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Databases·

Browse your database from the panel

Scales-to-zero databases now have a Data tab for reading tables, paging through rows, and running read-only SQL — no database client required.

A scales-to-zero database's page is now split into two tabs. Overview is everything that was there before — plan, connection details, usage and settings. Data is new, and it is for actually looking at what is in the database.

Two ways to look

  • Tables lists every table and view your database user can read. Pick one to page through its rows, and click a column heading to sort by it. No SQL involved anywhere in this view.
  • SQL query gives you a box for a single SELECT, WITH or EXPLAIN. Ctrl / Cmd + Enter runs it.

It only reads

Nothing in this tab can change your data. Statements that would write or alter structure are refused, and every query runs inside a read-only transaction, so the database itself rejects a write even if one were somehow smuggled past. To make changes, connect with your database credentials as before.

Two limits keep panel queries from disturbing the application sharing the database: a query is stopped if it runs longer than a few seconds, and only the first rows of a large result come back. A WHERE clause and a LIMIT keep you inside both.

Enabling it on an existing database

The tab needs a stored credential, and databases created before today have a password only you hold — it is shown once and never recoverable. Those show the tab as unavailable with a button to rotate the password, which enables browsing from then on. Rotating invalidates the old password immediately, so update anything already connected before you do it.

Waking a sleeping database to browse it uses compute from your plan's allowance, the same as any other query.

See the Databases guide for the details.