enable intuitive, responsive, and user-friendly interfaces without coding.
TemplatesThis article explains how to use pre-made templates to quickly start projects, offering customizable applications across various categories.
The Component LibraryThis article explains how to use the Component Library to build and customize responsive page using pre-built UI components and workflows.
Importing from FigmaBring your Figma designs into Bubble and convert them into editable elements.8 articles
ElementsEverything you can place on a page: containers, visual elements, input forms, and mobile-specific components.23 articles
StylingManage your app's visual identity with color variables, font variables, and reusable styles.5 articles
Responsive designBuild pages that adapt to any screen size using Bubble's responsive engine.3 articles
Data
Structure your database, manage files and user data, and control access with privacy rules.
How data works in Bubble
The databaseCore concepts for working with Bubble's database: data types, fields, searching, displaying, and protecting data.11 articles
Database structure by app typeReference guides for structuring your database based on the kind of app you're building.18 articles
Data handlingHow Bubble handles files, images, static data, and temporary variables.8 articles
User accountsSet up user authentication, manage sessions, and connect third-party login providers.12 articles
Logic
This section covers Logic - the expressions and workflows that makes your app do the things you want it to do.
How logic works in Bubble
Frontend vs. backend in BubbleThis section describes the difference between workflows running on the frontend and backend
Working with dynamic data in BubbleThis article covers how to set up dynamic expressions in Bubble.
Using conditions in BubbleThis article explains how to use conditions and conditional expressions in Bubble to control app behavior and enhance security.
WorkflowsThis section covers workflows - the engine in your app that makes stuff happen.8 articles
NavigationThis section covers how to navigate between sections and pages in your app.4 articles
Device resourcesNative mobile applications give access to on-device resources such as the camera/photo library and location services.3 articles
Workload
This section covers Workload - a single metric that streamlines server resource management, allowing users to scale apps efficiently without monitoring complex infrastructure.
Understanding workloadBefore diving into tracking and optimizing your app’s workload, we recommend getting to know the fundamentals. This section provides an overview of how workload is calculated, what factors contribute to it, and how it influences your choice of pricing plans.5 articles
Tracking workloadIn this section, we’ll dive into tracking to look at how you can use historically aggregated data and real-time reporting to learn where your app can be optimized. We’ll also cover Bubble’s tools that let you receive timely alerts and stay on top of any changes in workload trends.4 articles
Optimizing workloadThis section discusses workload optimization, emphasizing the importance of maintaining app performance while managing server resource consumption.7 articles
Agency showcasesThis section features examples of how Bubble agencies are successfully helping their clients reduce workload consumption while maintaining or even improving overall performance. These examples highlight different ways you can also optimize your app for efficiency. Read on to learn how Minimum Studio, Neam, and Support Dept have helped their clients.3 articles
Security
In this section, we'll dive into the topic of ensuring your app's safety and protecting your users' data.
Bubble security overview
Bubble's security featuresThis article provides a general overview of the different security features Bubble as a platform offers.
Planning app securityThis section explores how you can work to establish a policy around privacy and security for your app.
Client-side vs. server-side processing in BubbleThis section covers the difference between client-side and server-side operations in your app.
How to keep your Bubble account secureThis article covers how to keep your Bubble account secure
App-level security settingsThis article covers security applied on an app level.
Restricting access to pages and elementsThis article covers security on pages, elements and workflows.
App security checklistThis article cover many of the typical points that need to be checked as your app goes through the first and continued deployments.
Previewing your app
Bubble makes it easy to preview your web app and mobile app while you build.
Previewing a web app
Previewing a mobile app
Publishing Your App
In this article, we’ll cover some key points to keep in mind as you prepare to welcome real users into your app.
How to publish your app
Web AppDeploying your app means transferring or updating the current version of your application from the Development to the Live environment.
Maintenance
In this section, you will learn about the different concepts and features that let you maintain your application as it scales. This includes backups, bulk operations, collaboration, etc.
Managing collaboratorsThis article covers collaboration, which is how you invite other Bubble users to edit your application and its data.
Adding comments to your appThis article covers how to leave comments in your Bubble app to help with future modification and collaboration.
