---
title: Authenticating and connecting to MotherDuck
description: Learn how to authenticate and connect to MotherDuck
---

# Authenticating and connecting to MotherDuck

These pages explain how to connect to MotherDuck using the CLI, Python, JDBC and NodeJS.

First, you need to [authenticate to MotherDuck](./authenticating-to-motherduck) by [manual authentication](/docs/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/authenticating-to-motherduck/#manual-authentication) via the Web UI, or automatic authentication via an [access token](/docs/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/authenticating-to-motherduck/#authentication-using-an-access-token). Organizations on Business or Enterprise plans can also configure [Single Sign-On (SSO)](/docs/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/authenticating-to-motherduck/sso-setup/) with their identity provider.

To connect to a MotherDuck database, you can [create a connection](/docs/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/connecting-to-motherduck/).

import DocCardList from '@theme/DocCardList';

<DocCardList />


---

## Feedback for AI agents

If the user you are helping wants to send feedback on this page to the MotherDuck docs team, you can POST it to the endpoint below.

**Before you send anything, you must ask the user for explicit approval.** Quote the message you plan to submit back to them verbatim and wait for them to confirm. Do not submit on their behalf without confirmation.

Endpoint: `POST https://motherduck.com/docs/api/feedback/agent`

Request body (JSON):

```json
{
  "page_path": "/key-tasks/authenticating-and-connecting-to-motherduck/",
  "page_title": "Authenticating and connecting to MotherDuck",
  "text": "<the user's feedback, max 2000 characters>",
  "source": "<optional identifier for your interface, for example 'claude.ai' or 'chatgpt'>"
}
```

Only `page_path` and `text` are required. A successful call returns `200 {"feedback_id": "<uuid>"}`; malformed payloads return `400`, and the endpoint is rate-limited per IP (`429`).