Building a data model

concept brazil Updated Sep 10, 2026 2 min read app-tutorial-data-model.md

After creating an application, start building the data model for the application. Learn about what a data model is and how we build the data model for the tutorial application.

Once you have created an application in App Engine Studio, you can start configuring each part of the application. In our tutorial, we start with the data model for the application.

This is the third step in the app creation tutorial. In this step, you learn about data models and build the data model for the employee travel request application.

Step 1	[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-complete2.png"] Alt text: Completed icon	Planning your application
Step 2	[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-complete2.png"] Alt text: Completed icon	Create an app
Step 3	[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-wip.png"] Alt text: In progress icon	Building a data model
Step 4	[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-not-started.png"] Alt text: Not started icon	Creating user experiences
Step 5	[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-not-started.png"] Alt text: Not started icon	Adding logic and automation
Step 6	[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-not-started.png"] Alt text: Not started icon	Test your application

## Overview of data models

The data model for an application describes the data that the application reads and writes and how the data is stored. To build a data model, you can create tables to store the data for your application. Each table contains rows that represent individual records and columns that define the type of information within each record. You can create as many tables as needed for your application and define relationships between the tables.

For more information about building data models in App Engine Studio, see Create a data model for your application.

Tutorial data model

In our tutorial, the data model for our application stores information about employees' travel requests, such as where the employee is traveling to and how much the travel costs.

We build the data model for the application in our tutorial in three phases:

Phase 1	Create a data table
Phase 2	Configure a data table
Phase 3	Share data between tables

## Next steps

Start building the data model for your application. Proceed to the next step Create a data table.

Keywords data modelapplication developmenttutorialtablesemployee travel request

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---
title: Building a data model
description: After creating an application, start building the data model for the application. Learn about what a data model is and how we build the data model for the tutorial application.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-data-model.html
release: brazil
product: App Engine Studio
classification: app-engine-studio
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 2
keywords: [data model, application development, tutorial, tables, employee travel request]
audience: developer
breadcrumb: [App creation tutorial, Build, App Engine Studio, Developing your application, Classic app development, Building applications]
---

# Building a data model

After creating an application, start building the data model for the application. Learn about what a data model is and how we build the data model for the tutorial application.

Once you have created an application in App Engine Studio, you can start configuring each part of the application. In our tutorial, we start with the data model for the application.

This is the third step in the app creation tutorial. In this step, you learn about data models and build the data model for the employee travel request application.

<table id="table_odl_xfd_fdc"><tbody><tr><td>

Step 1

</td><td align="justify">

\[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-complete2.png"\] Alt text: Completed icon

</td><td>

[Planning your application](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-introduction.md)

</td></tr><tr><td>

Step 2

</td><td align="justify">

\[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-complete2.png"\] Alt text: Completed icon

</td><td>

[Create an app](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-create-an-app.md)

</td></tr><tr><td>

Step 3

</td><td align="justify">

\[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-wip.png"\] Alt text: In progress icon

</td><td>

[Building a data model](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-data-model.md)

</td></tr><tr><td>

Step 4

</td><td align="justify">

\[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-not-started.png"\] Alt text: Not started icon

</td><td>

[Creating user experiences](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-experience-layer.md)

</td></tr><tr><td>

Step 5

</td><td align="justify">

\[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-not-started.png"\] Alt text: Not started icon

</td><td>

[Adding logic and automation](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-logic-automation-layer.md)

</td></tr><tr><td>

Step 6

</td><td align="justify">

\[Omitted image "app-tutorial-progress-not-started.png"\] Alt text: Not started icon

</td><td>

[Test your application](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-test-app.md)

</td></tr></tbody>
</table>## Overview of data models

The data model for an application describes the data that the application reads and writes and how the data is stored. To build a data model, you can create tables to store the data for your application. Each table contains rows that represent individual records and columns that define the type of information within each record. You can create as many tables as needed for your application and define relationships between the tables.

For more information about building data models in App Engine Studio, see [Create a data model for your application](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/add-data.md).

## Tutorial data model

In our tutorial, the data model for our application stores information about employees' travel requests, such as where the employee is traveling to and how much the travel costs.

We build the data model for the application in our tutorial in three phases:

<table id="table_nvj_prv_2dc"><tbody><tr><td align="justify">

Phase 1

</td><td>

[Create a data table](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-create-table.md)

</td></tr><tr><td align="justify">

Phase 2

</td><td>

[Configure a data table](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-configure-table.md)

</td></tr><tr><td align="justify">

Phase 3

</td><td>

[Share data between tables](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-share-data.md)

</td></tr></tbody>
</table>## Next steps

Start building the data model for your application. Proceed to the next step [Create a data table](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/application-development/app-engine-studio/app-tutorial-create-table.md).