Edit vs Display Forms in PowerApps: A Complete Guide

Understanding the difference between Edit vs Display forms in PowerApps is essential for app developers building dynamic, user-friendly experiences. PowerApps provides built-in forms to simplify the process of interacting with data. Two primary types—Edit forms and Display forms—serve distinct purposes. This guide explores their core differences, use cases, customization tips, and implementation best practices.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is an Edit Form in PowerApps?
3. What is a Display Form in PowerApps?
4. Key Differences Between Edit and Display Forms
5. When to Use Edit vs Display Forms in PowerApps
6. Binding Data to Forms
7. Customizing Edit and Display Forms
8. Validation in Edit Forms
9. Making Display Forms Interactive
10. Transitioning Between Edit and Display Modes
11. Patch vs SubmitForm in Edit Forms
12. Form Mode Property Explained
13. Delegation Considerations
14. Accessibility in Edit and Display Forms
15. Responsive Design and Forms
16. Real-World Use Case: Employee Information Portal
17. Tips for Optimizing Form Performance
18. Common Errors with Edit vs Display Forms in PowerApps
19. Summary
20. Conclusion

Introduction to Edit vs Display Forms in PowerApps

When designing a PowerApps application, forms are used to input, modify, or view data. Two of the most commonly used forms are Edit and Display forms. Understanding the edit vs display forms in PowerApps distinction is crucial for deciding how users will interact with data—whether they’re allowed to make changes or simply view the details.

Edit forms are ideal for creating or updating records, while Display forms are perfect for read-only data scenarios. Each comes with properties, customization abilities, and security implications that developers need to consider.

What is an Edit Form in PowerApps?

An Edit form in PowerApps is a control that allows users to add or modify data in a connected data source like SharePoint, SQL Server, Dataverse, or Excel. Edit forms come with prebuilt logic for managing input controls, validations, and submission using functions like SubmitForm() or Patch().

Key Characteristics of Edit Forms:

• Allows user input
• Supports validation and error checking
• Allows New, Edit, or Reset modes
• Uses data-bound controls like TextInput, Dropdown, ComboBox, etc.

What is a Display Form in PowerApps?

A Display form in PowerApps is a read-only version of a form that shows data from a specific record. Users cannot edit the data within a Display form, but they can view detailed, formatted information based on the selected record.

Key Characteristics of Display Forms:

• Read-only access to data
• Used for viewing data details without risk of accidental changes
• Lightweight and secure for sensitive data
• Automatically formats the display using the data source’s schema

Key Differences Between Edit and Display Forms

The heart of the topic Edit vs Display forms in PowerApps lies in understanding their core differences:

When to Use Edit vs Display Forms in PowerApps

Choosing Edit vs Display forms in PowerApps depends on the business requirement:

• Use Edit forms when:
  • Users need to update or create new records
  • Validation logic is required
  • Form submission is part of workflow
• Use Display forms when:
  • Data needs to be reviewed without being altered
  • Sensitive information must be shown securely
  • Audit logs or view-only dashboards are needed

Binding Data to Forms

Both Edit and Display forms require a data source and an item property. The Item property determines which record will be displayed or edited.

Item = Gallery1.Selected

This links the form to a selected item in a gallery. Whether using edit vs display forms in PowerApps, the binding logic remains similar.

Customizing Edit and Display Forms

Customization allows developers to enhance user experience. You can:

• Rearrange fields
• Hide/show cards dynamically
• Change form layouts
• Modify field display formats

Example: To hide a card in Display form:

DisplayMode = DisplayMode.Disabled
Visible = false

Validation in Edit Forms

One reason to prefer Edit forms in PowerApps is validation. Using built-in functions like IsBlank(), IsMatch(), or Len(), developers can ensure only correct data is submitted.

Example:

If(IsBlank(txtName.Text), Notify("Name is required", NotificationType.Error))

Validation can also be enforced using the Required property of the data card or field.

Making Display Forms Interactive

While Display forms are read-only, interactivity can be added using buttons or icons to:

• Navigate to Edit screens
• Trigger flows (e.g., approvals)
• Filter related records

Transitioning Between Edit and Display Modes

You can create a seamless transition between forms using the FormMode property:

EditForm(Form1);
Navigate(EditScreen)

Or set dynamically:

Form1.Mode = FormMode.View

Use context variables or global variables for managing these transitions.

Patch vs SubmitForm in Edit Forms

In Edit forms in PowerApps, SubmitForm() is the default method for saving changes. However, advanced scenarios may require Patch() for:

• Partial updates
• Conditional logic
• Custom error handling

Example:

Patch(DataSource, Form1.LastSubmit, {Status: "Approved"})

Form Mode Property Explained

The FormMode property defines the behavior:

• FormMode.New: Blank form to create a new record
• FormMode.Edit: Enables editing existing records
• FormMode.View: For Display form (read-only)

Delegation Considerations

Large datasets can cause performance issues. Use delegation-friendly functions when populating forms. Avoid:

• LookUp() with unsupported filters
• FirstN() on non-delegable sources

Instead, try:

Filter(DataSource, ID = SelectedID)

Delegation is equally important whether using Edit or Display forms in PowerApps.

Accessibility in Edit and Display Forms

Both types of forms should support accessibility:

• Use semantic labels
• Enable screen reader support
• Provide contrast for visually impaired users

A Display form might need additional focus support if navigated via keyboard or screen reader.

Responsive Design and Forms

Design your forms with responsiveness in mind:

• Use containers and relative positioning
• Hide/show cards based on screen size
• Use flexible layouts

Whether building Edit or Display forms in PowerApps, responsiveness ensures usability across devices.

Real-World Use Case: Employee Information Portal

Let’s look at how Edit and Display forms are used in an HR portal:

• Display Form: Used on the home screen to show employee profile (read-only)
• Edit Form: Used under the “Update Profile” button allowing users to modify address, phone, etc.

Tips for Optimizing Form Performance

To maximize performance:

• Limit fields to what’s necessary
• Avoid using multiple forms on a single screen
• Preload data to reduce latency
• Use compact layouts

Optimization impacts both Edit and Display forms in PowerApps by reducing render time and improving experience.

Common Errors with Edit vs Display Forms in PowerApps

Edit Form Doesn’t Submit:

• Check if required fields are filled
• Check OnFailure event

Display Form Shows Blank:

• Ensure Item property is bound
• Check data source connectivity

Debug using Notify() and monitor network activity.

Summary

Understanding the use of Edit vs Display forms in PowerApps is vital for building efficient apps. Edit forms empower users to change or add data, while Display forms provide secure, read-only views. Knowing when and how to use each—along with validation, customization, and accessibility—can significantly elevate your PowerApps application quality.

Conclusion

The distinction between Edit vs Display forms in PowerApps lies at the core of app design. Leveraging the strengths of both forms leads to better data management, improved user experiences, and stronger app performance. Whether you’re building internal tools or enterprise-grade apps, mastering forms ensures your solutions are both dynamic and reliable.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of PowerApps Form, organized for easy understanding and reference. You can also check the reference here

PowerApps Full Course reference is here