---
title: "Labels and Attributes"
slug: "labels-attributes"
updated: 2026-09-17T08:30:12Z
published: 2026-09-17T08:30:12Z
canonical: "docs.dataloop.ai/labels-attributes"
---

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

# Labels and Attributes

## Labels

Labels are descriptive identifiers used to categorize or classify data elements—such as “Dog,” “Building,” or “Stop Sign.” They provide structured meaning to raw data (e.g., images, videos, or text), enabling its effective use in machine learning and AI workflows.

### Purpose & Role in Ontology

Labels are defined within an ontology, ensuring:

- Consistency in how data is annotated
- Clarity across teams and projects
- Uniformity that supports accurate and scalable annotation processes

This structured approach allows ML models to reliably interpret and learn from labeled datasets.

### System Labels (Special Case)

Certain labels are automatically added by the system (for example, when [**OCR is enabled**](/1-3-8/docs/classic-ml-recipe-overview#tools-list-and-settings), a `text` label is created by default). These follow strict rules:

- **Disabled by default**: System labels are initially disabled and cannot be activated or used unless specific system conditions are met.
- **Non-editable hierarchy**: Cannot be reordered, have new sub-labels, or be deleted.
- **Customizable appearance**: While the structure of a system label cannot be modified, its **color** and **thumbnail** can be changed for easier visualization in annotation tasks.

---

### Add Labels

1. Navigate to **Recipes** from the lift-side menu.
2. Find and select the recipe from the list.
3. Click on the **⋮ Three Dots** or **Actions** from the right-side panel.
4. Select **Edit Recipe** from the list.
5. Click **New Label**. A new field will be created.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2026-03-12 at 12.28.36.png)

1. Provide a name for the label, and make other updates as follows:
  1. Adding Thumbnails
  2. Configure annotation tools list.
  3. Add attributes
  4. Updating the Advanced Settings, if required.
2. Click **Save** to save the changes.

### Add Sub-Labels

Labels in the recipe have a **Dot Name Spacing** (dot-separated structure), allowing you to create tree-like label descriptions (sub-labels that are in a hierarchy with other labels). A well-defined labels hierarchy enables annotators to accurately classify annotations based on logical structure, with correlation with advanced tools for labels-based search and filter on items and annotations level.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/image(764).png)

To add a Sub-Label:

Option AOption B - Shortcuts

1. Hover-over next to the label, and click on the **Add sub-label** icon.
2. Enter a name for the sub-label.
3. Press **Enter** key to save it. The sub-label will be added under the parent label.

1. Click on the Parent label.
2. Press `.` (dot) or `Tab`
3. A sub-label field will be added under the parent label.
4. Provide a name for the sub-label and press enter. The sub-label will be created.

In **New Label**, For example, the parent label name `Label-1` will be added to the name that you have given for the sub-label `Sub-label-1`: `Label-1.Sub-label-1`

- Label_2
  - Label_2.M1
    - Label_2.M1.N1

Click on the `>` icon of the parent label to expand and view the sub-labels.

### Label Colors

Each label created within a recipe is automatically assigned a default color. For most annotation tools excluding Semantic Segmentation this color is purely visual and affects only the platform's user interface, helping annotators distinguish between different labels across images, videos, and other data types.

However, for the **Semantic Segmentation** tool, the label color directly influences the output mask. If your model expects specific RGB values for segmentation masks, ensure that the corresponding label colors are set to match those values.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2026-03-12 at 12.30.18(1).png)

### Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts make it faster to create and manage sub-labels in Recipes, allowing you to add, navigate, and organize labels without using the mouse.

| **Action** | **Keyboard Shortcut** |
| --- | --- |
| Add a sub-label (when creating a new label, below the parent) | Press `.` (dot) or `Tab` |
| Specify a sub-label by typing parent name + dot | Type `ParentLabel.` |
| Go back one level to the parent label (when name field is focused) | `Shift + Tab` |
| Go back one level to the parent label (when name field is empty) | `Backspace` |

### Search and Filter Labels

Use the **search field** to find labels by **label name**.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/image(765).png)

You can also filter labels using the following criteria:

