What is the difference between a key flexfield and descriptive flexfield in Oracle Apps?

Difference Between Key Flexfield and Descriptive Flexfield in Oracle Apps

In Oracle Apps, a key flexfield and a descriptive flexfield serve different purposes and are used in a distinct manner.

Key Flexfield:

A key flexfield in Oracle Apps is a highly structured field that is used to capture unique identifiers or keys for various business entities. It is typically used to define the key structure of an entity, such as a chart of accounts, a part number, or an employee ID. Key flexfields are critical for integrating data across different modules and applications within Oracle Apps.

Descriptive Flexfield:

A descriptive flexfield in Oracle Apps is a more flexible field that allows users to capture additional descriptive information specific to a particular entity or transaction. Unlike key flexfields, descriptive flexfields can be customized and configured by the user to capture additional details that are not predefined in the system. Descriptive flexfields provide a way to extend the standard data model and capture specific information based on user requirements.

In summary, the difference between a key flexfield and descriptive flexfield in Oracle Apps lies in their purpose and usage. While key flexfields capture unique identifiers for entities, descriptive flexfields allow for the capture of additional descriptive information specific to a particular entity or transaction.

For more information on key and descriptive flexfields in Oracle Apps, please refer to the Oracle documentation or consult with your Oracle Apps administrator.