API workflow schedulerThis article covers the scheduler, which lets you view, pause and delete upcoming scheduled workflows.
Version controlThis section covers the version control system.3 articles
Database maintenanceThis section covers copying, restoring and running bulk operations on the database.5 articles
PerformanceThe Bubble team is committed to enhancing the scalability and performance of their platform to support thousands of apps and ensure a smooth user experience. Performance and scalability of a Bubble app are significantly influenced by how the app is built. This section provides insights into app performance and offers practical tips for optimization.3 articles
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)This section covers how to work with SEO in Bubble.3 articles
Testing and debuggingA key part of developing your Bubble application is testing and debugging. Bubble has several useful tools that help you identify issues and debug them.5 articles
AI
With AI, Bubble is transforming the way you design, build, and refine applications
How AI works in BubbleWith AI, Bubble is transforming the way you design, build, and refine applications.
Generate apps with AI
How AI app generation worksBubble's AI app generator acts as a designer and developer, taking an idea and doing the hard work of getting your idea from 0 to 1.
AI page designerOur goal is to help Bubble users develop great-looking, efficient apps using conversational prompts.
Connecting to AI modelsThis section introduces how to connect your Bubble app to AI agents such as ChatGPT and Claude using the API Connector.
Generating data types with AI
Bubble AI Agent
Integrations
This section covers different ways to integrate your application to other apps on the web.
SQL Database ConnectorThis section covers the SQL Database Connector plugin, which lets you connect with external SQL databases.
Bubble App ConnectorThis article covers the Bubble App Connector plugin, used to connect two Bubble applications to each other.
APIUnlock the power of APIs in your Bubble application.25 articles
PluginsIn this section, you will learn about plugins; what they can do and how you use them in your app. You'll also learn about some special plugins like the API Connector. Here are the sections in this guide.2 articles
WorkOSWorkOS equips your app with advanced SSO and other enterprise-level functionalities.3 articles
Infrastructure
In this section we will cover two key aspect of how Bubble works as a platform: security and hosting/scaling.
How sub-apps work
Bubble release tiers
FAQ - Bubble Features
Get quick answers to common questions about Bubble's features. This section provides clear explanations and practical tips to help you understand and utilize Bubble's functionalities effectively. Perfect for troubleshooting and optimizing your app-building experience.
Are the file managers in Development and Live automatically in sync with one another?
Can I get a static IP?
How can I integrate a third-party service with my application?
Can I build an alternative frontend/backend for my Bubble application?
Can I accept payments in my Bubble web application?
Can I build my application in a language other than English?
How can I enable iframes for my application?
Can I have users subscribe to my Bubble application?
How can I set up my Google API keys?
How can I change my app name or id?
Can I use my own Cloudflare account for my app?
Can I use SSO for end-users in my Bubble app?
Are option sets copied from main apps to sub apps?
Are "Individual data requests" in the workload charts drillable?
How can I allow a collaborator to view and edit an app, but not deploy it?
Can an app name be reused after an app has been deleted?
Can I use an external storage solution or database with Bubble?
How do I access the AI Page Designer?
What's the most amount of file storage I can get on my app?
Where can I access my AI Build guides?
Can I extend my Bubble app to achieve non-native functionality?
How do you prototype on Bubble?
Can I export my data from the Bubble platform?
How do hosting and deployment work?
What services can Bubble connect and integrate with?
Can I use my own domain name?
How is Bubble hosted?
Can I export my Bubble application?
Do I have to build my app from scratch?
How can I get support for integrating with a third-party API?
I've initialized a call in the API Connector. Why can't I access it within my element data source or while setting up my workflow?
What is API Streaming?
What types of data are supported for API streaming?
Is API Streaming secure?
How do I set up API Streaming?
What plans include API Streaming?
How will API Streaming impact my workload usage? How much WU does streaming incur?
How does API Streaming impact CPU / hardware usage for Dedicated?
What use case is API Streaming helpful for?
Native Mobile Public Beta Launch
How can I import a JSON file into Bubble, and what are the limitations?
What are the user, traffic, and collaborator limits for a Bubble app?
How does the Undo/Redo functionality work in Bubble, and what are its limitations?
Do I need separate hosting or domain services for my Bubble app?