# Explanation of the data type \*lookup\*
**URL:** https://forum.mautic.org/t/explanation-of-the-data-type-lookup/20160
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [July 14, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/explanation-of-the-data-type-lookup/20160 "2021-07-14T00:39:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@johnharris](https://forum.mautic.org/u/johnharris)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/explanation-of-the-data-type-lookup/20160/1 "2021-07-14T00:39:23Z")
The custom field “Title” is of data type _lookup_. I can see that it takes “options” or values such as “Mr”, “Mrs”, or “Miss”, but that upon presentation of a contact form containing this field, the user is able to enter values other than the pre-defined options. I would like to know more about the proper use of this data type, particularly as opposed to, for example, the data type _Select_. I would be grateful for a pointer to documentation or an explanation here. I have searched the forum and documentation to no avail.
Context: I am thinking of using this “Title” field to hold values other than the default ones, and want to avoid any pitfalls.
Thank you for your help.
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### Author:  [@georg1](https://forum.mautic.org/u/georg1)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 1:07pm UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/explanation-of-the-data-type-lookup/20160/2 "2022-06-08T13:07:28Z")
Any answer there so far? I’m facing the same issue, no documentation that I found regarding the difference lookup/selection.
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### Author:  [@joeyk](https://forum.mautic.org/u/joeyk)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/explanation-of-the-data-type-lookup/20160/3 "2022-06-08T14:03:06Z")
I think it should be like an autosuggest.
But right now it seems broken.
Joey
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### Author:  [@georg1](https://forum.mautic.org/u/georg1)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/explanation-of-the-data-type-lookup/20160/4 "2022-06-08T14:17:25Z")
could you ignore the (non-deletable) system ‘title’ field and assign your own ‘title-field’ with a ‘selection’ (= drop-down) field and manually assign the salutations there…or will this affect something elsewhere? Many thx.
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### Author:  [@joeyk](https://forum.mautic.org/u/joeyk)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 2:18pm UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/explanation-of-the-data-type-lookup/20160/5 "2022-06-08T14:18:35Z")
Sure you can. It won’t break Mautic.