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Merge pull request #471 from earlgray1979/Concepts
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Update contents of the concepts.md file - all about the basic principle of QField
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suricactus authored Jul 11, 2024
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51 changes: 21 additions & 30 deletions documentation/get-started/concepts.en.md
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---
title: Concepts
title: Principles
tx_slug: documentation_get-started_concepts
---

# Concepts
# Principles

QField was designed with a few key concepts in mind.
QField is designed with a few key principles in mind.

## Keep it simple

The requirements on the field are not the same as on a desktop. The
screen is smaller, the input devices are different and the tasks are
different.
## Keeping it simple

QField aims to help users to perform the tasks they need to do without
cluttering the user interface. This means, that only tasks which need to
be done on the field are availble from the interface. Everything else is
not.
The requirements in the field are not the same as on a desktop.
Firstly, when using a phone or a tablet, the canvas to work on is much more limited than a computer monitor.
Secondly, devices for data collection as well as the individual tasks that need to be performed are vastly different.

This means that everything like layer styling, form definitions and
other project setup steps should be done on a computer with QGIS
installed first.
QField aims to help users do fieldwork without the nuisance of a cluttered user interface.
In other words, only the relevant parts of a task are accessible on the interface, while less important things remain out of sight.

## Be compatible with QGIS
Before heading out to the field though, preliminary steps such as layer styling, tailored forms, or any other project configurations should first be done on the QGIS desktop version.

QField is based on QGIS. It is not a rebuild of QGIS it really *does*
use QGIS libraries. The rendering engine is exactly the same as in QGIS
for desktop and your project will therefore look exactly the same on
your mobile device as it does on your computer.
## Compatibility with QGIS

If something is already available as a configuration option in a QGIS
project, it should not be re-invented. QField therefore uses the same
edit widgets as QGIS desktop does. If a project is already configured
for the desktop, it should just run on mobile as well.
Since QField relies on exxisting QGIS Libraries, it is not an extensive rebuild of QGIS.
The rendering engine in QField is the same as the one used in desktop QGIS, ensuring that projects will appear virtually identical in both environments.

Remember, this is just the *concept*. This is what we have in mind when
we develop QField. It does not mean that it is already completely there
yet.
Configurations options prepared in QGIS beforehand don't need to be recreated, which is why QField uses the same edit widgets as QGIS desktop does.
As a result, projects configured on the desktop should work seamlessly on the mobile app.

These principles have so far informed our development and design of QField, and will continue to do so in the future.
Even though QField has been around for some time now, it is still a work in progress.

## Mode based

QField is built around *modes*. Modes are similar to a *map tool* in
QGIS desktop. A mode defines the task which a user is currently doing.
Either a user is *browsing* through the data or she is *digitizing*
something new.
QField is built around different *modes*, similar to the *map tools* in the QGIS desktop version.
The mode defines the nature of the task.
In QField, users are either *browsing* through data or *digitizing* new stuff.

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