> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tablepro.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CockroachDB

> Connect to CockroachDB clusters over the PostgreSQL wire protocol, including CockroachDB Cloud with cluster routing

# CockroachDB Connections

TablePro connects to CockroachDB, a distributed SQL database that is wire-compatible with PostgreSQL. Connections use the same libpq driver as PostgreSQL. Schema introspection reads `information_schema` and `pg_catalog`, and uses CockroachDB's native `SHOW CREATE` statements for table and view DDL.

## Quick Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Connection">
    Click **New Connection**, select **CockroachDB**, enter host, port, credentials, and database, then click **Create**
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connection Settings

| Field        | Default     | Notes                                          |
| ------------ | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Host**     | -           | Cluster host (or `localhost` for a local node) |
| **Port**     | `26257`     | CockroachDB port                               |
| **Database** | `defaultdb` | Default database in every cluster              |
| **User**     | `root`      | `root` works for local insecure clusters       |

For a local node started with `cockroach start-single-node --insecure`, set SSL Mode to **Disable** and leave the password empty.

## CockroachDB Cloud

CockroachDB Cloud connection strings include a cluster routing parameter. Copy the host, port, user, password, and database from the Cloud console, then put the routing value in the **Connection Options** field under the Advanced tab:

```text theme={null}
--cluster=my-cluster-1234
```

Set SSL Mode to **Verify Full** for Cloud clusters. The Connection Options field is passed straight to libpq, so it also accepts other libpq options for self-hosted clusters.

## Connection URL

```text theme={null}
cockroachdb://user:password@host:26257/defaultdb
```

`cockroach://` also works. See [Connection URL Reference](/databases/connection-urls) for all parameters.

## Features

**Schemas**: Like PostgreSQL. Switch with **Cmd+K**. Default schema is `public`.

**Query Execution**: Full SQL support, parameterized queries, transactions, and query cancel. Export to CSV/JSON/SQL/XLSX. Import from CSV/JSON/SQL/XLSX.

**DDL**: Table and view definitions come from `SHOW CREATE`. Indexes come from `SHOW INDEXES`. Foreign keys are read from `information_schema`.

**EXPLAIN**: `EXPLAIN` and `EXPLAIN ANALYZE` render as a visual plan tree. CockroachDB returns text plans, not JSON.

**SSL/TLS**: Use **Verify Full** for CockroachDB Cloud. Local insecure clusters use **Disable**.

**SSH Tunnels**: Supported for private clusters.

## Limitations

Distributed SQL database, not a drop-in for every PostgreSQL feature:

* No `pg_dump` / `pg_restore`. The **Backup Dump** and **Restore Dump** menu items are not available. Use CockroachDB's `BACKUP` and `RESTORE` SQL statements instead.
* No `VACUUM`. CockroachDB garbage-collects automatically, so the maintenance panel does not offer it.
* Foreign key checks are not deferrable.

## Troubleshooting

**Connection refused**: Check the cluster is running and the port (default `26257`) is reachable. For local clusters, confirm `cockroach start` is still running.

**Auth failed**: For local insecure clusters use user `root` with no password and SSL Mode **Disable**. For Cloud, copy credentials from the console and use SSL Mode **Verify Full**.

**Cloud connection hangs or rejects**: Make sure the cluster routing value is set in **Connection Options** (`--cluster=your-cluster-name`).

**EXPLAIN shows raw text**: CockroachDB plan output that does not match the expected tree shape falls back to raw text display.