[[data-views-api]] == Data views API experimental[] Manage data views, formerly known as {kib} index patterns. WARNING: Do not write documents directly to the `.kibana` index. When you write directly to the `.kibana` index, the data becomes corrupted and permanently breaks future {kib} versions. WARNING: Use the data views APIs for managing data views instead of lower-level <>. The following data views APIs are available: * Data views ** <> to retrieve a list of data views ** <> to retrieve a single data view ** <> to create data view ** <> to partially updated data view ** <> to delete a data view * Default data views ** <> to retrieve a default data view ** <> to set a default data view * Fields ** <> to change field metadata, such as `count`, `customLabel` and `format` * Runtime fields ** <> to retrieve a runtime field ** <> to create a runtime field ** <> to create or update a runtime field ** <> to partially update an existing runtime field ** <> to delete a runtime field include::data-views/get-all.asciidoc[] include::data-views/get.asciidoc[] include::data-views/create.asciidoc[] include::data-views/update.asciidoc[] include::data-views/delete.asciidoc[] include::data-views/default-get.asciidoc[] include::data-views/default-set.asciidoc[] include::data-views/update-fields.asciidoc[] include::data-views/runtime-fields/get.asciidoc[] include::data-views/runtime-fields/create.asciidoc[] include::data-views/runtime-fields/upsert.asciidoc[] include::data-views/runtime-fields/update.asciidoc[] include::data-views/runtime-fields/delete.asciidoc[]