What is a created by property in Notion?

A created by property in Notion is a system-generated field that automatically records which user account originally created any database entry or page. Unlike user-assigned properties that you can edit or modify, this property functions as an immutable digital fingerprint, permanently linking each piece of content to its original creator. When you add a new item to any Notion database, the created by field instantly populates with your profile information, creating a reliable audit trail that remains unchanged regardless of future edits or modifications. This feature serves as the foundation for accountability and ownership tracking in collaborative workspaces.

The created by property operates differently from other user-related fields you might encounter in Notion. While you can manually assign team members to a "Person" property or see who last edited a page, the created by field remains completely hands-off. You cannot edit, reassign, or bulk-modify these values, which ensures their reliability for tracking original authorship. This read-only nature makes it particularly valuable for teams that need dependable records of who initiated specific tasks, documents, or database entries.

Setting up this property is straightforward and offers immediate benefits for workspace organization. Simply open any database, click "Properties" or the column list, then select "Add property" and choose "Created by" from the menu. Once enabled, you can sort and filter your database views by creator, making it easy to group content by team member or track individual contributions. This functionality proves especially useful for project managers auditing task submissions, editorial teams organizing content by writer, or any collaborative environment where accountability matters.

While the created by property offers significant advantages for workspace management, it does come with limitations worth considering. The property cannot be customized, renamed, or integrated with Notion's automation features. Additionally, if you duplicate a page, the duplicator becomes the new "created by" user for the copy, which might not reflect the original content's true authorship. Despite these constraints, the property's reliability and automatic functionality make it an essential tool for maintaining clear ownership records.

Understanding the created by property empowers you to build more organized and accountable Notion workspaces. Whether you're managing a small team project or overseeing complex collaborative databases, this feature provides the transparency and tracking capabilities needed to maintain clear ownership records. By leveraging its filtering and sorting capabilities while recognizing its limitations, you can create more effective workflows that support both individual accountability and team collaboration.