---
title: "Changes to Modify existing columns"
method: POST
path: "/v1/table/{id}/alter_columns"
---

# Changes to Modify existing columns

`POST /v1/table/{id}/alter_columns`

> Every recorded change to this operation, newest first.

## Timeline

Changed in 12 of 70 revisions.

- **2026-07-01** `591cd95574b0`: 8 info
- **2026-06-10** `a3308034a3cd`: 2 breaking
- **2026-06-05** `9932582b6bd7`: 1 info
- **2026-05-05** `ba14cdd902a7`: 1 info
- **2026-05-05** `d38d5bb3876c`: 6 info
- **2026-05-05** `be8fd3558159`: 1 info
- **2026-05-04** `cd8430645782`: 4 warning
- **2026-01-02** `83f8516f0507`: 1 info
- **2026-01-01** `c987c26ccb0f`: 1 info
- **2025-12-20** `5d6099d672d3`: 6 breaking, 6 warning, 6 info
- **2025-12-11** `6ad4337e3849`: 2 breaking, 2 warning, 4 info
- **2025-08-02** `89fbd6272646`: 1 info

## Changes

- **2026-07-01** `591cd95574b0`: 8 info
  - added the new optional request property `context`
  - added the optional property `context` to the response with the `200` status
  - added the optional property `context` to the response with the `400` status
  - added the optional property `context` to the response with the `401` status
  - added the optional property `context` to the response with the `403` status
  - added the optional property `context` to the response with the `404` status
  - added the optional property `context` to the response with the `503` status
  - added the optional property `context` to the response with the `5XX` status
- **2026-06-10** `a3308034a3cd`: 2 breaking
  - the `alterations/items/path` request property's minLength was increased from `0` to `1`
  - the `alterations/items/virtual_column/input_columns/items/` request property's minLength was increased from `0` to `1`
- **2026-06-05** `9932582b6bd7`: 1 info
  - added the new optional request property `branch`
- **2026-05-05** `ba14cdd902a7`: 1 info
  - the request property `alterations/items/data_type` became optional
- **2026-05-05** `d38d5bb3876c`: 6 info
  - added the new optional request property `alterations/items/virtual_column/auto_backfill`
  - added the new optional request property `alterations/items/virtual_column/field_metadata`
  - added the new optional request property `alterations/items/virtual_column/manifest`
  - added the new optional request property `alterations/items/virtual_column/manifest_checksum`
  - added the new optional request property `alterations/items/virtual_column/udf_backend`
  - added the new optional request property `identity`
- **2026-05-05** `be8fd3558159`: 1 info
  - added the new optional request property `id`
- **2026-05-04** `cd8430645782`: 4 warning
  - removed the request property `context`
  - removed the request property `id`
  - removed the request property `identity`
  - removed the optional property `transaction_id` from the response with the `200` status
- **2026-01-02** `83f8516f0507`: 1 info
  - added the new optional request property `context`
- **2026-01-01** `c987c26ccb0f`: 1 info
  - added the new optional request property `identity`
- **2025-12-20** `5d6099d672d3`: 6 breaking, 6 warning, 6 info
  - the `code` response property's min was decreased from `400.00` to `0.00` for the response status `400`
  - the `code` response property's min was decreased from `400.00` to `0.00` for the response status `401`
  - the `code` response property's min was decreased from `400.00` to `0.00` for the response status `403`
  - the `code` response property's min was decreased from `400.00` to `0.00` for the response status `404`
  - the `code` response property's min was decreased from `400.00` to `0.00` for the response status `503`
  - the `code` response property's min was decreased from `400.00` to `0.00` for the response status `5XX`
  - removed the optional property `type` from the response with the `400` status
  - removed the optional property `type` from the response with the `401` status
  - removed the optional property `type` from the response with the `403` status
  - removed the optional property `type` from the response with the `404` status
  - removed the optional property `type` from the response with the `503` status
  - removed the optional property `type` from the response with the `5XX` status
  - the response property `code` became required for the status `400`
  - the response property `code` became required for the status `401`
  - the response property `code` became required for the status `403`
  - the response property `code` became required for the status `404`
  - the response property `code` became required for the status `503`
  - the response property `code` became required for the status `5XX`
- **2025-12-11** `6ad4337e3849`: 2 breaking, 2 warning, 4 info
  - added the new required request property `alterations/items/data_type`
  - added the new required request property `alterations/items/path`
  - removed the request property `alterations/items/cast_to`
  - removed the request property `alterations/items/column`
  - added the new optional request property `alterations/items/nullable`
  - added the new optional request property `alterations/items/virtual_column`
  - the request property `alterations/items/rename` became nullable
  - added the optional property `transaction_id` to the response with the `200` status
- **2025-08-02** `89fbd6272646`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

---

[Operation](https://skmtc.dev/lance-format/apis/lance-namespace-specification/docs/v1/table/:id/alter_columns/post.md) - [API](https://skmtc.dev/lance-format/apis/lance-namespace-specification.md) - [Page](https://skmtc.dev/lance-format/apis/lance-namespace-specification/changes/v1/table/:id/alter_columns/post)