diff --git a/packages/kbn-optimizer/limits.yml b/packages/kbn-optimizer/limits.yml
index f786d01232227..79308c43bf0aa 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-optimizer/limits.yml
+++ b/packages/kbn-optimizer/limits.yml
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ pageLoadAssetSize:
   bfetch: 22837
   kibanaUtils: 79713
   data: 491273
-  dataViews: 41532
+  dataViews: 42532
   expressions: 140958
   fieldFormats: 65209
   kibanaReact: 74422
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_view_field_editor/public/open_editor.tsx b/src/plugins/data_view_field_editor/public/open_editor.tsx
index c66e8183b9ab6..d3a91739dc94a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_view_field_editor/public/open_editor.tsx
+++ b/src/plugins/data_view_field_editor/public/open_editor.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   UsageCollectionStart,
   DataViewsPublicPluginStart,
   FieldFormatsStart,
+  RuntimeType,
 } from './shared_imports';
 
 import type { PluginStart, InternalFieldType, CloseEditor } from './types';
@@ -104,7 +105,12 @@ export const getFieldEditorOpener =
       }
 
       const isNewRuntimeField = !fieldName;
-      const isExistingRuntimeField = field && field.runtimeField && !field.isMapped;
+      const isExistingRuntimeField =
+        field &&
+        field.runtimeField &&
+        !field.isMapped &&
+        // treat composite field instances as mapped fields for field editing purposes
+        field.runtimeField.type !== ('composite' as RuntimeType);
       const fieldTypeToProcess: InternalFieldType =
         isNewRuntimeField || isExistingRuntimeField ? 'runtime' : 'concrete';
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/__snapshots__/indexed_fields_table.test.tsx.snap b/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/__snapshots__/indexed_fields_table.test.tsx.snap
index abed44135e6ea..843c90d4f617b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/__snapshots__/indexed_fields_table.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/__snapshots__/indexed_fields_table.test.tsx.snap
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ exports[`IndexedFieldsTable IndexedFieldsTable with rollup index pattern should
         },
         Object {
           "displayName": "runtime",
+          "esTypes": Array [
+            "long",
+          ],
           "excluded": false,
           "format": "",
           "hasRuntime": true,
@@ -219,6 +222,9 @@ exports[`IndexedFieldsTable should filter based on the schema filter 1`] = `
       Array [
         Object {
           "displayName": "runtime",
+          "esTypes": Array [
+            "long",
+          ],
           "excluded": false,
           "format": "",
           "hasRuntime": true,
@@ -356,6 +362,9 @@ exports[`IndexedFieldsTable should render normally 1`] = `
         },
         Object {
           "displayName": "runtime",
+          "esTypes": Array [
+            "long",
+          ],
           "excluded": false,
           "format": "",
           "hasRuntime": true,
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/components/table/table.test.tsx b/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/components/table/table.test.tsx
index b2197a6dcb203..44385c7b6e41d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/components/table/table.test.tsx
+++ b/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/components/table/table.test.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import React from 'react';
 import { shallow } from 'enzyme';
 import { DataView } from 'src/plugins/data_views/public';
 import { IndexedFieldItem } from '../../types';
-import { Table, renderFieldName, getConflictModalContent } from './table';
+import { Table, renderFieldName, getConflictModalContent, showDelete } from './table';
 import { overlayServiceMock, themeServiceMock } from 'src/core/public/mocks';
 
 const theme = themeServiceMock.createStartContract();
@@ -198,4 +198,42 @@ describe('Table', () => {
       })
     ).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
+
+  test('showDelete', () => {
+    const runtimeFields = [
+      {
+        name: 'customer',
+        info: [],
+        excluded: false,
+        kbnType: 'string',
+        type: 'keyword',
+        isMapped: false,
+        isUserEditable: true,
+        hasRuntime: true,
+        runtimeField: {
+          type: 'keyword',
+        },
+      },
+      {
+        name: 'thing',
+        info: [],
+        excluded: false,
+        kbnType: 'string',
+        type: 'keyword',
+        isMapped: false,
+        isUserEditable: true,
+        hasRuntime: true,
+        runtimeField: {
+          type: 'composite',
+        },
+      },
+    ] as IndexedFieldItem[];
+
+    // indexed field
+    expect(showDelete(items[0])).toBe(false);
+    // runtime field - primitive type
+    expect(showDelete(runtimeFields[0])).toBe(true);
+    // runtime field - composite type
+    expect(showDelete(runtimeFields[1])).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/components/table/table.tsx b/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/components/table/table.tsx
index f860d9fafb1c0..f8ce07b11d3e8 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/components/table/table.tsx
+++ b/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/components/table/table.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ import { toMountPoint } from '../../../../../../../kibana_react/public';
 import { DataView } from '../../../../../../../data_views/public';
 import { IndexedFieldItem } from '../../types';
 
+export const showDelete = (field: IndexedFieldItem) =>
+  !field.isMapped && field.isUserEditable && field.runtimeField?.type !== 'composite';
+
 // localized labels
 const additionalInfoAriaLabel = i18n.translate(
   'indexPatternManagement.editIndexPattern.fields.table.additionalInfoAriaLabel',
@@ -454,7 +457,7 @@ export class Table extends PureComponent<IndexedFieldProps> {
             onClick: (field) => deleteField(field.name),
             type: 'icon',
             'data-test-subj': 'deleteField',
-            available: (field) => !field.isMapped && field.isUserEditable,
+            available: showDelete,
           },
         ],
         width: '40px',
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/indexed_fields_table.test.tsx b/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/indexed_fields_table.test.tsx
index c7b92c227a5d9..ff03bd404b6c4 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/indexed_fields_table.test.tsx
+++ b/src/plugins/data_view_management/public/components/edit_index_pattern/indexed_fields_table/indexed_fields_table.test.tsx
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ const fields = [
     name: 'runtime',
     displayName: 'runtime',
     runtimeField,
+    esTypes: ['long'],
+    type: 'number',
   },
 ].map(mockFieldToIndexPatternField);
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/constants.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/constants.ts
index d656a044e1080..b5a73eee8b3d3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/constants.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/constants.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export const RUNTIME_FIELD_TYPES = [
   'ip',
   'boolean',
   'geo_point',
+  'composite',
 ] as const;
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/__snapshots__/data_view.test.ts.snap b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/__snapshots__/data_view.test.ts.snap
index 731b5ba6e260c..0a9109c282922 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/__snapshots__/data_view.test.ts.snap
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/__snapshots__/data_view.test.ts.snap
@@ -1,5 +1,31 @@
 // Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
 
+exports[`IndexPattern addRuntimeField and removeRuntimeField add and remove composite runtime field as new fields 1`] = `
+Object {
+  "fields": Object {
+    "a": Object {
+      "type": "keyword",
+    },
+    "b": Object {
+      "type": "long",
+    },
+  },
+  "script": Object {
+    "source": "emit('hello world');",
+  },
+  "type": "composite",
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`IndexPattern addRuntimeField and removeRuntimeField add and remove runtime field as new field 1`] = `
+Object {
+  "script": Object {
+    "source": "emit('hello world');",
+  },
+  "type": "keyword",
+}
+`;
+
 exports[`IndexPattern toSpec should match snapshot 1`] = `
 Object {
   "allowNoIndex": false,
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_view.test.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_view.test.ts
index 40a3a06c869ab..514aba80bdb1e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_view.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_view.test.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import { IndexPatternField } from '../fields';
 
 import { fieldFormatsMock } from '../../../field_formats/common/mocks';
 import { FieldFormat } from '../../../field_formats/common';
-import { RuntimeField } from '../types';
+import { RuntimeField, RuntimeTypeExceptComposite } from '../types';
 import { stubLogstashFields } from '../field.stub';
 import { stubbedSavedObjectIndexPattern } from '../data_view.stub';
 
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ const runtimeField = {
   name: 'runtime_field',
   runtimeField: runtimeFieldScript,
   scripted: false,
+  esTypes: ['keyword'],
+  type: 'string',
 };
 
 fieldFormatsMock.getInstance = jest.fn().mockImplementation(() => new MockFieldFormatter()) as any;
@@ -223,20 +225,80 @@ describe('IndexPattern', () => {
       },
     };
 
