---
title: "Well Types"
slug: "well-types"
updated: 2026-09-09T13:59:05Z
published: 2026-09-09T13:59:05Z
canonical: "docs.discngine.com/well-types"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.discngine.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Well Types

Well types are used to design control layouts in the applications, used by both `Sample` and `Assay`.

The **Is Control** flag indicates if the well type is used as a control.

- In `Assay`, this is important for the normalization step, where a control well type may be required as a parameter.

The **Is Reference** flag indicates if the well type is used as a reference.

- In `Assay`, having a reference well type in a plate layout allows you to perform reference analysis.
- Also, associated wells will be ignored in `Sample Analysis` aggregation, and this information can be used for normalizations that rely on reference analysis results.

The **Is Hidden** flag determines whether a well type can be added to a control layout.

- If a well type is hidden and already used in a layout, the layout remains available, but the well type cannot be added to another layout.

## Well Types List

To view all well types, click on `Labware items` > `Well Types` in the left navigation panel.

All well types created in the application are displayed on this page.

![Well types list](https://cdn.document360.io/dde9293e-c107-4b3e-9774-9c9c296ed970/Images/Setting/refdata-well-types-list.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T21%3A28%3A04Z&se=2026-11-10T22%3A28%3A04Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kdo779oiT%2FMZLkPmewkFBxCsYKQXHGRHGlWz7Nq21Kk%3D)

## Create a New Well Type

To create a new well type, click the `New Type` button in the well types list. A form will appear where you can enter the following information:

- **Name**: The display name for the well type.
- **Code**: A unique code for the well type.
- **Color**: The color used to display the wells in the plate viewer.
- **Description**: An optional description for the well type.
- **Is Hidden**: Whether the well type can be added to a plate layout.
- **Is Control**: Whether the well type is used as a control.
- **Is Reference**: Whether the well type is used as a reference.

![Create well type](https://cdn.document360.io/dde9293e-c107-4b3e-9774-9c9c296ed970/Images/Setting/refdata-well-types-create.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T21%3A28%3A04Z&se=2026-11-10T22%3A28%3A04Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kdo779oiT%2FMZLkPmewkFBxCsYKQXHGRHGlWz7Nq21Kk%3D)

Click `Create` to add the new well type. It will appear in the list.

## Edit an Existing Well Type

To edit a well type, click the `Edit` button next to the well type in the list. The details panel will open on the right.

You can update the following fields at any time:

- **Name**
- **Color**
- **Description**
- **Is Hidden**
- The **Is Reference** and **Is Control** flags can only be changed if the well type is not involved in a layout.

After making your changes, click `Apply Changes` to save.

![Update well type](https://cdn.document360.io/dde9293e-c107-4b3e-9774-9c9c296ed970/Images/Setting/refdata-well-types-update.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T21%3A28%3A04Z&se=2026-11-10T22%3A28%3A04Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kdo779oiT%2FMZLkPmewkFBxCsYKQXHGRHGlWz7Nq21Kk%3D)

              
              

To display hidden well types in the list, untick the `Unretired well types` filter at the top of the report. This will show all well types, including those marked as hidden.