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

# Database & Custom Apps

> Turn a table into a backed application with its own database and contract.

An **App** is a canonical data application built from workspace tables. Where a [table](/concepts/tables) is raw structured data, an App wraps it with a backing database, a typed contract, and a hosted surface — so agents and people can operate it like a real product, not just a spreadsheet.

## Database Apps vs Custom Apps

* **Database App** — a table promoted to an app with its own managed database. This is the path when you start from data and want durable, queryable, app-backed storage.
* **Custom App** — a generated application surface with its own contract and views on top of workspace data.

## Lifecycle

A typical progression:

1. Start from a [table](/concepts/tables).
2. Inspect the upgrade with `app upgrade-plan` / `table upgrade-plan`.
3. Promote it with `table upgrade-to-app`.
4. Operate the App: `app list`, `app show <app_id>`, and data views via `app data-view`.

## Reference

The full command surface — creating, showing, listing, configuring, and operating Apps and their data views — is documented in [`kylon workspace app`](/cli/workspace). It is the largest workspace subcommand, so prefer the generated reference over memorizing flags.