What is a select property in Notion?

A Notion Select property is a database field that allows you to assign exactly one predefined label to each record from a customizable list of options. This powerful feature serves as your database's categorization system, ensuring consistent data entry while providing visual clarity through color-coded labels. Think of it as creating a controlled vocabulary for your workspace—you define the available choices once, and every team member can only select from those approved options. This approach eliminates typos, reduces confusion, and creates reliable data you can trust for filtering, sorting, and analysis.

Setting up a Select property couldn't be more straightforward. Simply open your database, click "Add a property," choose "Select" from the dropdown, and name your field something descriptive like "Status" or "Priority." You'll then create your option list by typing each label and assigning colors for visual distinction. Once configured, team members click the Select field in any record to choose from your predefined options. The beauty lies in the flexibility—you can add new options, rename existing ones, or change colors anytime without disrupting your database structure.

The practical applications are endless and transformative for workflow management. Project teams use Select properties to track progress with options like "Planning," "Active," and "Complete." Content creators manage editorial calendars with "Draft," "Review," and "Published" labels. Customer relationship databases benefit from lead status tracking through "Prospect," "Qualified," and "Customer" categories. The color coding becomes especially valuable when scanning large databases—you can instantly spot high-priority items or identify bottlenecks in your workflow.

However, Select properties do have limitations worth considering. You're restricted to choosing just one option per record, which won't work if you need multiple categories or tags—that's where Multi-select properties shine instead. Additionally, maintaining option lists requires ongoing attention, especially as your needs evolve or your database grows. Large option lists can become unwieldy, so experts recommend keeping your choices under ten options for optimal usability.

The real power of Select properties emerges when you leverage them for database organization. They excel at filtering views, grouping related items, and creating automated workflows within Notion. By establishing this structured approach to categorization, you're building a foundation for scalable, maintainable databases that grow with your needs while preserving data integrity and team clarity.