Bubble glossary: Essential terms for no-code developers

Bubble development

The process of building web applications using Bubble's visual programming platform without writing traditional code. Includes design, workflows, database setup, and deployment.

Bubble database

Bubble's built-in database system for storing and managing application data. Supports custom data types, relationships, privacy rules, and automatic backup across dev/live environments.

Bubble plugin marketplace

The official repository where developers publish and distribute plugins that extend Bubble's functionality with pre-built features, integrations, and UI components.

Bubble plugin

Pre-built extensions that add functionality to Bubble apps, from payment processing to AI integration. Plugins eliminate custom development for common features and third-party APIs.

Bubble editor

The visual interface where you design pages, build workflows, and configure databases in Bubble. Includes drag-and-drop design tools, workflow builder, and data structure manager.

Bubble performance

How efficiently your Bubble app loads and responds. Affected by page elements, database queries, workflow complexity, and workload unit consumption during user interactions.

Bubble workload units

Bubble's measurement of server resource consumption. Database operations, API calls, and workflows consume WUs. Plans include monthly allowances with additional units available for purchase.

Bubble logic

The conditional rules and calculations that determine how your app behaves. Built visually using "when" conditions, expressions, and dynamic data references without coding syntax.

Bubble workflow

Sequences of actions triggered by user interactions or scheduled events. Workflows handle everything from button clicks to payment processing and data manipulation.

Bubble security

Built-in features protecting your app including SSL encryption, data privacy rules, user authentication, and role-based access control. Configurable per data type and field level.

Bubble backend workflow

Server-side workflows that run independently of user sessions. Used for scheduled tasks, heavy processing, API endpoints, and operations requiring elevated data access permissions.

Bubble element

Visual components placed on pages like buttons, text, inputs, and images. Elements display data, trigger workflows, and form the user interface of your application.

Bubble page

Individual screens in your Bubble app, each with its own URL, elements, and workflows. Pages can be dynamic, displaying different content based on URL parameters and user data.

Bubble privacy rules

Database-level security settings that control who can view, modify, or delete specific data. Rules prevent unauthorized access and ensure users only see permitted information.

Bubble hosting

Included infrastructure where your app runs on AWS and Cloudflare servers. Handles scaling, SSL certificates, backups, and global CDN delivery automatically without server management.

Bubble debugger

Built-in tool for troubleshooting workflows, inspecting element properties, and monitoring database queries. Shows step-by-step workflow execution and helps identify performance bottlenecks.

Bubble component

Reusable UI elements that accept custom properties and contain their own workflows. Components maintain consistency across pages and simplify updates by changing once, affecting all instances.

Bubble custom event

User-defined workflow triggers that can be called from anywhere in your app. Custom events enable reusable logic, maintain cleaner workflows, and facilitate component communication.

Bubble data type

Custom database tables you define to store specific information. Each data type has fields (like name, email, date) and can relate to other types through relationships.

Bubble reusable element

Page elements saved for use across multiple pages. Changes to reusable elements automatically update everywhere they appear, maintaining design consistency and reducing maintenance work.

Bubble scaling

Your app's ability to handle growing users and data. Bubble scales automatically on infrastructure level, but database structure and workflow efficiency determine performance at scale.

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