+    const runtimeWithAttrs = {
+      ...runtime,
+      popularity: 5,
+      customLabel: 'custom name',
+      format: {
+        id: 'bytes',
+      },
+    };
+
+    const runtimeComposite = {
+      type: 'composite' as RuntimeField['type'],
+      script: {
+        source: "emit('hello world');",
+      },
+      fields: {
+        a: {
+          type: 'keyword' as RuntimeTypeExceptComposite,
+        },
+        b: {
+          type: 'long' as RuntimeTypeExceptComposite,
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    const runtimeCompositeWithAttrs = {
+      type: runtimeComposite.type,
+      script: runtimeComposite.script,
+      fields: {
+        a: {
+          ...runtimeComposite.fields.a,
+          popularity: 3,
+          customLabel: 'custom name a',
+          format: {
+            id: 'bytes',
+          },
+        },
+        b: {
+          ...runtimeComposite.fields.b,
+          popularity: 4,
+          customLabel: 'custom name b',
+          format: {
+            id: 'bytes',
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
     beforeEach(() => {
       const formatter = {
         toJSON: () => ({ id: 'bytes' }),
       } as FieldFormat;
       indexPattern.getFormatterForField = () => formatter;
+      indexPattern.getFormatterForFieldNoDefault = () => undefined;
     });
 
     test('add and remove runtime field to existing field', () => {
-      indexPattern.addRuntimeField('@tags', runtime);
+      indexPattern.addRuntimeField('@tags', runtimeWithAttrs);
       expect(indexPattern.toSpec().runtimeFieldMap).toEqual({
         '@tags': runtime,
         runtime_field: runtimeField.runtimeField,
       });
-      expect(indexPattern.toSpec()!.fields!['@tags'].runtimeField).toEqual(runtime);
+      const field = indexPattern.toSpec()!.fields!['@tags'];
+      expect(field.runtimeField).toEqual(runtime);
+      expect(field.count).toEqual(5);
+      expect(field.format).toEqual({
+        id: 'bytes',
+      });
+      expect(field.customLabel).toEqual('custom name');
+      expect(indexPattern.toSpec().fieldAttrs).toEqual({
+        '@tags': {
+          customLabel: 'custom name',
+          count: 5,
+        },
+      });
 
       indexPattern.removeRuntimeField('@tags');
       expect(indexPattern.toSpec().runtimeFieldMap).toEqual({
@@ -246,11 +308,12 @@ describe('IndexPattern', () => {
     });
 
     test('add and remove runtime field as new field', () => {
-      indexPattern.addRuntimeField('new_field', runtime);
+      indexPattern.addRuntimeField('new_field', runtimeWithAttrs);
       expect(indexPattern.toSpec().runtimeFieldMap).toEqual({
         runtime_field: runtimeField.runtimeField,
         new_field: runtime,
       });
+      expect(indexPattern.getRuntimeField('new_field')).toMatchSnapshot();
       expect(indexPattern.toSpec()!.fields!.new_field.runtimeField).toEqual(runtime);
 
       indexPattern.removeRuntimeField('new_field');
@@ -260,6 +323,35 @@ describe('IndexPattern', () => {
       expect(indexPattern.toSpec()!.fields!.new_field).toBeUndefined();
     });
 
+    test('add and remove composite runtime field as new fields', () => {
+      const fieldCount = indexPattern.fields.length;
+      indexPattern.addRuntimeField('new_field', runtimeCompositeWithAttrs);
+      expect(indexPattern.toSpec().runtimeFieldMap).toEqual({
+        runtime_field: runtimeField.runtimeField,
+        new_field: runtimeComposite,
+      });
+      expect(indexPattern.fields.length - fieldCount).toEqual(2);
+      expect(indexPattern.getRuntimeField('new_field')).toMatchSnapshot();
+      expect(indexPattern.toSpec()!.fields!['new_field.a']).toBeDefined();
+      expect(indexPattern.toSpec()!.fields!['new_field.b']).toBeDefined();
+      expect(indexPattern.toSpec()!.fieldAttrs).toEqual({
+        'new_field.a': {
+          count: 3,
+          customLabel: 'custom name a',
+        },
+        'new_field.b': {
+          count: 4,
+          customLabel: 'custom name b',
+        },
+      });
+
+      indexPattern.removeRuntimeField('new_field');
+      expect(indexPattern.toSpec().runtimeFieldMap).toEqual({
+        runtime_field: runtimeField.runtimeField,
+      });
+      expect(indexPattern.toSpec()!.fields!.new_field).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
     test('should not allow runtime field with * in name', async () => {
       try {
         await indexPattern.addRuntimeField('test*123', runtime);
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_view.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_view.ts
index 67a127407f94a..5f3ee24109027 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_view.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_view.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import _, { each, reject } from 'lodash';
 import { castEsToKbnFieldTypeName, ES_FIELD_TYPES, KBN_FIELD_TYPES } from '@kbn/field-types';
 import type * as estypes from '@elastic/elasticsearch/lib/api/typesWithBodyKey';
 import { FieldAttrs, FieldAttrSet, DataViewAttributes } from '..';
-import type { RuntimeField } from '../types';
+import type { RuntimeField, RuntimeFieldSpec, RuntimeType, FieldConfiguration } from '../types';
 import { CharacterNotAllowedInField } from '../../../kibana_utils/common';
 
 import { IIndexPattern, IFieldType } from '../../common';
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
   SerializedFieldFormat,
 } from '../../../field_formats/common';
 import { DataViewSpec, TypeMeta, SourceFilter, DataViewFieldMap } from '../types';
+import { removeFieldAttrs } from './utils';
 
 interface DataViewDeps {
   spec?: DataViewSpec;
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ export class DataView implements IIndexPattern {
   private shortDotsEnable: boolean = false;
   private fieldFormats: FieldFormatsStartCommon;
   private fieldAttrs: FieldAttrs;
-  private runtimeFieldMap: Record<string, RuntimeField>;
+  private runtimeFieldMap: Record<string, RuntimeFieldSpec>;
 
   /**
    * prevents errors when index pattern exists before indices
@@ -184,11 +185,13 @@ export class DataView implements IIndexPattern {
       };
     });
 
+    const runtimeFields = this.getRuntimeMappings();
+
     return {
       storedFields: ['*'],
       scriptFields,
       docvalueFields,
-      runtimeFields: this.runtimeFieldMap,
+      runtimeFields,
     };
   }
 
@@ -316,31 +319,34 @@ export class DataView implements IIndexPattern {
 
   /**
    * Add a runtime field - Appended to existing mapped field or a new field is
-   * created as appropriate
+   * created as appropriate.
    * @param name Field name
    * @param runtimeField Runtime field definition
    */
-  addRuntimeField(name: string, runtimeField: RuntimeField) {
-    const existingField = this.getFieldByName(name);
-
+  addRuntimeField(name: string, runtimeField: RuntimeField): DataViewField[] {
     if (name.includes('*')) {
       throw new CharacterNotAllowedInField('*', name);
     }
 
-    if (existingField) {
-      existingField.runtimeField = runtimeField;
-    } else {
-      this.fields.add({
-        name,
-        runtimeField,
-        type: castEsToKbnFieldTypeName(runtimeField.type),
-        aggregatable: true,
-        searchable: true,
-        count: 0,
-        readFromDocValues: false,
-      });
+    const { type, script, customLabel, format, popularity } = runtimeField;
+
+    if (type === 'composite') {
+      return this.addCompositeRuntimeField(name, runtimeField);
     }
-    this.runtimeFieldMap[name] = runtimeField;
+
+    this.runtimeFieldMap[name] = removeFieldAttrs(runtimeField);
+    const field = this.updateOrAddRuntimeField(
+      name,
+      type,
+      { type, script },
+      {
+        customLabel,
+        format,
+        popularity,
+      }
+    );
+
+    return [field];
   }
 
   /**
@@ -356,7 +362,60 @@ export class DataView implements IIndexPattern {
    * @param name
    */
   getRuntimeField(name: string): RuntimeField | null {
-    return this.runtimeFieldMap[name] ?? null;
+    if (!this.runtimeFieldMap[name]) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const { type, script, fields } = { ...this.runtimeFieldMap[name] };
+    const runtimeField: RuntimeField = {
+      type,
+      script,
+    };
+
+    if (type === 'composite') {
+      runtimeField.fields = fields;
+    }
+
+    return runtimeField;
+  }
+
+  getAllRuntimeFields(): Record<string, RuntimeField> {
+    return Object.keys(this.runtimeFieldMap).reduce<Record<string, RuntimeField>>(
+      (acc, fieldName) => ({
+        ...acc,
+        [fieldName]: this.getRuntimeField(fieldName)!,
+      }),
+      {}
+    );
+  }
+
+  getFieldsByRuntimeFieldName(name: string): Record<string, DataViewField> | undefined {
+    const runtimeField = this.getRuntimeField(name);
+    if (!runtimeField) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (runtimeField.type === 'composite') {
+      return Object.entries(runtimeField.fields!).reduce<Record<string, DataViewField>>(
+        (acc, [subFieldName, subField]) => {
+          const fieldFullName = `${name}.${subFieldName}`;
+          const dataViewField = this.getFieldByName(fieldFullName);
+
+          if (!dataViewField) {
+            // We should never enter here as all composite runtime subfield
+            // are converted to data view fields.
+            return acc;
+          }
+          acc[subFieldName] = dataViewField;
+          return acc;
+        },
+        {}
+      );
+    }
+
+    const primitveRuntimeField = this.getFieldByName(name);
+
+    return primitveRuntimeField && { [name]: primitveRuntimeField };
   }
 
