--- title: Type coercion slug: type-coercion description: Explore how Make handles data mismatches and when it can automatically convert it into a different type image: https://archbee-image-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/oAyFj2GHlBeBVWF5OAir2/4vkDK6AFGxP9Xd1sZdBup_domino-zoomin-purple-a-1.png docTags: createdAt: 2025-02-03T13:29:15.599Z --- This document describes how Make behaves in situations when it receives values in expected and unexpected data formats. ## When array is expected: | **Received** | **Description** | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **array** | The value is handed over unchanged. | | **other** | If the received value is not of the array type, Make will create an array and the first (and the only) element will be the received value. | ## When Boolean is expected: | **Received** | **Description** | | ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **boolean** | The value is handed over unchanged. | | **number** | The value is converted to logical `Yes`, even if the value is `0` | | **text** | If the value is equal to `false` or the value is empty, it is converted to logical `No`. If not, it is converted to logical `Yes` | | **other** | The value is converted to logical `Yes` whenever the received value exists (is not `null`). | ## When Buffer is expected: | **Received** | **Description** | | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **buffer** | The value is handed over unchanged only if the codepage is as expected. If the `codepage` differs, Make will try to convert the received value to the requested `codepage`. If this conversion is not supported, Make will return a validation error. | | **boolean** | The value is converted to text (`true`/`false`) and then to binary data following the steps mentioned above for converting to **text**. | | **date** | The value is converted to ISO 8601 text and then to binary data following the steps mentioned for converting to **text**. | | **number** | The value is converted to text and then to binary data following the steps mentioned above for converting to **text**. | | **text** | The value is converted to binary data and encoded as expected. If the expected encoding is not specified, `utf8` encoding will be used. | | **other** | Make returns a validation error. | ## When Collection is expected: | **Received** | **Description** | | -------------- | ----------------------------------- | | **collection** | The value is handed over unchanged. | | **other** | Make returns a validation error. | ## When Date is expected: | **Received** | **Description** | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **date** | The value is handed over unchanged. | | **text** | Make will try to convert the text to a date. If the conversion fails, it will return a validation error. Date must contain day, month and year. Date may contain time and time zone. Default time zone is based on your settings. See these [examples](https://help.make.com/type-coercion#RNPRI). | | **number** | Make will treat the number as milliseconds since Jan 01 1970 (UTC) and convert it to a corresponding date. | | **other** | Make returns a validation error. | :::ExpandableHeading ### Examples of date format - `2016-06-20T17:26:44.356Z` - `2016-06-20 19:26:44 GMT+02:00` - `2016-06-20 19:26+0200` - `2016-06-20 17:26:44` - `2016-06-20` - `2016/06/20 17:26:44` - `2016/06/20 19:26:44+02:00` - `2016/06/20 17:26` - `2016/06/20 5:26 PM` - `2016/06/20` - `06/20/2016 17:26:44` - `06/20/2016 19:26:44+02:00` - `06/20/2016 17:26` - `06/20/2016 5:26 PM` - `06/20/2016` - `20.6.2016 17:26:44` - `20.6.2016 19:26:44+02:00` - `20.6.2016 19:26:44+02:00` - `20.6.2016` ::: ## When Number is expected: | **Received** | **Description** | | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **number** | The value is handed over unchanged. | | **text** | Make will try to convert the text to a number. If the conversion fails, it will return a validation error. | | **other** | Make returns a validation error. | ## When Text is expected: | **Received** | **Description** | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **text** | The value is handed over unchanged. | | **array** | If the given array supports conversion to text, the value will be converted. If not, Make will return a validation error. | | **collection** | The value is converted to a JSON string. An array of collections is converted separately to a comma-separated list. | | **boolean** | The value is converted to text (`true`/`false`). | | **buffer** | If text encoding is specified for binary data, the value will be converted to text. If not, Make will return a validation error | | **date** | The value is converted to ISO 8601 text. | | **number** | The value is converted to text. | | **other** | Make returns a validation error. | ## When Time is expected: | **Received** | **Description** | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **time** | The value is handed over unchanged. | | **text** | Make will try to convert time to the hours\:minutes\:seconds format. If the conversion fails, it will return a validation error. | | **other** | Make returns a validation error. |