---
title: "What is a multimodal table?"
description: "A multimodal table is a row-and-column object that holds structured values and typed media together, with derived columns and history on that same object."
url: "https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-a-multimodal-table"
updated: "2026-09-29"
vertical: "Multimodal data"
doc: "https://docs.pixeltable.com/platform/type-system"
---

# What is a multimodal table?

A multimodal table is a row-and-column object that holds structured values and typed media together, with derived columns and history on that same object.

Updated: 2026-09-29
Part of [What is a multimodal database?](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-a-multimodal-database).

## On this page

- [How it works](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-a-multimodal-table#how-it-works)
- [What it is not](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-a-multimodal-table#what-it-is-not)
- [Comparison](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-a-multimodal-table#comparison)
- [Where Pixeltable fits](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-a-multimodal-table#where-pixeltable-fits)
- [Questions](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-a-multimodal-table#questions)

## How it works {#how-it-works}


- Each row can mix text, numbers, and a video, image, audio clip, or document.
- Derived columns run when the row changes and stay attached to that row.
- A later query can filter the structured fields and open the media the row points at.

## What it is not {#what-it-is-not}

It is not a benchmark dataset used to score models, and it is not a warehouse table whose only media is a URL in a string column.

## multimodal table: this, and the thing it is confused with {#comparison}

|  | This | Not this |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Holds | Typed media and fields in one row | A path string, or a paper dataset |
| After an edit | Derived columns for that row update | A script you remember to rerun |
| History | Prior versions of the same row | A copied folder named v2 |

## Where Pixeltable fits {#where-pixeltable-fits}

Pixeltable’s table is that object: Image, Video, Audio, and Document columns plus computed columns on one class.

## Questions {#questions}

### How does multimodal table work? {#faq-1}

Each row can mix text, numbers, and a video, image, audio clip, or document. Derived columns run when the row changes and stay attached to that row. A later query can filter the structured fields and open the media the row points at.

### What is multimodal table often confused with? {#faq-2}

It is not a benchmark dataset used to score models, and it is not a warehouse table whose only media is a URL in a string column.

## In the blog

- [Understanding Pixeltable Storage: The Four-Layer Architecture That Powers Multimodal AI](https://pixeltable.com/blog/understanding-pixeltable-storage-architecture)
- [Building AI Data Infrastructure: Inside Pixeltable's Development Architecture](https://pixeltable.com/blog/building-ai-data-infrastructure-pixeltable-architecture)
- [Beyond Pandas: Why Pixeltable Is the Ultimate Tool for Multimodal Data Wrangling](https://pixeltable.com/blog/pixeltable-vs-pandas-multimodal-data-wrangling)
- [The Hidden Data Management Crisis Killing AI Projects: Why 80% of ML Time Goes to Data Plumbing](https://pixeltable.com/blog/hidden-data-management-crisis-ai-projects)
- [What Is a Multimodal Data Table?](https://pixeltable.com/blog/what-is-a-multimodal-data-table)

## Related

- [Documentation](https://docs.pixeltable.com/platform/type-system)
- [What Is a Multimodal Data Table?](https://pixeltable.com/blog/what-is-a-multimodal-data-table)
- [Build Multimodal AI Applications Faster with Pixeltable Infrastructure](https://pixeltable.com/blog/building-multimodal-apps)
- [Multimodal application](https://pixeltable.com/use-cases/multimodal-ai-application-development)