extension

Back to DuckDB Data Engineering Glossary

An extension in DuckDB is a modular component that adds functionality to the core database system. These extensions allow users to incorporate additional features, data types, or integrations without modifying the main codebase. DuckDB's extension system enables users to load specialized capabilities on-demand, such as support for geospatial data, full-text search, or connectivity to external data sources. Extensions can be installed and loaded using SQL commands, making it easy for data analysts and engineers to enhance their DuckDB environment as needed. For example, to install and load the JSON extension, you would use:

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INSTALL json;
LOAD json;

Once loaded, extensions provide new functions, data types, or table-like structures that can be used in SQL queries, expanding the analytical capabilities of DuckDB for specific use cases or data formats.