MotherDuck SQL

MotherDuck extends DuckDB with cloud-native SQL capabilities for managing databases, shares, secrets, and connections. These statements let you work with MotherDuck's serverless infrastructure directly from SQL.

Key capabilities:

• Database management: Create, copy, attach, and drop cloud databases
• Data sharing: Share data with other users and organizations
• Secrets management: Store and manage credentials securely
• AI functions: Generate embeddings, run prompts, and get SQL assistance
• Dives: Create and manage interactive data visualizations

For standard SQL operations, see the DuckDB Syntax reference.

AI

4 items

ALTER DATABASE SET SNAPSHOT

Restore a database from a snapshot using ALTER DATABASE SET SNAPSHOT TO.

ALTER DATABASE

Update storage-related settings on a MotherDuck database.

ALTER SNAPSHOT

Rename or remove names from database snapshots using ALTER SNAPSHOT.

ATTACH

Attach local databases, MotherDuck databases, or public shares to your session

COPY FROM DATABASE (OVERWRITE)

Overwrite a database with a zero-copy clone from another database.

COPY FROM DATABASE

Copy a database from one location to another in MotherDuck

CREATE DATABASE

Create a database, zero-copy clone from an existing database, or import a local DuckDB file into MotherDuck.

CREATE SECRET

Create a secret in MotherDuck

CREATE SHARE

Create a share from a database to share data with other users

CREATE SNAPSHOT

Create a snapshot of a MotherDuck database for recovery or read scaling.

DROP SECRET

Delete a secret from MotherDuck or local storage.

DESCRIBE SHARE

Get details about a specific share by name or URL.

DETACH

Detach local, remote, or shared databases from your session

DROP DATABASE

Remove a database from MotherDuck.

DROP SHARE

Delete a share and revoke access for all attached users.

EXPLAIN ANALYZE

Execute a query and display performance metrics for each operator.

EXPLAIN

Display the physical query plan without executing the query.

GRANT READ ON SHARE

Give users access to a restricted share.

LIST SECRETS

List all secrets stored in memory and MotherDuck.

LIST SHARES

List all shares created by the current user.

MD_RUN parameter

Control whether table functions run locally or remotely.

PRINT_MD_TOKEN pragma

Retrieve your MotherDuck authentication token.

REFRESH DATABASE

Sync databases with the latest snapshot or share updates.

REVOKE READ ON SHARE

Remove user access from a restricted share.

SHOW ALL DATABASES

List all MotherDuck, DuckDB, and shared databases.

TEMPORARY TABLES

Create local temporary tables for session-scoped data.

UNDROP DATABASE

Restore a dropped MotherDuck database within its snapshot retention window.

UPDATE SHARE

Manually update a share with a new database snapshot.

Server Connection Management

3 items

MD_INFORMATION_SCHEMA

8 items