How to build scheduling in Bubble

To build scheduling in Bubble, you create a data type that represents an appointment, let users pick a date/time, check availability, and then save it. The core idea is: store times as Bubble date fields, prevent double‑booking by doing a search before creating the appointment, and optionally use backend workflows if you need reminders or automated actions.

Core Structure You Need

You need one main data type, usually called something like Booking or Appointment. A data type in Bubble is just a table in the database. Each booking stores who booked, start time, end time, and anything else relevant.

• Create data type Booking.
• Add fields:
  - start\_time (date)
  - end\_time (date)
  - user (User)
• On the page, place a Date/Time Picker for start and end.

Checking Availability Before Saving

You must prevent overlapping bookings. Bubble can do this using a Search for during your workflow when the user clicks “Book”. If the search returns zero results, the slot is free.

• Workflow action: When Book button is clicked → Only when no overlapping booking exists.
• Use this condition:
  Search for Bookings with constraints:
  start\_time < end picker’s value
  end\_time > start picker’s value
  :count is 0

Create the Booking

If the condition passes, you create the Booking normally:

// In your workflow action
Create a new Booking:
start_time = DatePicker Start's value
end_time = DatePicker End's value
user = Current User

Optional: Automated Reminders

If you want reminders (email or SMS), use a backend workflow. A backend workflow lets Bubble run things later, even if the user is offline.

• Create an API Workflow called send-reminder.
• Add a parameter like booking\_id (Booking).
• Inside, send an email or message.
• When creating the booking, schedule it:
  Schedule API Workflow → time = booking’s start\_time minus 1 hour.

UI for Showing Available Times

To show available times, use a Repeating Group listing time slots, and hide or disable ones that have an overlapping booking using the same search logic. This gives users a clean, Airbnb‑style picker.

• Repeating Group of times → Each cell checks if slot is booked.
• If booked, make it grey or unclickable.

This setup is the standard, reliable way scheduling is built in Bubble: store date ranges, check overlaps, create the booking, and optionally trigger backend workflows for reminders.