   /**
@@ -381,17 +440,26 @@ export class DataView implements IIndexPattern {
    */
   removeRuntimeField(name: string) {
     const existingField = this.getFieldByName(name);
-    if (existingField) {
-      if (existingField.isMapped) {
-        // mapped field, remove runtimeField def
-        existingField.runtimeField = undefined;
-      } else {
-        this.fields.remove(existingField);
-      }
+
+    if (existingField && existingField.isMapped) {
+      // mapped field, remove runtimeField def
+      existingField.runtimeField = undefined;
+    } else {
+      Object.values(this.getFieldsByRuntimeFieldName(name) || {}).forEach((field) => {
+        this.fields.remove(field);
+      });
     }
     delete this.runtimeFieldMap[name];
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Return the "runtime_mappings" section of the ES search query
+   */
+  getRuntimeMappings(): estypes.MappingRuntimeFields {
+    // @ts-expect-error The ES client does not yet include the "composite" runtime type
+    return _.cloneDeep(this.runtimeFieldMap);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get formatter for a given field name. Return undefined if none exists
    * @param field
@@ -432,9 +500,7 @@ export class DataView implements IIndexPattern {
     if (fieldObject) {
       if (!newCount) fieldObject.deleteCount();
       else fieldObject.count = newCount;
-      return;
     }
-
     this.setFieldAttrs(fieldName, 'count', newCount);
   }
 
@@ -445,6 +511,92 @@ export class DataView implements IIndexPattern {
   public readonly deleteFieldFormat = (fieldName: string) => {
     delete this.fieldFormatMap[fieldName];
   };
+
+  private addCompositeRuntimeField(name: string, runtimeField: RuntimeField): DataViewField[] {
+    const { fields } = runtimeField;
+
+    // Make sure subFields are provided
+    if (fields === undefined || Object.keys(fields).length === 0) {
+      throw new Error(`Can't add composite runtime field [name = ${name}] without subfields.`);
+    }
+
+    // Make sure no field with the same name already exist
+    if (this.getFieldByName(name) !== undefined) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Can't create composite runtime field ["${name}"] as there is already a field with this name`
+      );
+    }
+
+    // We first remove the runtime composite field with the same name which will remove all of its subFields.
+    // This guarantees that we don't leave behind orphan data view fields
+    this.removeRuntimeField(name);
+
+    const runtimeFieldSpec = removeFieldAttrs(runtimeField);
+
+    // We don't add composite runtime fields to the field list as
+    // they are not fields but **holder** of fields.
+    // What we do add to the field list are all their subFields.
+    const dataViewFields = Object.entries(fields).map(([subFieldName, subField]) =>
+      // Every child field gets the complete runtime field script for consumption by searchSource
+      this.updateOrAddRuntimeField(`${name}.${subFieldName}`, subField.type, runtimeFieldSpec, {
+        customLabel: subField.customLabel,
+        format: subField.format,
+        popularity: subField.popularity,
+      })
+    );
+
+    this.runtimeFieldMap[name] = removeFieldAttrs(runtimeField);
+    return dataViewFields;
+  }
+
+  private updateOrAddRuntimeField(
+    fieldName: string,
+    fieldType: RuntimeType,
+    runtimeFieldSpec: RuntimeFieldSpec,
+    config: FieldConfiguration
+  ): DataViewField {
+    if (fieldType === 'composite') {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Trying to add composite field as primmitive field, this shouldn't happen! [name = ${fieldName}]`
+      );
+    }
+
+    // Create the field if it does not exist or update an existing one
+    let createdField: DataViewField | undefined;
+    const existingField = this.getFieldByName(fieldName);
+
+    if (existingField) {
+      existingField.runtimeField = runtimeFieldSpec;
+    } else {
+      createdField = this.fields.add({
+        name: fieldName,
+        runtimeField: runtimeFieldSpec,
+        type: castEsToKbnFieldTypeName(fieldType),
+        esTypes: [fieldType],
+        aggregatable: true,
+        searchable: true,
+        count: config.popularity ?? 0,
+        readFromDocValues: false,
+      });
+    }
+
+    // Apply configuration to the field
+    if (config.customLabel || config.customLabel === null) {
+      this.setFieldCustomLabel(fieldName, config.customLabel);
+    }
+
+    if (config.popularity || config.popularity === null) {
+      this.setFieldCount(fieldName, config.popularity);
+    }
+
+    if (config.format) {
+      this.setFieldFormat(fieldName, config.format);
+    } else if (config.format === null) {
+      this.deleteFieldFormat(fieldName);
+    }
+
+    return createdField ?? existingField!;
+  }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_views.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_views.ts
index 8ce6b00d131bb..e93673bfa3ec5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_views.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/data_views.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import { castEsToKbnFieldTypeName } from '@kbn/field-types';
 import { DATA_VIEW_SAVED_OBJECT_TYPE, FLEET_ASSETS_TO_IGNORE, SavedObjectsClientCommon } from '..';
 
 import { createDataViewCache } from '.';
-import type { RuntimeField } from '../types';
+import type { RuntimeField, RuntimeFieldSpec, RuntimeType } from '../types';
 import { DataView } from './data_view';
 import { createEnsureDefaultDataView, EnsureDefaultDataView } from './ensure_default_data_view';
 import {
@@ -450,20 +450,36 @@ export class DataViewsService {
         spec.fieldAttrs
       );
 
+      const addRuntimeFieldToSpecFields = (
+        name: string,
+        fieldType: RuntimeType,
+        runtimeField: RuntimeFieldSpec
+      ) => {
+        spec.fields![name] = {
+          name,
+          type: castEsToKbnFieldTypeName(fieldType),
+          esTypes: [fieldType],
+          runtimeField,
+          aggregatable: true,
+          searchable: true,
+          readFromDocValues: false,
+          customLabel: spec.fieldAttrs?.[name]?.customLabel,
+          count: spec.fieldAttrs?.[name]?.count,
+        };
+      };
+
       // CREATE RUNTIME FIELDS
-      for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(runtimeFieldMap || {})) {
+      for (const [name, runtimeField] of Object.entries(runtimeFieldMap || {})) {
         // do not create runtime field if mapped field exists
-        if (!spec.fields[key]) {
-          spec.fields[key] = {
-            name: key,
-            type: castEsToKbnFieldTypeName(value.type),
-            runtimeField: value,
-            aggregatable: true,
-            searchable: true,
-            readFromDocValues: false,
-            customLabel: spec.fieldAttrs?.[key]?.customLabel,
-            count: spec.fieldAttrs?.[key]?.count,
-          };
+        if (!spec.fields[name]) {
+          // For composite runtime field we add the subFields, **not** the composite
+          if (runtimeField.type === 'composite') {
+            Object.entries(runtimeField.fields!).forEach(([subFieldName, subField]) => {
+              addRuntimeFieldToSpecFields(`${name}.${subFieldName}`, subField.type, runtimeField);
+            });
+          } else {
+            addRuntimeFieldToSpecFields(name, runtimeField.type, runtimeField);
+          }
         }
       }
     } catch (err) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/utils.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..31a6b573ff2b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/data_views/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import type { RuntimeField, RuntimeFieldSpec, RuntimeTypeExceptComposite } from '../types';
+
+export const removeFieldAttrs = (runtimeField: RuntimeField): RuntimeFieldSpec => {
+  const { type, script, fields } = runtimeField;
+  const fieldsTypeOnly = fields && {
+    fields: Object.entries(fields).reduce((col, [fieldName, field]) => {
+      col[fieldName] = { type: field.type };
+      return col;
+    }, {} as Record<string, { type: RuntimeTypeExceptComposite }>),
+  };
+
+  return {
+    type,
+    script,
+    ...fieldsTypeOnly,
+  };
+};
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/data_view_field.test.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/data_view_field.test.ts
index 9c611354683c2..72fbd96d40b65 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/data_view_field.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/data_view_field.test.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ describe('Field', function () {
     script: 'script',
     lang: 'java' as const,
     count: 1,
-    esTypes: ['text'], // note, this will get replaced by the runtime field type
+    esTypes: ['keyword'],
     aggregatable: true,
     filterable: true,
     searchable: true,
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/data_view_field.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/data_view_field.ts
index ca74f0c52d253..a10c4268888db 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/data_view_field.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/data_view_field.ts
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@
 
 /* eslint-disable max-classes-per-file */
 
-import { KbnFieldType, getKbnFieldType, castEsToKbnFieldTypeName } from '@kbn/field-types';
+import { KbnFieldType, getKbnFieldType } from '@kbn/field-types';
 import { KBN_FIELD_TYPES } from '@kbn/field-types';
-import type { RuntimeField } from '../types';
+import type { RuntimeFieldSpec } from '../types';
 import type { IFieldType } from './types';
 import { FieldSpec, DataView } from '..';
 import {
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export class DataViewField implements IFieldType {
     return this.spec.runtimeField;
   }
 
