An object field type contains a JSON object (a set of name/value pairs). A value in a JSON object may be another JSON object. It is not necessary to specify `object` as the type when mapping object fields because `object` is the default type.
Nested objects are stored as flat key/value pairs internally. To refer to a field in a nested object, use `parent field`.`child field` (for example, `patient.id`).
The following table lists the parameters accepted by object field types. All parameters are optional.
Parameter | Description
:--- | :---
[`dynamic`](#the-dynamic-parameter) | Specifies whether new fields can be dynamically added to this object. Valid values are `true`, `false`, and `strict`. Default is `true`.
`enabled` | A Boolean value that specifies whether the JSON contents of the object should be parsed. If `enabled` is set to `false`, the object's contents are not indexed or searchable, but they are still retrievable from the _source field. Default is `true`.
`properties` | Fields of this object, which can be of any supported type. New properties can be dynamically added to this object if `dynamic` is set to `true`.
### The `dynamic` parameter
The `dynamic` parameter specifies whether new fields can be dynamically added to an object that is already indexed.
For example, you can initially create a mapping with a `patient` object that has only one field:
As a result, the field `id` is added to the mappings:
```json
{
"testindex1" : {
"mappings" : {
"properties" : {
"patient" : {
"properties" : {
"id" : {
"type" : "text",
"fields" : {
"keyword" : {
"type" : "keyword",
"ignore_above" : 256
}
}
},
"name" : {
"type" : "text"
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
```
The `dynamic` parameter has the following valid values.
Value | Description
:--- | :---
`true` | New fields can be added to the mapping dynamically. This is the default.
`false` | New fields cannot be added to the mapping dynamically. If a new field is detected, it is not indexed or searchable. However, it is still retrievable from the _source field.
`strict` | When new fields are added to the mapping dynamically, an exception is thrown. To add a new field to an object, you have to add it to the mapping first.
Inner objects inherit the `dynamic` parameter value from their parent unless they declare their own `dynamic` parameter value.