# Fields tab

![Kafka consumer Fields tab](/files/X76aSqnNV6BN1bbx76VP)

Use this tab to define the fields in the record format.

| Option          | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Input name**  | <p>The input name is received from the Kafka streams. The following are received by default:</p><ul><li><strong>key</strong></li></ul><p>Determines message distribution to partitions. If no key is present, messages are randomly distributed from partitions.</p><ul><li><strong>message</strong></li></ul><p>The individual message contained in a record. Each record consists of a key, a value, and a timestamp.</p><ul><li><strong>topic</strong></li></ul><p>The category to which records are published.</p><ul><li><strong>partition</strong></li></ul><p>An ordered sequence of records that is continuously appended. You cannot have more consumers than the number of partitions.</p><ul><li><strong>offset</strong></li></ul><p>A sequential ID number assigned to each record. It uniquely identifies each record within the partition.</p><ul><li><strong>timestamp</strong></li></ul><p>The time the message is received on the server.</p> |
| **Output name** | The **Output name** can be mapped to subscriber and member requirements.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Type**        | <p>The <strong>Type</strong> field defines the data format for streaming the record. You must choose the same data type that produced the records. This field applies to the key and message input names. Options include:</p><ul><li>String</li><li>Boolean</li><li>Number</li><li>Integer</li><li>Binary</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/10.2-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview/kafka-consumer/options-kafka-consumer/fields-tab.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.