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In [Data processing explained](/process-data/process-data-in-protobi) we reviewed the two types of data processes: 1) [Dynamic](http://help.protobi.com/110257-process-data-in-protobi/pre-calculate-vs-data-processes#Pre-calculate%20\(dynamic\)-4) processes in project pre-calculate and 2) [Static](http://help.protobi.com/110257-process-data-in-protobi/pre-calculate-vs-data-processes#Data%20process%20\(static\)-5) processes in project data. Within static data processes there are two forms, "Simple" and "Asynchronous".

# Simple vs Asynchronous

A simple data process operates only on data tables in the same project, and returns a single modified table. This tutorial focuses on examples of common simple processes. [Asynchronous](/process-data/asychronous-data-processes) processes are for more sophisticated processing, such as combining data tables from different projects.

# Simple

## Return a data table as rows

A "Simple" data process receives a variable **data** which is an object containing the contents of each data table as an attribute.

If a project has a data table with  key "**main"** the most minimal process would simply return the results in that data table.

```
var rows= data["main"]
return rows;
```

## [Combine waves of data](/process-data/combine-data-using-a-simple-stack)

A common data process is to combine waves of data. If a project contains data tables for each wave of the survey, the stacking function seen below will work as a simple data process.

```
var W1 = data["wave1"]
 var W2 = data["wave2"]
 var W3 = data["wave3"]
 var W4 = data["wave4"]

var rows = Protobi.stack_rows([W1 ,W2, W3, W4]);

return rows;
```

## Define new variables

A slightly more complicated example iterates over each row and defines three new row variables:

-   **row**.**area** is set to the value of **row.Q1**
-   **row**.**radius** is calculated from row.**area**
-   **row**.**rituximab** is either 0 or 1 depending on if the value of **row.A4** matches the text fragment "uximab"

```
var rows = rows.main;
rows.forEach(function(row) {  
  row.area = row.Q1;
  row.radius = Math.sqrt(row.area / Math.PI)

// Use Regular Expressions to test for string matches
  row.rituximab = row.A4.test(/uximab/i) ? 1 : 0;
})
```

**Reminder**: For data processes, "Save" and "Run" the process after you are done editing the code view. To use the result of the process as the primary data for the project, you will need to set it as "Primary".

*Data processes are specific to each project, and your code may not look identical to our example.*

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