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Data Views Overview

Data Views are the primary interactive data exploration tool in Datafi. They give you a single workspace where you can browse schemas, preview live data, write queries, apply filters, and share results with colleagues -- all without moving data out of its source.

Quick Start

Open any datasource from the Data Catalog and select Open in Data View to launch the exploration workspace instantly.

What Are Data Views?​

A Data View is a live, read-only window into one or more connected datasources. Unlike static exports or cached snapshots, every Data View queries the underlying source in real time, so you always see the latest data that your policies allow.

Each Data View provides four core areas:

AreaPurpose
Schema PanelBrowse datasources, schemas, tables, and columns in a collapsible left panel.
Data GridView tabular results with sortable columns and inline filters.
Query PanelWrite and execute PRQL or DQL queries against your connected sources.
ToolbarToggle layout options, export data, and share the view with other users.

When to Use Data Views​

Data Views are designed for a wide range of exploration and analysis tasks:

  • Ad-hoc investigation -- Quickly preview tables and columns to understand what data is available before writing a formal query.
  • Interactive querying -- Run PRQL or DQL statements and iterate on results in real time.
  • Data validation -- Spot-check row counts, null values, and distributions after a pipeline run or source refresh.
  • Cross-source exploration -- Browse schemas from different connectors side by side in the schema panel.
  • Collaboration -- Share a Data View with a teammate so they can see the same query and results you are working with.
  • Quick exports -- Pull a filtered result set into CSV for downstream use in spreadsheets or BI tools.

Key Capabilities​

Schema Browsing​

The left panel displays every datasource you have access to. You can search for a specific datasource, expand schemas, and inspect individual tables and columns. This lets you explore your data landscape without writing a single query. See Schema Preview for details.

Live Data Preview​

Select any table and click the Preview button to display the first 100 rows in the data grid. The preview loads directly from the source, giving you an immediate look at real data.

PRQL and DQL Querying​

The query panel at the bottom of the workspace accepts both PRQL (Pipelined Relational Query Language) and DQL (Datafi Query Language, a SQL-compatible syntax). You can write, edit, and run queries against any connected datasource. See Querying Data for a full walkthrough.

Filtering, Sorting, and Exporting​

Click any column header to sort ascending or descending. Use the filter icon to open the table filter panel for more advanced row filtering. When your result set looks right, export it to CSV with a single click. See Filtering and Exporting for more.

Sharing​

Share a Data View with any user in your workspace by entering their email address. Shared views respect all existing policies, so recipients only see the data they are authorized to access.

How Data Views Fit into the Platform​

Data Views sit at the intersection of the Data Catalog, Query Engine, and Policies & Governance layers:

  1. The Data Catalog supplies the schema metadata that populates the left panel.
  2. The Query Engine compiles your PRQL or DQL into database-specific SQL and executes it against the source.
  3. Policies enforce row-level, column-level, and object-level access controls on every query, ensuring that the data grid only displays what you are permitted to see.

This architecture means you can explore freely without worrying about accidentally exposing restricted data -- governance is applied automatically on every request.

Next Steps​

Looking for Query Syntax?

For detailed syntax guides and examples, visit the Query Reference section.