Collection Commands

What Is a Collection?

A collection is a temporary, in-memory table stored locally while the app is running.
It disappears when the app closes unless explicitly saved using SaveData().

Collections are ideal for:

• Storing user selections
• Caching data from connectors
• Building editable tables
• Passing data into components
• Shaping data for galleries

Now let’s explore the commands that make collections so powerful.

1. Creating and Adding Data

Collect()

Adds one or more records to a collection.
If the collection doesn’t exist, Power Apps creates it automatically.

When to use it

• Append rows
• Add items to a cart
• Build a running list

Example

What happens

• If Cart doesn’t exist → it’s created
• The record is added as a new row

ClearCollect()

Clears the collection, then adds new data.

When to use it

• Loading data from a data source
• Resetting a collection
• Refreshing a filtered dataset

Example

What happens

• ActiveUsers is emptied
• The filtered records are inserted

2. Removing Data

Remove()

Removes specific records that match exactly.

When to use it

• Removing a selected row from a gallery
• Deleting a specific item

Example

Important

The record must match exactly — including all fields.

RemoveIf()

Removes all records that match a condition.

When to use it

• Bulk deletes
• Clearing items by status
• Removing expired or invalid data

Example

3. Updating Data

Patch()

Updates an existing record or inserts a new one.

When to use it

• Editing a row in a gallery
• Updating only specific fields
• Upserting (update or insert)

Example

Why Patch is powerful

• Partial updates
• Doesn’t overwrite the whole record
• Works with data sources and collections

Update()

Replaces an entire record with a new one.

When to use it

• You want to overwrite the whole row
• You’re replacing a record with a new version

Example

UpdateIf()

Updates all records that match a condition.

When to use it

• Bulk updates
• Changing statuses
• Applying a rule to multiple rows

Example

4. Clearing Data

Clear()

Deletes all records from a collection.

When to use it

• Resetting a collection
• Clearing a cart
• Starting fresh

Example

5. Reading and Inspecting Data

These functions don’t modify collections, but they’re essential when working with them.

LookUp()

Returns a single record that matches a condition.

Example

Filter()

Returns a table of matching records.

Example

First(), Last(), FirstN(), LastN()

Access specific rows.

Example

6. Table-Shaping Functions (Often Used With Collections)

These don’t change the collection itself — they return a new table.

AddColumns()

Adds calculated columns.

DropColumns()

Removes columns.

RenameColumns()

Renames columns.

ShowColumns()

Keeps only the columns you specify.

GroupBy() / Ungroup()

Creates nested tables or flattens them.

7. Saving and Loading Collections (Offline Scenarios)

SaveData()

Saves a collection to local storage.

LoadData()

Loads a previously saved collection.

Quick Reference Table

Final Thoughts

Collections are deceptively simple but incredibly powerful. Once you understand how each command works — especially the differences between Collect, Patch, Update, and ClearCollect — you can build dynamic, responsive apps that feel polished and professional.