# Converters

Use the Converter area in the JPA Details view to specify a way to modify data value(s) during the reading and writing of a mapped attribute.

Property | Description | Default | Available for Entity Type
--- | --- | --- | ---

Converters

Click Add and use the Add Converter dialog to create a new converter.

- Object Type – converts a fixed number of database data value(s) to Java object value(s)

- Type – modifies data values

- Struct – Enable custom processing of `java.sql.Struct` types

- Custom

Entity, Embeddable, and Mapped superclass

Name | The `String` name for your converter, must be unique across the persistence unit |  | Entity, Embeddable, and Mapped superclass
Class | The class of your converter. This class must implement the `org.eclipse.persistence.mappings.converters.Converter` interface. Appears for Custom and Struct converters only. |  | Entity, Embeddable, and Mapped superclass
Data type | The type stored in the database. Appears for Object Type and Type converters only. |  | Entity, Embeddable, and Mapped superclass
Object type | The type stored on the entity. Appears for Object Type and Type converters only. |  | Entity, Embeddable, and Mapped superclass
Conversion values | The array of conversion values (instances of `ConversionValue`: `String` `objectValue` and `String` `dataValue`). Appears for Object Type converters only. |  | Entity, Embeddable, and Mapped superclass
Default object value | Set the value of this attribute to the default object value. Note that this argument is for dealing with legacy data if the data value is missing. Appears for Object Type converters only. |  | Entity, Embeddable, and Mapped superclass

Related reference

- "Converter" in Java Persistence API (JPA) Extensions Reference for EclipseLink
  `http://eclipse.org/eclipselink/documentation/2.4/jpa/extensions/a_converter.htm`