---
title: "Column Definitions"
framework: angular
version: "36.1.0"
---

# Column Definitions

Each column in the grid is defined using a Column Definition (`ColDef`). Columns are positioned in the grid according to the order the Column Definitions are specified in the Grid Options.

#### Simple Definitions

```ts
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { HttpClient } from "@angular/common/http";
import { AgGridAngular } from "ag-grid-angular";
import {
  ClientSideRowModelModule,
  ColDef,
  ColGroupDef,
  GridApi,
  GridOptions,
  GridReadyEvent,
  ModuleRegistry,
  enableDevValidations,
} from "ag-grid-community";
if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
  enableDevValidations();
}

ModuleRegistry.registerModules([ClientSideRowModelModule]);
import { IOlympicData } from "./interfaces";

@Component({
  selector: "my-app",
  standalone: true,
  imports: [AgGridAngular],
  template: `<div style="height: 100%; box-sizing: border-box">
    <ag-grid-angular
      style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"
      [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
      [rowData]="rowData"
      (gridReady)="onGridReady($event)"
    />
  </div> `,
})
export class AppComponent {
  columnDefs: ColDef[] = [
    { field: "athlete" },
    { field: "sport" },
    { field: "age" },
  ];
  rowData!: IOlympicData[];

  constructor(private http: HttpClient) {}

  onGridReady(params: GridReadyEvent<IOlympicData>) {
    this.http
      .get<
        IOlympicData[]
      >("https://www.ag-grid.com/example-assets/olympic-winners.json")
      .subscribe((data) => (this.rowData = data));
  }
}
```

[Live example: Simple Definitions](https://www.ag-grid.com/examples/column-definitions/simple/angular)

```ts
<ag-grid-angular
    [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
    /* other grid options ... */ />

this.columnDefs = [
    { field: 'athlete' },
    { field: 'sport' },
    { field: 'age' }
];
```

See [Column Options](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/column-properties/) for all available properties.

## Column Defaults

Use `defaultColDef` to set properties across ALL Columns.

```ts
<ag-grid-angular
    [defaultColDef]="defaultColDef"
    /* other grid options ... */ />

this.defaultColDef = {
    width: 150,
    cellStyle: { fontWeight: 'bold' },
};
```

#### Default Col Def

```ts
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { HttpClient } from "@angular/common/http";
import { AgGridAngular } from "ag-grid-angular";
import {
  CellStyleModule,
  ClientSideRowModelModule,
  ColDef,
  ColGroupDef,
  GridApi,
  GridOptions,
  GridReadyEvent,
  ModuleRegistry,
  enableDevValidations,
} from "ag-grid-community";
if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
  enableDevValidations();
}

ModuleRegistry.registerModules([CellStyleModule, ClientSideRowModelModule]);
import { IOlympicData } from "./interfaces";

@Component({
  selector: "my-app",
  standalone: true,
  imports: [AgGridAngular],
  template: `<div style="height: 100%; box-sizing: border-box">
    <ag-grid-angular
      style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"
      [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
      [defaultColDef]="defaultColDef"
      [rowData]="rowData"
      (gridReady)="onGridReady($event)"
    />
  </div> `,
})
export class AppComponent {
  columnDefs: ColDef[] = [
    { field: "athlete" },
    { field: "sport" },
    { field: "age" },
  ];
  defaultColDef: ColDef = {
    width: 150,
    cellStyle: { fontWeight: "bold" },
  };
  rowData!: IOlympicData[];

  constructor(private http: HttpClient) {}

  onGridReady(params: GridReadyEvent<IOlympicData>) {
    this.http
      .get<
        IOlympicData[]
      >("https://www.ag-grid.com/example-assets/olympic-winners.json")
      .subscribe((data) => (this.rowData = data));
  }
}
```

[Live example: Default Col Def](https://www.ag-grid.com/examples/column-definitions/default-col-def/angular)

## Cell Data Types

The grid provides built-in [Cell Data Types](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/cell-data-types/) for common data types such as `text`, `number`, `boolean`, `date` and more. By default these types are [inferred](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/cell-data-types/#inferring-data-types) from the row data and configure appropriate rendering, editing, filtering, and sorting behaviour for each column without the need for explicit configuration via `columnDefs`.

## Column Types

Use `columnTypes` to define a set of Column properties to be applied together. The properties in a column type are applied to a Column by setting its `type` property.

```ts
<ag-grid-angular
    [columnTypes]="columnTypes"
    [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
    /* other grid options ... */ />

// Define column types
this.columnTypes = {
    currency: {
        width: 150,
        valueFormatter: currencyFormatter
    },
    shaded: {
        cellClass: 'shaded-class'
    }
};
this.columnDefs = [
    { field: 'productName'},

    // uses properties from currency type
    { field: 'boughtPrice', type: 'currency'},

    // uses properties from currency AND shaded types
    { field: 'soldPrice', type: ['currency', 'shaded'] },
];
```

> **Note**
>
> Column Types work on Columns only and not Column Groups.