-  public set runtimeField(runtimeField: RuntimeField | undefined) {
+  public set runtimeField(runtimeField: RuntimeFieldSpec | undefined) {
     this.spec.runtimeField = runtimeField;
   }
 
@@ -108,13 +108,11 @@ export class DataViewField implements IFieldType {
   }
 
   public get type() {
-    return this.runtimeField?.type
-      ? castEsToKbnFieldTypeName(this.runtimeField?.type)
-      : this.spec.type;
+    return this.spec.type;
   }
 
   public get esTypes() {
-    return this.runtimeField?.type ? [this.runtimeField?.type] : this.spec.esTypes;
+    return this.spec.esTypes;
   }
 
   public get scripted() {
@@ -144,6 +142,10 @@ export class DataViewField implements IFieldType {
     return this.spec.isMapped;
   }
 
+  public get isRuntimeField() {
+    return !this.isMapped && this.runtimeField !== undefined;
+  }
+
   // not writable, not serialized
   public get sortable() {
     return (
@@ -228,6 +230,10 @@ export class DataViewField implements IFieldType {
       isMapped: this.isMapped,
     };
   }
+
+  public isRuntimeCompositeSubField() {
+    return this.runtimeField?.type === 'composite';
+  }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/field_list.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/field_list.ts
index e2c850c0c4dd0..c7ef23735d7bd 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/field_list.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/fields/field_list.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { DataView } from '../data_views';
 type FieldMap = Map<DataViewField['name'], DataViewField>;
 
 export interface IIndexPatternFieldList extends Array<DataViewField> {
-  add(field: FieldSpec): void;
+  add(field: FieldSpec): DataViewField;
   getAll(): DataViewField[];
   getByName(name: DataViewField['name']): DataViewField | undefined;
   getByType(type: DataViewField['type']): DataViewField[];
@@ -55,11 +55,12 @@ export const fieldList = (
     public readonly getByType = (type: DataViewField['type']) => [
       ...(this.groups.get(type) || new Map()).values(),
     ];
-    public readonly add = (field: FieldSpec) => {
+    public readonly add = (field: FieldSpec): DataViewField => {
       const newField = new DataViewField({ ...field, shortDotsEnable });
       this.push(newField);
       this.setByName(newField);
       this.setByGroup(newField);
+      return newField;
     };
 
     public readonly remove = (field: IFieldType) => {
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/index.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/index.ts
index ece482ff79eaa..ab60fbf34071a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/index.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/index.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ export type {
   FieldFormatMap,
   RuntimeType,
   RuntimeField,
+  RuntimeFieldSpec,
+  RuntimeFieldSubField,
   IIndexPattern,
   DataViewAttributes,
   IndexPatternAttributes,
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/common/types.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/common/types.ts
index f991b61bfad5f..cd0fad414813e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/common/types.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/common/types.ts
@@ -22,13 +22,49 @@ export type { QueryDslQueryContainer };
 export type FieldFormatMap = Record<string, SerializedFieldFormat>;
 
 export type RuntimeType = typeof RUNTIME_FIELD_TYPES[number];
-export interface RuntimeField {
+
+export type RuntimeTypeExceptComposite = Exclude<RuntimeType, 'composite'>;
+
+export interface RuntimeFieldBase {
   type: RuntimeType;
   script?: {
     source: string;
   };
 }
 
+/**
+ * The RuntimeField that will be sent in the ES Query "runtime_mappings" object
+ */
+export interface RuntimeFieldSpec extends RuntimeFieldBase {
+  fields?: Record<
+    string,
+    {
+      // It is not recursive, we can't create a composite inside a composite.
+      type: RuntimeTypeExceptComposite;
+    }
+  >;
+}
+
+export interface FieldConfiguration {
+  format?: SerializedFieldFormat | null;
+  customLabel?: string;
+  popularity?: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * This is the RuntimeField interface enhanced with Data view field
+ * configuration: field format definition, customLabel or popularity.
+ *
+ * @see {@link RuntimeField}
+ */
+export interface RuntimeField extends RuntimeFieldBase, FieldConfiguration {
+  fields?: Record<string, RuntimeFieldSubField>;
+}
+
+export interface RuntimeFieldSubField extends FieldConfiguration {
+  type: RuntimeTypeExceptComposite;
+}
+
 /**
  * @deprecated
  * IIndexPattern allows for an IndexPattern OR an index pattern saved object
@@ -216,7 +252,7 @@ export interface FieldSpec extends DataViewFieldBase {
   readFromDocValues?: boolean;
   indexed?: boolean;
   customLabel?: string;
-  runtimeField?: RuntimeField;
+  runtimeField?: RuntimeFieldSpec;
   // not persisted
   shortDotsEnable?: boolean;
   isMapped?: boolean;
@@ -244,7 +280,7 @@ export interface DataViewSpec {
   typeMeta?: TypeMeta;
   type?: string;
   fieldFormats?: Record<string, SerializedFieldFormat>;
-  runtimeFieldMap?: Record<string, RuntimeField>;
+  runtimeFieldMap?: Record<string, RuntimeFieldSpec>;
   fieldAttrs?: FieldAttrs;
   allowNoIndex?: boolean;
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/public/index.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/public/index.ts
index 11b3edaa09628..fb926fe5f6316 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/public/index.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/public/index.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export {
 } from '../common/lib';
 export { onRedirectNoIndexPattern } from './data_views';
 
-export type { IIndexPatternFieldList, TypeMeta } from '../common';
+export type { IIndexPatternFieldList, TypeMeta, RuntimeType } from '../common';
 export type { DataViewSpec } from '../common';
 export { IndexPatternField, DataViewField, DataViewType, META_FIELDS } from '../common';
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/create_data_view.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/create_data_view.ts
index 4b103ba87662c..00e6e94887f50 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/create_data_view.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/create_data_view.ts
@@ -10,11 +10,7 @@ import { UsageCounter } from 'src/plugins/usage_collection/server';
 import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
 import { DataViewSpec, DataViewsService } from 'src/plugins/data_views/common';
 import { handleErrors } from './util/handle_errors';
-import {
-  fieldSpecSchema,
-  runtimeFieldSpecSchema,
-  serializedFieldFormatSchema,
-} from './util/schemas';
+import { fieldSpecSchema, runtimeFieldSchema, serializedFieldFormatSchema } from './util/schemas';
 import { IRouter, StartServicesAccessor } from '../../../../core/server';
 import type { DataViewsServerPluginStartDependencies, DataViewsServerPluginStart } from '../types';
 import {
@@ -71,7 +67,7 @@ const dataViewSpecSchema = schema.object({
     )
   ),
   allowNoIndex: schema.maybe(schema.boolean()),
-  runtimeFieldMap: schema.maybe(schema.recordOf(schema.string(), runtimeFieldSpecSchema)),
+  runtimeFieldMap: schema.maybe(schema.recordOf(schema.string(), runtimeFieldSchema)),
 });
 
 const registerCreateDataViewRouteFactory =
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/fields/update_fields.test.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/fields/update_fields.test.ts
index caf673ebbf3d9..453d6c90e5cc6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/fields/update_fields.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/fields/update_fields.test.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ describe('create runtime field', () => {
           fields: {
             getByName: jest.fn().mockReturnValueOnce(undefined).mockReturnValueOnce({}),
           },
+          getFieldsByRuntimeFieldName: jest.fn().mockReturnValueOnce({}),
         } as unknown as DataView)
     );
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/create_runtime_field.test.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/create_runtime_field.test.ts
index 555cbaad32252..ac2e6bc54fe15 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/create_runtime_field.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/create_runtime_field.test.ts
@@ -20,8 +20,17 @@ describe('create runtime field', () => {
         ({
           addRuntimeField: jest.fn(),
           fields: {
-            getByName: jest.fn().mockReturnValueOnce(undefined).mockReturnValueOnce({}),
+            getByName: jest
+              .fn()
+              .mockReturnValueOnce(undefined)
+              .mockReturnValueOnce(undefined)
+              .mockReturnValueOnce({}),
           },
+          getRuntimeField: jest
+            .fn()
+            .mockReturnValueOnce(undefined)
+            .mockReturnValueOnce(undefined)
+            .mockReturnValueOnce({}),
         } as unknown as DataView)
     );
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/create_runtime_field.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/create_runtime_field.ts
index d8f20c9ea6daf..8753e58c8e240 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/create_runtime_field.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/create_runtime_field.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { UsageCounter } from 'src/plugins/usage_collection/server';
 import { DataViewsService, RuntimeField } from 'src/plugins/data_views/common';
 import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
 import { handleErrors } from '../util/handle_errors';
-import { runtimeFieldSpecSchema } from '../util/schemas';
+import { runtimeFieldSchema } from '../util/schemas';
 import { IRouter, StartServicesAccessor } from '../../../../../core/server';
 import type {
   DataViewsServerPluginStart,
@@ -45,18 +45,21 @@ export const createRuntimeField = async ({
   usageCollection?.incrementCounter({ counterName });
   const dataView = await dataViewsService.get(id);
 
