# Create and manage collections

A [collection](https://getkollek.com/en/docs/core-concepts/collections) is the container everything else lives in, so this is usually the first thing you create. This page covers creating one, every choice on the form, editing it later, and what really happens when you delete one.

## Who can do this

Creating, editing, and deleting collections requires the **editor** or **owner** [role](https://getkollek.com/en/docs/core-concepts/accounts-users-and-roles). Viewers can browse collections but cannot create or change them.

## Create a collection

Noah is starting a catalogue for his vinyl. Here is what he does.

::::steps
:::step title="Start a new collection"
From the collections screen, choose **New collection**.

::screenshot{label="Collections screen, New collection button"}
:::

:::step title="Name and describe it"
Give it a **name**, such as "Vinyl Records", and optionally a short **description** and an **emoji** so it stands out in lists.
:::

:::step title="Choose its collection types"
Pick which [collection types](https://getkollek.com/en/docs/core-concepts/collection-types-and-custom-fields) apply. Noah picks the ready made **Vinyl Records** type so his items get fields like Artist, Album, and Pressing. You can enable several types, or none, and change this later.
:::

:::step title="Set the currency and visibility"
Choose the **currency** for values in this collection, and its **visibility**. If you are unsure, keep the defaults. Private is the safe starting point.

::screenshot{label="Collection form, currency and visibility fields"}
:::

:::step title="Save"
Save the collection. It appears in your list, empty and ready for its first item.
:::
::::

## Every field, explained

- **Name.** How the collection appears everywhere. Required.
- **Description.** A sentence about what it holds. Optional, but helpful once you have many collections.
- **Emoji.** A visual marker chosen from a fixed palette of twelve (📦 📚 💿 🃏 🍷 🎮 🧸 🪙 🖼️ ⌚ 👟 📷). Optional.
- **Collection types.** The types you enable decide which custom fields the items in this collection can record. You can enable more than one, for example Comics and Books in a single "Reading" collection.
- **Currency.** Every money amount in this collection (values, statistics) uses this currency. Eighteen currencies are available. It can differ from your account's default currency, which is handy if, say, you buy your wine in euros but everything else in dollars.
- **Visibility.** Who the collection is meant for: **private** (you alone), **shared** (everyone in your account), or **public** (anyone with the link, read only). The setting is recorded today and enforced once sharing arrives. The [visibility and sharing](https://getkollek.com/en/docs/core-concepts/visibility-and-sharing) concept page explains the model and its current status, and [Share a collection](https://getkollek.com/en/docs/collaboration/share-a-collection) walks through changing it.

## Edit a collection

Open the collection and choose to edit it. The same form appears with the same fields, and you can change any of them at any time. Renaming a collection or switching its emoji affects nothing inside it.

## Delete a collection

Open the collection, choose to delete it, and confirm.

:::warning
Deleting a collection also sends every item inside it to the trash. The collection and its items stay in the trash for a limited time (30 days by default), then they are removed permanently.
:::

While it is in the trash you can still change your mind. See [Restore something from the trash](https://getkollek.com/en/docs/data-safety/restore-from-trash).

## Where to next

- Put something in it: [Add and edit items](https://getkollek.com/en/docs/core-features/add-and-edit-items).
- Pick the layout that suits it: [Choose how to view a collection](https://getkollek.com/en/docs/core-features/choose-how-to-view-a-collection).
- Show it to someone: [Share a collection](https://getkollek.com/en/docs/collaboration/share-a-collection).