The below example shows Column Types.

#### Column Definition Example

```ts
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { AgGridAngular } from "ag-grid-angular";
import "./styles.css";
import {
  CellStyleModule,
  ClientSideRowModelModule,
  ColDef,
  ColGroupDef,
  ColTypeDefs,
  GridApi,
  GridOptions,
  GridReadyEvent,
  ModuleRegistry,
  ValueFormatterParams,
  enableDevValidations,
} from "ag-grid-community";
if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
  enableDevValidations();
}

ModuleRegistry.registerModules([CellStyleModule, ClientSideRowModelModule]);

interface SalesRecord {
  productName: string;
  boughtPrice: number;
  soldPrice: number;
}

@Component({
  selector: "my-app",
  standalone: true,
  imports: [AgGridAngular],
  template: `<div style="height: 100%; box-sizing: border-box">
    <ag-grid-angular
      style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"
      [columnTypes]="columnTypes"
      [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
      [rowData]="rowData"
    />
  </div> `,
})
export class AppComponent {
  columnTypes: ColTypeDefs = {
    currency: {
      width: 150,
      valueFormatter: currencyFormatter,
    },
    shaded: {
      cellClass: "shaded-class",
    },
  };
  columnDefs: ColDef[] = [
    { field: "productName" },
    // uses properties from currency type
    { field: "boughtPrice", type: "currency" },
    // uses properties from currency AND shaded types
    { field: "soldPrice", type: ["currency", "shaded"] },
  ];
  rowData: SalesRecord[] | null = [
    { productName: "Lamp", boughtPrice: 100, soldPrice: 200 },
    { productName: "Chair", boughtPrice: 150, soldPrice: 300 },
    { productName: "Desk", boughtPrice: 200, soldPrice: 400 },
  ];
}

function currencyFormatter(params: ValueFormatterParams) {
  const value = Math.floor(params.value);
  if (isNaN(value)) {
    return "";
  }
  return "£" + value.toString().replace(/(\d)(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, "$1,");
}
```

[Live example: Column Definition Example](https://www.ag-grid.com/examples/column-definitions/column-types/angular)

## Provided Column Types

The grid provides the Column Types `rightAligned` and `numericColumn`. Both of these types right align the header and cell contents by applying CSS classes `ag-right-aligned-header` to Column Headers and `ag-right-aligned-cell` to Cells.

```ts
<ag-grid-angular
    [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
    /* other grid options ... */ />

this.columnDefs = [
    { headerName: 'Column A', field: 'a' },
    { headerName: 'Column B', field: 'b', type: 'rightAligned' },
    { headerName: 'Column C', field: 'c', type: 'numericColumn' },
];
```

> **Note**
>
> The provided column types use cell classes to apply styling. The `CellStyleModule` is required for these types to work correctly.

## Updating Columns

Columns can be controlled by updating the column state, or updating the column definition.

[Column State](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/column-state/) should be used when restoring a users grid, for example saving and restoring column widths.

Column Definitions should be updated to modify properties that the user cannot control, and as such are not supported by Column State. Whilst column definitions can be used to change stateful properties, this can cause additional side effects.

### Using Column State

The [Grid Api](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/grid-api/#reference-state-applyColumnState) function `applyColumnState` can be used to update [Column State](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/column-state/).

```ts
// Sort Athlete column ascending
this.gridApi.applyColumnState({
    state: [
        {
            colId: 'athlete',
            sort: 'asc'
        }
    ]
});
```

In the example below, use the 'Sort Athlete' button to apply a column state.