Annotation Tool TypeAttribute TypesThumbnail Type

- Classification
- Bounding box
- Polygon
- Semantic Segmentation
- Point/Pose
- Polyline
- Ellipse
- Cuboid
- Marker
- 3D Semantic Segmentation
- 3D Cuboid
- 3D Polyline
- Audio Classification

- Multiple Selection
- Single Selection
- Slider
- Yes/No
- Free Text

- With Thumbnail
- Without Thumbnail

### Edit Labels

1. Navigate to **Recipes** from the lift-side menu.
2. Find and select the recipe from the list to edit.
3. Click on the **⋮ Three Dots** or **Actions** from the right-side panel.
4. Select **Edit Recipe** from the list.
5. Search and find the label to make the changes on the following fields:
  1. Changing the Label Name.
  2. Add, modify, or delete labels and sub-labels
  3. Adding Thumbnails
  4. Updating annotation tools list.
  5. Add, modify, or delete attributes
  6. Updating the Advanced Settings, etc.
6. Click **Save** to save the changes.

### Delete Labels

You can delete single or multiple labels at a time.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/image(766).png)

1. Open your recipe page.
2. Select one or more labels from the list to delete.
3. Click on the **Trash** icon from the top bar, or from the right-end of the row (for the **single-label** delete only). A confirmation message is displayed.
4. Click **Delete** to confirm the deletion. A successful message is displayed.

### **Changing Default Label Color**

The default color assigned to a label can be changed. Click the colored square to select a color from the palette, or enter RGBA or HEX values.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/53f32fe9-1937-4652-8526-90c1bc78d3f8/Images/Documentation/image(767).png)

#### **Changing Color for Semantic Segmentation**

Changing the color of the label used for semantic segmentation will impact only new annotations from that point onward. The color of existing annotations is saved on the mask in the item's JSON, and therefore won't affect all existing JSON files.

[Learn more](https://docs.dataloop.ai/docs/create-semantic-segmentation#create-segmentation-annotation) about the **Semantic Segmentation** tool.

### Add **Images as** Label Thumbnails

Enhance your labeling workflow by adding image thumbnails to labels within your recipe. This allows annotators to select labels based on visual similarity between the item and its associated thumbnail, especially useful for retail and product classification tasks.

To add an image thumbnail to a label, click the **“+”** icon next to the label and choose an image from your local directory.

**To remove** a thumbnail:

1. Hover-over next to the thumbnail. A **trash** icon is displayed next to the Thumbnail.
2. Click on the **Trash** icon.
3. Click **Remove** to confirm.

---

### Reorder Labels

Labels can be reordered differently than creation order, to allow prioritizing and displaying at the top of the list during labeling tasks. To reorder labels, click on the **Drag** icon and drag & drop it to the desired position.

### Updating the Ontology with a Label Thumbnail Using the SDK

The following code snippets demonstrate how to add a new label with a thumbnail and how to update an existing label to include thumbnail display data using the Dataloop SDK.

**Adding a Label with a Thumbnail**

```python
import dtlpy as dl
dataset = dl.datasets.get(dataset_id="65f82c9fc26fd1bc97ea9915")
ontology = dataset.ontologies.list()[0]
ontology.add_label(label_name='dog', color=(34, 6, 231), icon_path=r"C:\Datasets\Dogs\dog.webp")
```

**Updating an Existing Label with a Thumbnail**

```python
import dtlpy as dl
dataset = dl.datasets.get(dataset_id="65f82c9fc26fd1bc97ea9915")
ontology = dataset.ontologies.list()[0]
# Add label if not already existing
ontology.add_label(label_name='dog', color=(34, 6, 231), icon_path=r"C:\Datasets\Dogs\dog.webp")
# Create a label object with display data
label = dl.Label(tag='dog',
                 display_label='dog',
                 display_data={'displayImage': {'itemId': '65fa86e310864a269c607064',
                                                'datasetId': "65f82c9fc26fd1bc97ea9915"}})
# Update the label in the ontology
ontology.update_labels(label_list=[label], update_ontology=True)
```

### Import Labels File

1. Click **Recipes** from the left-side menu.
2. Search and open the recipe from the list.
3. **Download the Example File:**
  1. Click **Recipe Actions → Import.**
  2. Hover over the **Labels File’s** Info **icon**.
  3. Click on the **Download Example File**. A `.txt` file will be downloaded.
  4. Create your labels list according to this format.
4. **Upload Labels File**:
  1. Click **Recipe Actions → Import → Labels File.**
  2. Select the `.txt` file and click **Open**. The labels in the text file will be added to your recipe.

