---
title: "Creating a new Data Category"
url: https://develop.sentry.dev/ingestion/relay/creating-a-datacategory/
---

# Creating a new Data Category

Adding a new data category to Sentry requires a modification to [Relay](https://github.com/getsentry/relay). Relay provides a Python library `sentry-relay`, which must be updated before a new data category can be imported in Sentry.

## [Adding the new Data Category to Relay](https://develop.sentry.dev/ingestion/relay/creating-a-datacategory.md#adding-the-new-data-category-to-relay)

You need to be able to develop on Relay, the [README](https://github.com/getsentry/relay?tab=readme-ov-file#development), describes how to setup a local development environment for Relay.

1. Modify `relay-base-schema/src/data_category.rs` and add your data category. Make sure to give it a good name and document the purpose of the data category. Don't forget to fill out `DataCategory::name` and `DataCategory::from_name`.
2. Define how your data category should be rate limited in `relay-quotas/src/quota.rs`, by modifying `CategoryUnit::from`.
3. Update `sentry-relay` by running `make header` in the `relay-cabi/` directory.
4. Add your data category to the Relay `CHANGELOG.md`.
5. Add your data category to the Python `py/CHANGELOG.md`.

You can also use this [Example PR](https://github.com/getsentry/relay?tab=readme-ov-file#development) as a reference.

## [Creating a `sentry-relay` Release](https://develop.sentry.dev/ingestion/relay/creating-a-datacategory.md#creating-a-sentry-relay-release)

To release a new version of `sentry-relay` you have to trigger the [Release Library](https://github.com/getsentry/relay/actions/workflows/release_library.yml) workflow with the next version.

New data categories are always released as a new patch version, for example if the current version is `0.7.12` you would trigger the workflow with version `0.7.13`.

##### Important

Double and triple check the version before triggering the workflow.

## [Updating Sentry](https://develop.sentry.dev/ingestion/relay/creating-a-datacategory.md#updating-sentry)

After the library has been published you can update `sentry-relay` in Sentry and use your new data category!

[Example Sentry PR](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry/pull/88919/files).