---
title: "MotherDuck: DuckLake"
description: "A modern open table format that stores metadata in a database—not thousands of files. Petabyte scale and 100x faster metadata operations, driven by SQL and managed on MotherDuck."
canonical: "https://motherduck.com/product/ducklake/"
---

Managed DuckLakePublic Preview

# The Fastest, Simplest Lakehouse

The Fastest,

A modern open table format that stores metadata in a database—not thousands of files. Petabyte scale and 100x faster metadata operations, driven by SQL and managed on MotherDuck.

[Get started free](https://auth.motherduck.com/authorize?app_source=web&response_type=code&client_id=bza3KWQpxRAFlTlRFXUo29AOg9xD7zcp&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.motherduck.com%2F&state=STATE&auth_flow=signup&screen_hint=signup&ext-ph_distinct_id=9a580c25-83cb-451b-b55a-94955134c213)
[View documentation](/docs/integrations/file-formats/ducklake/)

## A petabyte-scale LAKEHOUSE in 4 lines

Spin up a fully managed lakehouse with MotherDuck handling both metadata and storage, or bring your own cloud object storage.

SQL

Copy code

```
--Create a managed Ducklake and bring your own bucket
CREATE DATABASE my_ducklake (
TYPE DUCKLAKE,
DATA_PATH 's3://mybucket/my_optional_path/'
);
```

## A radically simpler architecture

DuckLake collapses the metadata layer to a single database, avoiding the many-small-files problem that slows down other formats.

Iceberg

Iceberg architecture diagram

DuckLake

DuckLake architecture diagram

## DuckLake - The definitive Guide

A guide to the open table format that replaces file-based metadata with SQL databases for a faster, easier lakehouse. Free early access for data engineers and platform teams.

Subscribe to MotherDuck news

SUBMIT

## Built for AI-powered analytics

MotherDuck's MCP server turns your AI assistant into a powerful analytics partner. Ask questions in plain English and get instant, verifiable answers from your data.

SQL-First

### No manifest files, no separate catalog server, just SQL

Traditional lakehouse formats store metadata in thousands of small files on blob storage. Management means complex, error-prone scripting, and an additional catalog server to keep it all organized. DuckLake is just SQL–ACID transactions, snapshotting, and much more.

[DuckLake vs. Other Formats](/docs/concepts/ducklake/#ducklake-vs-other-lake-formats)

DuckLake replaces thousands of manifest files and a separate catalog server with a single SQL database

Absurdly Fast

### Blazing-fast metadata operations

Finding the right files for a query becomes a quick, indexed SQL lookup instead of traversing file hierarchies on S3. Schema changes, partition pruning, and query planning all benefit from database-native performance.

[Learn more](/docs/concepts/ducklake/)

Indexed SQL metadata lookups replace slow file-hierarchy traversal on S3 for blazing-fast operations

Automatic Management

### Maintenance made simple

With file-based formats, small updates create forests of tiny files that require constant compaction. DuckLake optionally inlines small changes directly into the metadata catalog—no new Parquet files for every micro-batch. MotherDuck handles performance tuning automatically.

[DuckLake Integration Guide](/docs/integrations/file-formats/ducklake/#data-inlining)

MotherDuck automatically handles performance tuning for DuckLake

Simple Management

### Just another database

DuckLakes in MotherDuck are managed like any other database. Connect with any DuckDB client to manage your DuckLake, then share with other users in your organization.

[Learn more](/docs/integrations/file-formats/ducklake/)

A DuckLake is managed like any other database and shared with your organization from any DuckDB client

## Time travel is just SQL

Query your data as it existed at any point in time. No special tooling, no separate snapshots to manage—just add a timestamp or version number.

SQL

Copy code

```
-- Query the table as it was one week ago
SELECT * FROM customers
AT (TIMESTAMP => now() - INTERVAL '1 week');

-- Or query a specific snapshot version
SELECT * FROM customers AT (VERSION => 42);

-- See all available snapshots
SELECT * FROM snapshots();
```

## DuckLake Resources

[VISIT BLOG](/blog/)

## Ready to simplify your lakehouse?

DuckLake is available now in MotherDuck. Start with a fully managed lakehouse in one command, or bring your own storage while MotherDuck handles the rest.

[Try MotherDuck Free](https://auth.motherduck.com/authorize?app_source=web&response_type=code&client_id=bza3KWQpxRAFlTlRFXUo29AOg9xD7zcp&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.motherduck.com%2F&state=STATE&auth_flow=signup&screen_hint=signup&ext-ph_distinct_id=9a580c25-83cb-451b-b55a-94955134c213)
[READ THE DUCKLAKE GUIDE](/docs/integrations/file-formats/ducklake/)