List columns or Site columns in SharePoint?

We have two (2) types of columns in SharePoint:

• List Columns
• Site Columns

One is created at the List/Library level (list columns), and the other one at the Site level (site columns). From a functionality perspective, they do the exact same thing. From a “re-usability” perspective… not so much…

The only difference between the two, Site Columns are “shared” between sites, but only hierarchically. See that as crescendo 🙂

List columns are created at the list/library level and won’t be available outside that list/library. So you’ll have to manage them separately. Site columns are re-usable from the parent site crescendo to all the subsites.
 

Below is a basic representation of Site Columns (color coded) so you get the idea on the availability of each Site Column.

Now let’s create List Columns & Site Columns in SharePoint.
 

Create List columns

To create a list column, we need to have a list or library already created.

Navigate to your list or library, and choose one of the following 2 ways:

• Click on the “Library” tab in the ribbon » Create a column
• Click on the “Library” tab in the ribbon » Library Settings » Create a column

And if you chose to add the column(s) to the default view, they will show up as follow:

If you wish to hide the column, simply modify the View. If you wish to delete the column, go to List/Library Settings –> Click on the column you wish to delete –> Click Delete.
 

Create Site columns & assign to List/Library

Now remember, Site Columns are re-usable, but only hierarchically.

If I create a site column at the top-level site, this column will be available to re-use on all subsites. If I create a site column in a subsite directly, this column will only be available to the subsite’s child.

To create a Site Column, navigate first at the level you wish the column to be available (i.e.: top-level site, or subsite1, or subsite2…)

• From at the correct level –> gear icon –> Site Settings
• Click on Site Columns under Web Designer Gallery
• Click Create and fill the information
   

Once the column has been created, let’s assign it to a list/library:

• Navigate to the list/library
• Under the List/Library tab –> click on List/Library Settings
• Under Columns –> click on Add from existing site columns

• Sort by Groups if you wish
• Select the site column(s) » click on Add
• Add to Default View if you wish
• Click on OK

The columns will show up as follow if added to the default view: