Why would I use a component and not a new field with a drop down?

Question

I'm setting up a new Project for a digital team to log all work. I'd like the ability to categorise tasks so we can view them by category to see if there is any over lap.

I was going to create a new field of Project Type and add options.

I've been told to use Components.

Whats the difference?

Frederik De Roover_nwowg9 · Answer

Components are build into Jira, so you don't need to do custom work. They are subsections of a project, used to group issues within a project into smaller parts.

It also has the benefit of assigning a default assignee to a component.

No real difference, except for the time saved.

Nic Brough -Adaptavist- · Answer

Components are multi-select fields in terms of data, so they're storing and enabling search and reporting in the same way as a custom multi-select.

But components are a "system" field that have additional functions - a way to type instead of select, the ability for project admins to maintain the lists rather than Jira administrators, a description, a "component lead" can be associated with them, and then used by the "automatic assignee" function.  The built-in reporting also has provides direct reporting on them.