Example | Configuring a data class based on a regular expression and starting the automatic classification for a column

Updated: May 8, 2026

You want to configure the Email data class you manually created. This way, the data class can be assigned automatically through the automatic data classification process.

Prerequisites

• You have the required permissions.
• Make sure you know which regular expression you want to use for the data class. For more information and references to useful resources, go to Add a data class.

Steps

1. Configure the email data class.
   1. On the main toolbar, click → Stewardship.
   2. Go to Data Classification → Data classes.
   3. Select the email data class row.
      The data class parameters appear in a pane on the right-hand side.
   4. Open the Details section.
      
   5. Complete the fields as required.
      For information on the fields, go to Add a data class.

      Data class parameter	Description
      Minimum confidence threshold	Set this value to 80.
      Allow empty values	Leave this field as the default value (False).
      Examples	Add the following examples: [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected]

   6. Open the Classification rules section.
   7. Click Add new rule.
   8. In Type, select the Regular expression for data option.
      Extra fields appear.
   9. Complete the fields as required.
      For information on the fields, go to Add a data class.

      Data class parameter	Description
      Regular expression	Add: ^([a-zA-Z0-9._%\-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.\-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,6})$
      Description	Leave this field empty.

   10. Click Save.
       The classification rule for the Email data class is configured.
       The Rule details section appears. Expand the section, to view the details.

       

2. Start the classification.
   1. Open a Column asset with email data.
   2. In the At a glance sidebar, click Classify. If the At a glance sidebar is hidden, click .
      The data classification process starts. For more information, go to Automatically classify assets.
      The Email data classification suggestion is assigned to the Column asset with a confidence percentage. For more information, go to accepting and rejecting data classification suggestions.

What's next

You can also import data classes to be used in the automatic classification for a column, table, or schema.