diff --git a/src/ActiveRecordInterface.php b/src/ActiveRecordInterface.php
index a54f65ef8..6ae6d0bfc 100644
--- a/src/ActiveRecordInterface.php
+++ b/src/ActiveRecordInterface.php
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 use Yiisoft\Db\Exception\InvalidConfigException;
 use Yiisoft\Db\Exception\NotSupportedException;
 use Yiisoft\Db\Exception\StaleObjectException;
+use Yiisoft\Db\Schema\SchemaInterface;
 
 interface ActiveRecordInterface
 {
@@ -25,6 +26,12 @@ interface ActiveRecordInterface
      */
     public function attributes(): array;
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the abstract type of the column. See {@see SchemaInterface} constants started with prefix `TYPE_` for
+     * possible abstract types.
+     */
+    public function columnType(string $columnName): string;
+
     /**
      * Returns the database connection used by the Active Record instance.
      */