# Mask

Masking can be especially useful in the following situations:

1. To mask columns that contain directly identifiable information, such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
2. To mask columns that contain indirectly identifiable information, such as Birthdate columns.
3. When data needs to remain recognizable in format.

## Apply mask

1. Open your **workspace**.
2. From the **Main hub** or **Table view** tab, select the column where you want to apply a generator.
3. Under **Generator**, select **Mask** to view the list of available mask functions.
4. Select the **Mask** function that you wish to apply from the dropdown list of available mask functions.
5. Set the relevant mask parameters.
6. Select **Confirm**.

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/U61B9DqtWCNO3Z30vnjh/blobs/R6iEExQgUi2xbESVzti0/Screenshot%20(14).png" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Selecting data type</p></figcaption></figure>

### Edit mask settings

To edit any mask settings you have applied previously:

1. Open your **Workspace**.
2. Now you can either:
   1. On the **Job Configuration** tab, select the column icon on the top left of the column where you want to edit a mask function.
   2. On the **Job Configuration** tab, under **Applied steps**, select the **Edit** icon next to the column name where you want to edit a mask function.
   3. On the **PII** tab, select the **Edit** icon behind the column where you want to edit a mask function.
3. Under the **Generation Method**, define the parameters that you want to change.
4. Select **Confirm**.

## Mask functions

Syntho offers various masking functions. Each function is designed to handle different types of sensitive data. You can explore them based on their categories, including [Text](https://docs.syntho.ai/configure-a-data-generation-job/configure-column-settings/mask/text), [Numeric (integer)](https://docs.syntho.ai/configure-a-data-generation-job/configure-column-settings/mask/numeric-integer), [Numeric (decimal)](https://docs.syntho.ai/configure-a-data-generation-job/configure-column-settings/mask/numeric-decimal), [Datetime](https://docs.syntho.ai/configure-a-data-generation-job/configure-column-settings/mask/datetime) and [UUID](https://docs.syntho.ai/configure-a-data-generation-job/configure-column-settings/mask/uuid).


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