-  if (dataView.fields.getByName(name)) {
+  if (dataView.fields.getByName(name) || dataView.getRuntimeField(name)) {
     throw new Error(`Field [name = ${name}] already exists.`);
   }
 
-  dataView.addRuntimeField(name, runtimeField);
+  const firstNameSegment = name.split('.')[0];
 
-  const field = dataView.fields.getByName(name);
-  if (!field) throw new Error(`Could not create a field [name = ${name}].`);
+  if (dataView.fields.getByName(firstNameSegment) || dataView.getRuntimeField(firstNameSegment)) {
+    throw new Error(`Field [name = ${firstNameSegment}] already exists.`);
+  }
+
+  const createdRuntimeFields = dataView.addRuntimeField(name, runtimeField);
 
   await dataViewsService.updateSavedObject(dataView);
 
-  return { dataView, field };
+  return { dataView, fields: createdRuntimeFields };
 };
 
 const runtimeCreateFieldRouteFactory =
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ const runtimeCreateFieldRouteFactory =
               minLength: 1,
               maxLength: 1_000,
             }),
-            runtimeField: runtimeFieldSpecSchema,
+            runtimeField: runtimeFieldSchema,
           }),
         },
       },
@@ -100,16 +103,16 @@ const runtimeCreateFieldRouteFactory =
         const id = req.params.id;
         const { name, runtimeField } = req.body;
 
-        const { dataView, field } = await createRuntimeField({
+        const { dataView, fields } = await createRuntimeField({
           dataViewsService,
           usageCollection,
           counterName: `${req.route.method} ${path}`,
           id,
           name,
-          runtimeField,
+          runtimeField: runtimeField as RuntimeField,
         });
 
-        return res.ok(responseFormatter({ serviceKey, dataView, field }));
+        return res.ok(responseFormatter({ serviceKey, dataView, fields }));
       })
     );
   };
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/delete_runtime_field.test.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/delete_runtime_field.test.ts
index 10fa4d63f3441..8262916e9ef4e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/delete_runtime_field.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/delete_runtime_field.test.ts
@@ -19,11 +19,7 @@ describe('delete runtime field', () => {
       async (id: string) =>
         ({
           removeRuntimeField: jest.fn(),
-          fields: {
-            getByName: jest.fn().mockReturnValueOnce({
-              runtimeField: {},
-            }),
-          },
+          getRuntimeField: jest.fn().mockReturnValueOnce({}),
         } as unknown as DataView)
     );
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/delete_runtime_field.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/delete_runtime_field.ts
index 706fe49582b5a..b846eb74771d9 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/delete_runtime_field.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/delete_runtime_field.ts
@@ -35,16 +35,12 @@ export const deleteRuntimeField = async ({
 }: DeleteRuntimeFieldArgs) => {
   usageCollection?.incrementCounter({ counterName });
   const dataView = await dataViewsService.get(id);
-  const field = dataView.fields.getByName(name);
+  const field = dataView.getRuntimeField(name);
 
   if (!field) {
     throw new ErrorIndexPatternFieldNotFound(id, name);
   }
 
-  if (!field.runtimeField) {
-    throw new Error('Only runtime fields can be deleted.');
-  }
-
   dataView.removeRuntimeField(name);
 
   await dataViewsService.updateSavedObject(dataView);
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/get_runtime_field.test.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/get_runtime_field.test.ts
index 4e75e7b0d6f2c..2552e88d5725a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/get_runtime_field.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/get_runtime_field.test.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ describe('get runtime field', () => {
               runtimeField: {},
             }),
           },
+          getRuntimeField: jest.fn().mockReturnValueOnce({}),
+          getFieldsByRuntimeFieldName: jest.fn().mockReturnValueOnce({}),
         } as unknown as DataView)
     );
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/get_runtime_field.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/get_runtime_field.ts
index bcb9e93152626..b8f87a21b819f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/get_runtime_field.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/get_runtime_field.ts
@@ -43,17 +43,13 @@ export const getRuntimeField = async ({
   usageCollection?.incrementCounter({ counterName });
   const dataView = await dataViewsService.get(id);
 
-  const field = dataView.fields.getByName(name);
+  const field = dataView.getRuntimeField(name);
 
   if (!field) {
     throw new ErrorIndexPatternFieldNotFound(id, name);
   }
 
-  if (!field.runtimeField) {
-    throw new Error('Only runtime fields can be retrieved.');
-  }
-
-  return { dataView, field };
+  return { dataView, fields: Object.values(dataView.getFieldsByRuntimeFieldName(name) || {}) };
 };
 
 const getRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
@@ -95,7 +91,7 @@ const getRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
         const id = req.params.id;
         const name = req.params.name;
 
-        const { dataView, field } = await getRuntimeField({
+        const { dataView, fields } = await getRuntimeField({
           dataViewsService,
           usageCollection,
           counterName: `${req.route.method} ${path}`,
@@ -103,7 +99,7 @@ const getRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
           name,
         });
 
-        return res.ok(responseFormatter({ serviceKey, dataView, field }));
+        return res.ok(responseFormatter({ serviceKey, dataView, fields: fields || [] }));
       })
     );
   };
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/put_runtime_field.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/put_runtime_field.ts
index cf6b05c378e14..a50fe84133159 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/put_runtime_field.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/put_runtime_field.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { UsageCounter } from 'src/plugins/usage_collection/server';
 import { DataViewsService, RuntimeField } from 'src/plugins/data_views/common';
 import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
 import { handleErrors } from '../util/handle_errors';
-import { runtimeFieldSpecSchema } from '../util/schemas';
+import { runtimeFieldSchema } from '../util/schemas';
 import { IRouter, StartServicesAccessor } from '../../../../../core/server';
 import type {
   DataViewsServerPluginStart,
@@ -55,14 +55,11 @@ export const putRuntimeField = async ({
     dataView.removeRuntimeField(name);
   }
 
-  dataView.addRuntimeField(name, runtimeField);
+  const fields = dataView.addRuntimeField(name, runtimeField);
 
   await dataViewsService.updateSavedObject(dataView);
 
-  const field = dataView.fields.getByName(name);
-  if (!field) throw new Error(`Could not create a field [name = ${name}].`);
-
-  return { dataView, field };
+  return { dataView, fields };
 };
 
 const putRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
@@ -90,7 +87,7 @@ const putRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
               minLength: 1,
               maxLength: 1_000,
             }),
-            runtimeField: runtimeFieldSpecSchema,
+            runtimeField: runtimeFieldSchema,
           }),
         },
       },
@@ -104,9 +101,12 @@ const putRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
           req
         );
         const id = req.params.id;
-        const { name, runtimeField } = req.body;
+        const { name, runtimeField } = req.body as {
+          name: string;
+          runtimeField: RuntimeField;
+        };
 
-        const { dataView, field } = await putRuntimeField({
+        const { dataView, fields } = await putRuntimeField({
           dataViewsService,
           id,
           name,
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ const putRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
           counterName: `${req.route.method} ${path}`,
         });
 
-        return res.ok(responseFormatter({ serviceKey, dataView, field }));
+        return res.ok(responseFormatter({ serviceKey, dataView, fields }));
       })
     );
   };
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/response_formatter.test.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/response_formatter.test.ts
index a2db82466868b..3152ac1be91c2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/response_formatter.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/response_formatter.test.ts
@@ -18,20 +18,22 @@ const dataView = {
   },
 } as DataView;
 
-const field = {
-  toSpec: () => {
-    return {
-      name: 'field',
-    };
+const fields = [
+  {
+    toSpec: () => {
+      return {
+        name: 'field',
+      };
+    },
   },
-} as DataViewField;
+] as DataViewField[];
 
 describe('responseFormatter', () => {
   it('returns correct format', () => {
     const response = responseFormatter({
       serviceKey: SERVICE_KEY,
       dataView,
-      field,
+      fields,
     });
     expect(response).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@ describe('responseFormatter', () => {
     const response = responseFormatter({
       serviceKey: SERVICE_KEY_LEGACY,
       dataView,
-      field,
+      fields,
     });
     expect(response).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/response_formatter.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/response_formatter.ts
index 77f431cef48f8..7764f5bf0974b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/response_formatter.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/response_formatter.ts
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@ import { SERVICE_KEY_LEGACY, SERVICE_KEY_TYPE, SERVICE_KEY } from '../../constan
 
 interface ResponseFormatterArgs {
   serviceKey: SERVICE_KEY_TYPE;
-  field: DataViewField;
+  fields: DataViewField[];
   dataView: DataView;
 }
 
