---
title: Introduction to MD_INFORMATION_SCHEMA
description: Introduction to MD_INFORMATION_SCHEMA
---

# Introduction to MD_INFORMATION_SCHEMA

The MotherDuck `MD_INFORMATION_SCHEMA` views are read-only, system-defined views that provide metadata information
about your MotherDuck objects.
The following table lists all `MD_INFORMATION_SCHEMA` views that you can query to retrieve metadata information:

| Resource Type   | MD_INFORMATION_SCHEMA View       |
|-----------------|----------------------------------|
| Database        | [DATABASES](databases.md)                        |
| Database Size   | [PRAGMA database_size](database_size.md)                        |
| Database Shares | [OWNED_SHARES](owned_shares.md)<br/> [SHARED_WITH_ME](shared_with_me.md)<br/> |
| Database Snapshots | [DATABASE_SNAPSHOTS](database_snapshots.md)                        |
| Storage         | [STORAGE_INFO](storage_info.md) _includes history_                       |
| Queries         | [RECENT_QUERIES](recent_queries.md)                        |
| Queries         | [QUERY_HISTORY](query_history.md)                        |

## Example usage

```sql
-- list all databases you created
from md_information_schema.databases;
-- list all shares you created
from md_information_schema.owned_shares;
-- select specific columns
select name, url, access, visibility from md_information_schema.owned_shares;
-- set md_information_schema as the current database
use md_information_schema;
-- list all the views in md_information_schema
show tables;
```