# Baserow Last Modified By Field - Track Row Editors

> See exactly who last touched a row with Baserow's free, read-only Last modified by field - pairs with Last modified for the timestamp, no manual entry.

Source: https://opennix.org/en/docs/baserow/field-types/last-modified-by-field/


The Last modified by field automatically shows who last edited a row - it updates itself on every direct cell edit and cannot be set by hand. This article covers how to add the field, which actions trigger an update, and how it differs from Created by, Last modified (time), and Collaborator fields.

## What is a Last modified by field?

The Last modified by field automatically tracks and displays the name of the workspace user who last edited a row.

It is a **non-editable** field, meaning you cannot manually change the user. This ensures data integrity and provides clear accountability, helping you trace changes back to a specific individual.

This field is the direct companion to the **Last modified (time) field**. Together, they show you _who_ made the last change and _when_ it happened.

## How to add the Last modified by field

While Baserow tracks this information automatically, you must add the field to your table to see it.

1. Open your Baserow database and the desired table.
2. Click the `+` button to [add a new field](/docs/baserow/fields/adding-a-field/).
3. Search for and select **Last modified by** from the field type dropdown.
4. Click **Create**.

Once added, the field will automatically populate with the name of the user who makes the next modification to any row.

![Last modified by field in a Baserow grid view](/images/baserow/field-types/last-modified-by-field-overview.png)

## Frequently asked questions

**What's the difference between Last modified by and Last modified (time)?** They are companion fields designed to be used together. Last modified by shows _who_ made the edit. The Last modified field shows _when_ the edit happened (the date and time).

**What's the difference between Last modified by and Created by?** They track two different user actions. The [Created by field](/docs/baserow/field-types/created-by-field/) shows who _created_ the row - it is set _once_ and never changes. Last modified by shows who _last edited_ the row - it updates with _every_ change.

**What's the difference between Last modified by and a Collaborator field?** Last modified by is **automatic** and non-editable - the system sets this value based on a user's action. The [Collaborator field](/docs/baserow/field-types/collaborator-field/) is **manual** - it's a field where you actively _assign_ one or more users to a row, like for a task.

**What actions trigger an update?** The Last modified by field updates only when a user makes a _direct edit_ to a cell's value, and it excludes automatic updates from computed fields such as formulas, lookups, or rollups. For Link to table fields, it updates when users add or remove links, but not when data inside the linked record changes.

## What's next

To see the exact time of the last change, read about the [Last modified field](/docs/baserow/field-types/last-modified-field/). To track who created a row, see [Created by](/docs/baserow/field-types/created-by-field/), and for manually assigning an owner, check the [Collaborator field](/docs/baserow/field-types/collaborator-field/) article.