-export const responseFormatter = ({ serviceKey, field, dataView }: ResponseFormatterArgs) => {
+export const responseFormatter = ({ serviceKey, fields, dataView }: ResponseFormatterArgs) => {
   const response = {
     body: {
-      fields: [field.toSpec()],
+      fields: fields.map((field) => field.toSpec()),
       [SERVICE_KEY]: dataView.toSpec(),
     },
   };
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const responseFormatter = ({ serviceKey, field, dataView }: ResponseForma
   const legacyResponse = {
     body: {
       [SERVICE_KEY_LEGACY]: dataView.toSpec(),
-      field: field.toSpec(),
+      field: fields[0].toSpec(),
     },
   };
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/update_runtime_field.test.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/update_runtime_field.test.ts
index e21c0775f79b2..f3ca214b41d0f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/update_runtime_field.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/update_runtime_field.test.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ describe('update runtime field', () => {
           addRuntimeField: jest.fn(),
           getRuntimeField: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({}),
           fields: {
-            getByName: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({
+            getByName: jest.fn().mockReturnValueOnce({
               runtimeField: {},
             }),
           },
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/update_runtime_field.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/update_runtime_field.ts
index d097408ec211d..27893ff1b7c05 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/update_runtime_field.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/runtime_fields/update_runtime_field.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
 import { DataViewsService, RuntimeField } from 'src/plugins/data_views/common';
 import { ErrorIndexPatternFieldNotFound } from '../../error';
 import { handleErrors } from '../util/handle_errors';
-import { runtimeFieldSpec, runtimeFieldSpecTypeSchema } from '../util/schemas';
+import { runtimeFieldSchema } from '../util/schemas';
 import { IRouter, StartServicesAccessor } from '../../../../../core/server';
 import type {
   DataViewsServerPluginStart,
@@ -52,16 +52,14 @@ export const updateRuntimeField = async ({
   }
 
   dataView.removeRuntimeField(name);
-  dataView.addRuntimeField(name, {
+  const fields = dataView.addRuntimeField(name, {
     ...existingRuntimeField,
     ...runtimeField,
   });
 
   await dataViewsService.updateSavedObject(dataView);
 
-  const field = dataView.fields.getByName(name);
-  if (!field) throw new Error(`Could not create a field [name = ${name}].`);
-  return { dataView, field };
+  return { dataView, fields };
 };
 
 const updateRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
@@ -90,12 +88,7 @@ const updateRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
           }),
           body: schema.object({
             name: schema.never(),
-            runtimeField: schema.object({
-              ...runtimeFieldSpec,
-              // We need to overwrite the below fields on top of `runtimeFieldSpec`,
-              // because some fields would be optional
-              type: schema.maybe(runtimeFieldSpecTypeSchema),
-            }),
+            runtimeField: runtimeFieldSchema,
           }),
         },
       },
@@ -112,7 +105,7 @@ const updateRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
         const name = req.params.name;
         const runtimeField = req.body.runtimeField as Partial<RuntimeField>;
 
-        const { dataView, field } = await updateRuntimeField({
+        const { dataView, fields } = await updateRuntimeField({
           dataViewsService,
           usageCollection,
           counterName: `${req.route.method} ${path}`,
@@ -121,7 +114,7 @@ const updateRuntimeFieldRouteFactory =
           runtimeField,
         });
 
-        return res.ok(responseFormatter({ serviceKey, dataView, field }));
+        return res.ok(responseFormatter({ serviceKey, dataView, fields }));
       })
     );
   };
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/update_data_view.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/update_data_view.ts
index ed3f75599b90a..e71ae8c8ec88e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/update_data_view.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/update_data_view.ts
@@ -10,11 +10,7 @@ import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
 import { DataViewSpec, DataViewsService } from 'src/plugins/data_views/common';
 import { UsageCounter } from 'src/plugins/usage_collection/server';
 import { handleErrors } from './util/handle_errors';
-import {
-  fieldSpecSchema,
-  runtimeFieldSpecSchema,
-  serializedFieldFormatSchema,
-} from './util/schemas';
+import { fieldSpecSchema, runtimeFieldSchema, serializedFieldFormatSchema } from './util/schemas';
 import { IRouter, StartServicesAccessor } from '../../../../core/server';
 import type { DataViewsServerPluginStartDependencies, DataViewsServerPluginStart } from '../types';
 import {
@@ -39,7 +35,7 @@ const indexPatternUpdateSchema = schema.object({
   fieldFormats: schema.maybe(schema.recordOf(schema.string(), serializedFieldFormatSchema)),
   fields: schema.maybe(schema.recordOf(schema.string(), fieldSpecSchema)),
   allowNoIndex: schema.maybe(schema.boolean()),
-  runtimeFieldMap: schema.maybe(schema.recordOf(schema.string(), runtimeFieldSpecSchema)),
+  runtimeFieldMap: schema.maybe(schema.recordOf(schema.string(), runtimeFieldSchema)),
 });
 
 interface UpdateDataViewArgs {
diff --git a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/util/schemas.ts b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/util/schemas.ts
index 79f493f303801..e31a4314c76f3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/util/schemas.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data_views/server/rest_api_routes/util/schemas.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import { schema, Type } from '@kbn/config-schema';
-import { RUNTIME_FIELD_TYPES, RuntimeType } from '../../../common';
+import { /* RUNTIME_FIELD_TYPES,*/ RuntimeType } from '../../../common';
 
 export const serializedFieldFormatSchema = schema.object({
   id: schema.maybe(schema.string()),
@@ -60,17 +60,63 @@ export const fieldSpecSchema = schema.object(fieldSpecSchemaFields, {
   unknowns: 'ignore',
 });
 
-export const runtimeFieldSpecTypeSchema = schema.oneOf(
-  RUNTIME_FIELD_TYPES.map((runtimeFieldType) => schema.literal(runtimeFieldType)) as [
+export const RUNTIME_FIELD_TYPES2 = [
+  'keyword',
+  'long',
+  'double',
+  'date',
+  'ip',
+  'boolean',
+  'geo_point',
+] as const;
+
+export const runtimeFieldNonCompositeFieldsSpecTypeSchema = schema.oneOf(
+  RUNTIME_FIELD_TYPES2.map((runtimeFieldType) => schema.literal(runtimeFieldType)) as [
     Type<RuntimeType>
   ]
 );
-export const runtimeFieldSpec = {
-  type: runtimeFieldSpecTypeSchema,
+
+export const primitiveRuntimeFieldSchema = schema.object({
+  type: runtimeFieldNonCompositeFieldsSpecTypeSchema,
   script: schema.maybe(
     schema.object({
       source: schema.string(),
     })
   ),
-};
-export const runtimeFieldSpecSchema = schema.object(runtimeFieldSpec);
+  format: schema.maybe(serializedFieldFormatSchema),
+  customLabel: schema.maybe(schema.string()),
+  popularity: schema.maybe(
+    schema.number({
+      min: 0,
+    })
+  ),
+});
+
+export const compositeRuntimeFieldSchema = schema.object({
+  type: schema.literal('composite') as Type<RuntimeType>,
+  script: schema.maybe(
+    schema.object({
+      source: schema.string(),
+    })
+  ),
+  fields: schema.maybe(
+    schema.recordOf(
+      schema.string(),
+      schema.object({
+        type: runtimeFieldNonCompositeFieldsSpecTypeSchema,
+        format: schema.maybe(serializedFieldFormatSchema),
+        customLabel: schema.maybe(schema.string()),
+        popularity: schema.maybe(
+          schema.number({
+            min: 0,
+          })
+        ),
+      })
+    )
+  ),
+});
+
+export const runtimeFieldSchema = schema.oneOf([
+  primitiveRuntimeFieldSchema,
+  compositeRuntimeFieldSchema,
+]);
diff --git a/src/plugins/vis_types/vega/public/data_model/search_api.test.ts b/src/plugins/vis_types/vega/public/data_model/search_api.test.ts
index 9ecc160246e28..979f7f05cdf1d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/vis_types/vega/public/data_model/search_api.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/vis_types/vega/public/data_model/search_api.test.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ const mockComputedFields = (
       getComputedFields: () => ({
         runtimeFields,
       }),
+      getRuntimeMappings: () => runtimeFields,
     },
   ]);
 };
diff --git a/src/plugins/vis_types/vega/public/data_model/search_api.ts b/src/plugins/vis_types/vega/public/data_model/search_api.ts
index 11302ad65d56b..6a7ee55b299d0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/vis_types/vega/public/data_model/search_api.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/vis_types/vega/public/data_model/search_api.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export const extendSearchParamsWithRuntimeFields = async (
       const indexPattern = (await indexPatterns.find(indexPatternString)).find(
         (index) => index.title === indexPatternString
       );
-      runtimeMappings = indexPattern?.getComputedFields().runtimeFields;
+      runtimeMappings = indexPattern?.getRuntimeMappings();
     }
 