#### Column State

```ts
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { HttpClient } from "@angular/common/http";
import { AgGridAngular } from "ag-grid-angular";
import "./styles.css";
import {
  AutoSizeStrategy,
  ClientSideRowModelModule,
  ColDef,
  ColGroupDef,
  ColumnApiModule,
  ColumnAutoSizeModule,
  GridApi,
  GridOptions,
  GridReadyEvent,
  ModuleRegistry,
  enableDevValidations,
} from "ag-grid-community";
if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
  enableDevValidations();
}

ModuleRegistry.registerModules([
  ColumnApiModule,
  ColumnAutoSizeModule,
  ClientSideRowModelModule,
]);
import { IOlympicData } from "./interfaces";

@Component({
  selector: "my-app",
  standalone: true,
  imports: [AgGridAngular],
  template: `<div class="test-container">
    <div class="test-header">
      <button (click)="onBtSortAthlete()">Sort Athlete</button>
      <button (click)="onBtClearAllSorting()">Clear All Sorting</button>
    </div>
    <ag-grid-angular
      style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"
      [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
      [autoSizeStrategy]="autoSizeStrategy"
      [rowData]="rowData"
      (gridReady)="onGridReady($event)"
    />
  </div> `,
})
export class AppComponent {
  private gridApi!: GridApi<IOlympicData>;

  columnDefs: ColDef[] = [
    { field: "athlete" },
    { field: "age" },
    { field: "country" },
    { field: "sport" },
  ];
  autoSizeStrategy: AutoSizeStrategy = {
    type: "fitGridWidth",
  };
  rowData!: IOlympicData[];

  constructor(private http: HttpClient) {}

  onBtSortAthlete() {
    this.gridApi.applyColumnState({
      state: [{ colId: "athlete", sort: "asc" }],
    });
  }

  onBtClearAllSorting() {
    this.gridApi.applyColumnState({
      defaultState: { sort: null },
    });
  }

  onGridReady(params: GridReadyEvent<IOlympicData>) {
    this.gridApi = params.api;

    this.http
      .get<
        IOlympicData[]
      >("https://www.ag-grid.com/example-assets/small-olympic-winners.json")
      .subscribe((data) => (this.rowData = data));
  }
}
```

[Live example: Column State](https://www.ag-grid.com/examples/column-definitions/column-state/angular)

### Updating Column Definitions

To update an attribute by [Updating Column Definitions](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/column-updating-definitions/#changing-column-definition), pass a new array of [Column Definitions](https://www.ag-grid.com/angular-data-grid/column-definitions/) to the grid options.

```
// Define new column definitions
const updatedHeaderColumnDefs = [
  { field: 'athlete', headerName: 'C1' },
  { field: 'age', headerName: 'C2' },
  { field: 'country', headerName: 'C3' },
  { field: 'sport', headerName: 'C4' },
]
// Supply new column definitions to the grid
gridApi.setGridOption('columnDefs', updatedHeaderColumnDefs);
```

In the example below, use the 'Update Header Names' button to update the column definitions.

#### Column Definition Update

```ts
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { HttpClient } from "@angular/common/http";
import { AgGridAngular } from "ag-grid-angular";
import "./styles.css";
import {
  AutoSizeStrategy,
  ClientSideRowModelModule,
  ColDef,
  ColGroupDef,
  ColumnAutoSizeModule,
  GridApi,
  GridOptions,
  GridReadyEvent,
  ModuleRegistry,
  enableDevValidations,
} from "ag-grid-community";
if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
  enableDevValidations();
}

ModuleRegistry.registerModules([
  ColumnAutoSizeModule,
  ClientSideRowModelModule,
]);
import { IOlympicData } from "./interfaces";

@Component({
  selector: "my-app",
  standalone: true,
  imports: [AgGridAngular],
  template: `<div class="test-container">
    <div class="test-header">
      <button (click)="onBtUpdateHeaders()">Update Header Names</button>
      <button (click)="onBtRestoreHeaders()">
        Restore Original Column Definitions
      </button>
    </div>
    <ag-grid-angular
      style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"
      [columnDefs]="columnDefs"
      [autoSizeStrategy]="autoSizeStrategy"
      [rowData]="rowData"
      (gridReady)="onGridReady($event)"
    />
  </div> `,
})
export class AppComponent {
  private gridApi!: GridApi<IOlympicData>;

  columnDefs: ColDef[] = columnDefinitions;
  autoSizeStrategy: AutoSizeStrategy = {
    type: "fitGridWidth",
  };
  rowData!: IOlympicData[];

  constructor(private http: HttpClient) {}

  onBtUpdateHeaders() {
    this.gridApi.setGridOption("columnDefs", updatedHeaderColumnDefs);
  }

  onBtRestoreHeaders() {
    this.gridApi.setGridOption("columnDefs", columnDefinitions);
  }

  onGridReady(params: GridReadyEvent<IOlympicData>) {
    this.gridApi = params.api;

    this.http
      .get<
        IOlympicData[]
      >("https://www.ag-grid.com/example-assets/small-olympic-winners.json")
      .subscribe((data) => (this.rowData = data));
  }
}

const columnDefinitions: ColDef[] = [
  { field: "athlete" },
  { field: "age" },
  { field: "country" },
  { field: "sport" },
];
const updatedHeaderColumnDefs: ColDef[] = [
  { field: "athlete", headerName: "C1" },
  { field: "age", headerName: "C2" },
  { field: "country", headerName: "C3" },
  { field: "sport", headerName: "C4" },
];
```

[Live example: Column Definition Update](https://www.ag-grid.com/examples/column-definitions/column-definition-update/angular)