---

## Attributes

An **attribute** of a label is a **descriptive property or characteristic** that provides additional information about an annotated object. Attributes help make annotations richer and more detailed, enabling more precise data for machine learning models.

Attributes are defined separately in the **Recipe** and can be **linked (mapped)** to:

- A **specific label** (e.g., “Car” → attributes like *Color*, *Make*, *Model*), or
- **All labels**, when they are relevant across multiple classes (e.g., *Visibility*, *Quality Score*).

For a **vehicle** label:

- *Color*: Red, Blue, Black
- *Condition*: New, Used, Damaged

### Add Attributes

You can create attributes by using two ways. From the Labels main page, or single label level.

1. Go to the **Recipes** section.
2. Find and open the recipe from the list.
3. Click **Attributes**. A right-side panel will be displayed.
4. **Labels**: Select one or more labels from the list in which you need to add this attribute.
5. **Mandatory**: Enable to enforce annotators to answer attributes before moving to the next item. The feature is enabled from recipe instructions, and applies to any attribute set as ‘Mandatory’. While working in the Studio, mandatory attributes skipped will show with a red flag icon, requiring annotators’ attention. Mandatory attribute enforcement occurs only when working on a single item in the respective studio. Due to the nature of this work, mandatory attributes are not enforced when working in bulk from the Assignment Browser.
6. **Name**: Provide a name for the new attribute.
7. **ID**: A unique, auto-populated sequential value (editable). Used to reference this attribute in JSON exports and metadata. If edited, set it to an unused value.
8. **Type**: Where mapping to labels is done. The default applies any attribute to all labels, but individual selection can be done. By default, selecting a label applies the attribute automatically to all sub-labels.
  - **Multiple Selection**: It allows you to select multiple values while annotating. Add the multiple values in the **Values** field.
  - **Single Selection:** It allows you to select only a single value while annotating. Add the values in the **Values** field.
  - **Slider**: Selecting from a range of values, Minimum (, Maximum, and Step. (for example, between 1 and 10). Add the values in the **Values** field.
  - **Yes/No**: It allows you to select **Yes** or **No** value (true or false).
  - **Free text**: A free text enter placeholder will be available for annotators to enter text to provide more information.

1. Click the **Create Attribute** to create the new attribute.

### Search and Filter Attributes

Use the **search field** to find attributes by **attribute type**.

You can also filter labels using the following attribute type:

1. **Multiple Selection**: It allows you to filter attributes with multiple values
2. **Single Selection:** It allows you to filter attributes with a single value
3. **Slider**: It allows you to filter attributes with a numeric range (e.g., 1–10)
4. **Yes/No**: It allows you to filter attributes with binary (Yes/No) values
5. **Free text**: It allows you to filter attributes with free-text values.

### Edit Attributes

1. Go to the **Recipes** section.
2. Find and open the recipe from the list.
  1. **(Option A) To edit attributes regardless of label**, click **Attributes** to open the **Attribute Management** page.
  2. **(Option B) To edit a specific label’s attribute**, select the label and click its **attribute** field. A dropdown panel is displayed.
    1. Click on the **Settings** icon.
3. In the Attribute Management page, make changes to the following fields:
  1. Attribute name
  2. Add, update, or delete values
  3. Update the Mandatory option
  4. Modify the label list.

### Delete Attributes

1. Go to the **Recipes** section.
2. Find and open the recipe.
3. Click **Attributes**. The attributes page is displayed.
4. **To delete a single attribute**: Find the attribute and hover over, and click on the **Trash** icon displayed.
5. **To delete multiple attributes**: Select multiple attributes and click on the **Trash** icon displayed on the top-bar.
6. A confirmation message is displayed as `Deleting this attribute may effect active labeling or QA tasks.` Click **Delete**.
7. Click **Done** to close the window.
8. Click **Save** to save the changes.