     return {
diff --git a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/create_runtime_field/main.ts b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/create_runtime_field/main.ts
index bc0773df056ed..af1bdcf8b8aa2 100644
--- a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/create_runtime_field/main.ts
+++ b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/create_runtime_field/main.ts
@@ -92,8 +92,105 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
           expect(field.runtimeField.type).to.be('long');
           expect(field.runtimeField.script.source).to.be("emit(doc['field_name'].value)");
           expect(field.scripted).to.be(false);
+
+          const response3 = await supertest
+            .post(`${config.path}/${response1.body[config.serviceKey].id}/runtime_field`)
+            .send({
+              name: 'runtimeBar',
+              runtimeField: {
+                type: 'long',
+                script: {
+                  source: "emit(doc['field_name'].value)",
+                },
+              },
+            });
+
+          expect(response3.status).to.be(400);
+
           await supertest.delete(`${config.path}/${response1.body[config.serviceKey].id}`);
         });
+
+        it('prevents field name collisions', async () => {
+          const title = `basic*`;
+          const response1 = await supertest.post(config.path).send({
+            override: true,
+            [config.serviceKey]: {
+              title,
+            },
+          });
+
+          const response2 = await supertest
+            .post(`${config.path}/${response1.body[config.serviceKey].id}/runtime_field`)
+            .send({
+              name: 'runtimeBar',
+              runtimeField: {
+                type: 'long',
+                script: {
+                  source: "emit(doc['field_name'].value)",
+                },
+              },
+            });
+
+          expect(response2.status).to.be(200);
+
+          const response3 = await supertest
+            .post(`${config.path}/${response1.body[config.serviceKey].id}/runtime_field`)
+            .send({
+              name: 'runtimeBar',
+              runtimeField: {
+                type: 'long',
+                script: {
+                  source: "emit(doc['field_name'].value)",
+                },
+              },
+            });
+
+          expect(response3.status).to.be(400);
+
+          const response4 = await supertest
+            .post(`${config.path}/${response1.body[config.serviceKey].id}/runtime_field`)
+            .send({
+              name: 'runtimeComposite',
+              runtimeField: {
+                type: 'composite',
+                script: {
+                  source: 'emit("a","a"); emit("b","b")',
+                },
+                fields: {
+                  a: {
+                    type: 'keyword',
+                  },
+                  b: {
+                    type: 'keyword',
+                  },
+                },
+              },
+            });
+
+          expect(response4.status).to.be(200);
+
+          const response5 = await supertest
+            .post(`${config.path}/${response1.body[config.serviceKey].id}/runtime_field`)
+            .send({
+              name: 'runtimeComposite',
+              runtimeField: {
+                type: 'composite',
+                script: {
+                  source: 'emit("a","a"); emit("b","b")',
+                },
+                fields: {
+                  a: {
+                    type: 'keyword',
+                  },
+                  b: {
+                    type: 'keyword',
+                  },
+                },
+              },
+            });
+
+          expect(response5.status).to.be(400);
+        });
       });
     });
   });
diff --git a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/delete_runtime_field/errors.ts b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/delete_runtime_field/errors.ts
index 54c982ec7f325..22099425df394 100644
--- a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/delete_runtime_field/errors.ts
+++ b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/delete_runtime_field/errors.ts
@@ -59,16 +59,6 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
           expect(response1.status).to.be(404);
         });
 
-        it('returns error when attempting to delete a field which is not a runtime field', async () => {
-          const response2 = await supertest.delete(
-            `${config.path}/${indexPattern.id}/runtime_field/foo`
-          );
-
-          expect(response2.status).to.be(400);
-          expect(response2.body.statusCode).to.be(400);
-          expect(response2.body.message).to.be('Only runtime fields can be deleted.');
-        });
-
         it('returns error when ID is too long', async () => {
           const id = `xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx`;
           const response = await supertest.delete(`${config.path}/${id}/runtime_field/foo`);
diff --git a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/get_runtime_field/errors.ts b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/get_runtime_field/errors.ts
index b6bebb224b33f..f7a751387902c 100644
--- a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/get_runtime_field/errors.ts
+++ b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/get_runtime_field/errors.ts
@@ -68,16 +68,6 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
             '[request params.id]: value has length [1759] but it must have a maximum length of [1000].'
           );
         });
-
-        it('returns error when attempting to fetch a field which is not a runtime field', async () => {
-          const response2 = await supertest.get(
-            `${config.path}/${indexPattern.id}/runtime_field/foo`
-          );
-
-          expect(response2.status).to.be(400);
-          expect(response2.body.statusCode).to.be(400);
-          expect(response2.body.message).to.be('Only runtime fields can be retrieved.');
-        });
       });
     });
   });
diff --git a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/update_runtime_field/errors.ts b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/update_runtime_field/errors.ts
index 09e781d70bb8d..87687230897dc 100644
--- a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/update_runtime_field/errors.ts
+++ b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/update_runtime_field/errors.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
           const id = `xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx-${Date.now()}`;
           const response = await supertest.post(`${config.path}/${id}/runtime_field/foo`).send({
             runtimeField: {
+              type: 'keyword',
               script: {
                 source: "doc['something_new'].value",
               },
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
           const response = await supertest.post(`${config.path}/${id}/runtime_field/foo`).send({
             name: 'foo',
             runtimeField: {
+              type: 'keyword',
               script: {
                 source: "doc['something_new'].value",
               },
diff --git a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/update_runtime_field/main.ts b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/update_runtime_field/main.ts
index 83e1b4d5716ea..49388bb55166a 100644
--- a/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/update_runtime_field/main.ts
+++ b/test/api_integration/apis/index_patterns/runtime_fields_crud/update_runtime_field/main.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
             .post(`${config.path}/${response1.body[config.serviceKey].id}/runtime_field/runtimeFoo`)
             .send({
               runtimeField: {
+                type: 'keyword',
                 script: {
                   source: "doc['something_new'].value",
                 },
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/data_visualizer/public/application/index_data_visualizer/components/full_time_range_selector/full_time_range_selector_service.ts b/x-pack/plugins/data_visualizer/public/application/index_data_visualizer/components/full_time_range_selector/full_time_range_selector_service.ts
index 303d54c9d45cc..e7ad239e0c980 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/data_visualizer/public/application/index_data_visualizer/components/full_time_range_selector/full_time_range_selector_service.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/data_visualizer/public/application/index_data_visualizer/components/full_time_range_selector/full_time_range_selector_service.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
  */
 
 import moment from 'moment';
-import type * as estypes from '@elastic/elasticsearch/lib/api/typesWithBodyKey';
 import { TimefilterContract } from 'src/plugins/data/public';
 import dateMath from '@elastic/datemath';
 import { QueryDslQueryContainer } from '@elastic/elasticsearch/lib/api/types';
@@ -27,8 +26,7 @@ export async function setFullTimeRange(
   query?: QueryDslQueryContainer,
   excludeFrozenData?: boolean
 ): Promise<GetTimeFieldRangeResponse> {
-  const runtimeMappings = indexPattern.getComputedFields()
-    .runtimeFields as estypes.MappingRuntimeFields;
+  const runtimeMappings = indexPattern.getRuntimeMappings();
   const resp = await getTimeFieldRange({
     index: indexPattern.title,
     timeFieldName: indexPattern.timeFieldName,
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/data_visualizer/public/application/index_data_visualizer/hooks/use_data_visualizer_grid_data.ts b/x-pack/plugins/data_visualizer/public/application/index_data_visualizer/hooks/use_data_visualizer_grid_data.ts
index a6176b8e3c1ce..c4e9e898454d5 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/data_visualizer/public/application/index_data_visualizer/hooks/use_data_visualizer_grid_data.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/data_visualizer/public/application/index_data_visualizer/hooks/use_data_visualizer_grid_data.ts
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ export const useDataVisualizerGridData = (
         sessionId: searchSessionId,
         index: currentIndexPattern.title,
         timeFieldName: currentIndexPattern.timeFieldName,
-        runtimeFieldMap: currentIndexPattern.getComputedFields().runtimeFields,
+        runtimeFieldMap: currentIndexPattern.getRuntimeMappings(),
         aggregatableFields,
         nonAggregatableFields,
         fieldsToFetch,
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/infra/common/dependency_mocks/index_patterns.ts b/x-pack/plugins/infra/common/dependency_mocks/index_patterns.ts
index 03d3ec757bf55..46f961d6de472 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/infra/common/dependency_mocks/index_patterns.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/infra/common/dependency_mocks/index_patterns.ts
@@ -5,15 +5,17 @@
  * 2.0.
  */
 
+import type * as estypes from '@elastic/elasticsearch/lib/api/typesWithBodyKey';
 import { from, of } from 'rxjs';
 import { delay } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { DataView, DataViewsContract } from '../../../../../src/plugins/data_views/common';
-import { fieldList, FieldSpec, RuntimeField } from '../../../../../src/plugins/data/common';
+import { fieldList, FieldSpec } from '../../../../../src/plugins/data/common';
 
 type IndexPatternMock = Pick<
   DataView,
   | 'fields'
   | 'getComputedFields'
+  | 'getRuntimeMappings'
   | 'getFieldByName'
   | 'getTimeField'
   | 'id'
@@ -23,6 +25,7 @@ type IndexPatternMock = Pick<
 >;
 type IndexPatternMockSpec = Pick<DataView, 'id' | 'title' | 'type' | 'timeFieldName'> & {
   fields: FieldSpec[];
+  runtimeFields?: estypes.MappingRuntimeFields;
 };
 
 export const createIndexPatternMock = ({
@@ -30,6 +33,7 @@ export const createIndexPatternMock = ({
   title,
   type = undefined,
   fields,
+  runtimeFields,
   timeFieldName,
 }: IndexPatternMockSpec): IndexPatternMock => {
   const indexPatternFieldList = fieldList(fields);
@@ -43,21 +47,12 @@ export const createIndexPatternMock = ({
     isTimeBased: () => timeFieldName != null,
     getFieldByName: (fieldName) => indexPatternFieldList.find(({ name }) => name === fieldName),
     getComputedFields: () => ({
-      runtimeFields: indexPatternFieldList.reduce<Record<string, RuntimeField>>(
-        (accumulatedFields, { name, runtimeField }) => ({
-          ...accumulatedFields,
-          ...(runtimeField != null
-            ? {
-                [name]: runtimeField,
-              }
-            : {}),
-        }),
-        {}
-      ),
+      runtimeFields: runtimeFields ?? {},
       scriptFields: {},
       storedFields: [],
       docvalueFields: [],
     }),
+    getRuntimeMappings: () => runtimeFields ?? {},
   };
 };
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/infra/common/log_sources/resolved_log_source_configuration.ts b/x-pack/plugins/infra/common/log_sources/resolved_log_source_configuration.ts
index 70f8e1cebabfe..914c55824373a 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/infra/common/log_sources/resolved_log_source_configuration.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/infra/common/log_sources/resolved_log_source_configuration.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
 import type * as estypes from '@elastic/elasticsearch/lib/api/typesWithBodyKey';
 import { DataView, DataViewsContract } from '../../../../../src/plugins/data_views/common';
-import { ObjectEntries } from '../utility_types';
 import { TIMESTAMP_FIELD, TIEBREAKER_FIELD } from '../constants';
 import { ResolveLogSourceConfigurationError } from './errors';
 import {
@@ -106,27 +105,5 @@ const resolveKibanaIndexPatternReference = async (
 
 // this might take other sources of runtime fields into account in the future
 const resolveRuntimeMappings = (indexPattern: DataView): estypes.MappingRuntimeFields => {
-  const { runtimeFields } = indexPattern.getComputedFields();
-
-  const runtimeMappingsFromIndexPattern = (
-    Object.entries(runtimeFields) as ObjectEntries<typeof runtimeFields>
-  ).reduce<estypes.MappingRuntimeFields>(
-    (accumulatedMappings, [runtimeFieldName, runtimeFieldSpec]) => ({
-      ...accumulatedMappings,
-      [runtimeFieldName]: {
-        type: runtimeFieldSpec.type,
-        ...(runtimeFieldSpec.script != null
-          ? {
-              script: {
-                lang: 'painless', // required in the es types
-                source: runtimeFieldSpec.script.source,
-              },
-            }
-          : {}),
-      },
-    }),
-    {}
-  );
-
-  return runtimeMappingsFromIndexPattern;
+  return indexPattern.getRuntimeMappings();
 };
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/infra/server/services/log_entries/log_entries_search_strategy.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/infra/server/services/log_entries/log_entries_search_strategy.test.ts
index 73f832e834c61..cfa9e84fb3651 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/infra/server/services/log_entries/log_entries_search_strategy.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/infra/server/services/log_entries/log_entries_search_strategy.test.ts
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ describe('LogEntries search strategy', () => {
               runtime_field: {
                 type: 'keyword',
                 script: {
-                  lang: 'painless',
                   source: 'emit("runtime value")',
                 },
               },
@@ -359,6 +358,14 @@ const createDataPluginMock = (esSearchStrategyMock: ISearchStrategy): any => ({
           searchable: true,
         },
       ],
+      runtimeFields: {
+        runtime_field: {
+          type: 'keyword',
+          script: {
+            source: 'emit("runtime value")',
+          },
+        },
+      },
     }),
   ]),
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/infra/server/services/log_entries/log_entry_search_strategy.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/infra/server/services/log_entries/log_entry_search_strategy.test.ts
index 20f3e41cef159..c2f3c70580040 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/infra/server/services/log_entries/log_entry_search_strategy.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/infra/server/services/log_entries/log_entry_search_strategy.test.ts
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ describe('LogEntry search strategy', () => {
               runtime_field: {
                 type: 'keyword',
                 script: {
-                  lang: 'painless',
                   source: 'emit("runtime value")',
                 },
               },
@@ -314,6 +313,14 @@ const createDataPluginMock = (esSearchStrategyMock: ISearchStrategy): any => ({
           searchable: true,
         },
       ],
+      runtimeFields: {
+        runtime_field: {
+          type: 'keyword',
+          script: {
+            source: 'emit("runtime value")',
+          },
+        },
+      },
     }),
   ]),
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/server/routes/existing_fields.ts b/x-pack/plugins/lens/server/routes/existing_fields.ts
index c5f7cfab9c245..bb235774da3bf 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/server/routes/existing_fields.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/server/routes/existing_fields.ts
@@ -173,6 +173,8 @@ async function legacyFetchFieldExistenceSampling({
   const indexPattern = await dataViewsService.get(indexPatternId);
 
   const fields = buildFieldList(indexPattern, metaFields);
+  const runtimeMappings = indexPattern.getRuntimeMappings();
+
   const docs = await fetchIndexPatternStats({
     fromDate,
     toDate,
@@ -181,6 +183,7 @@ async function legacyFetchFieldExistenceSampling({
     index: indexPattern.title,
     timeFieldName: timeFieldName || indexPattern.timeFieldName,
     fields,
+    runtimeMappings,
     includeFrozen,
   });
 
@@ -216,6 +219,7 @@ async function fetchIndexPatternStats({
   fromDate,
   toDate,
   fields,
+  runtimeMappings,
   includeFrozen,
 }: {
   client: ElasticsearchClient;
@@ -225,12 +229,12 @@ async function fetchIndexPatternStats({
   fromDate?: string;
   toDate?: string;
   fields: Field[];
+  runtimeMappings: estypes.MappingRuntimeFields;
   includeFrozen: boolean;
 }) {
   const query = toQuery(timeFieldName, fromDate, toDate, dslQuery);
 
   const scriptedFields = fields.filter((f) => f.isScript);
-  const runtimeFields = fields.filter((f) => f.runtimeField);
   const result = await client.search(
     {
       index,
@@ -242,11 +246,7 @@ async function fetchIndexPatternStats({
         sort: timeFieldName && fromDate && toDate ? [{ [timeFieldName]: 'desc' }] : [],
         fields: ['*'],
         _source: false,
-        runtime_mappings: runtimeFields.reduce((acc, field) => {
-          if (!field.runtimeField) return acc;
-          acc[field.name] = field.runtimeField;
-          return acc;
-        }, {} as Record<string, estypes.MappingRuntimeField>),
+        runtime_mappings: runtimeMappings,
         script_fields: scriptedFields.reduce((acc, field) => {
           acc[field.name] = {
             script: {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/server/routes/field_stats.ts b/x-pack/plugins/lens/server/routes/field_stats.ts
index 6c1a93759030a..127d798cb76c2 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/server/routes/field_stats.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/server/routes/field_stats.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ export async function initFieldsRoute(setup: CoreSetup<PluginStartContract>) {
           .filter((f) => f.runtimeField)
           .reduce((acc, f) => {
             if (!f.runtimeField) return acc;
+            // @ts-expect-error The MappingRuntimeField from @elastic/elasticsearch does not expose the "composite" runtime type yet
             acc[f.name] = f.runtimeField;
             return acc;
           }, {} as Record<string, estypes.MappingRuntimeField>);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_index_data.ts b/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_index_data.ts
index 7a07a3b0ae6ab..1d73413b3e386 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_index_data.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_index_data.ts
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ export const useIndexData = (
     if (combinedRuntimeMappings !== undefined) {
       result = Object.keys(combinedRuntimeMappings).map((fieldName) => {
         const field = combinedRuntimeMappings[fieldName];
+        // @ts-expect-error @elastic/elasticsearch does not support yet "composite" type for runtime fields
         const schema = getDataGridSchemaFromESFieldType(field.type);
         return { id: fieldName, schema };
       });