> ## 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.

# DuckDB

> Connect to DuckDB databases with TablePro

# DuckDB

DuckDB is an embedded analytical database, optimized for OLAP workloads. TablePro connects to a local DuckDB file or to a remote DuckDB server over the Quack protocol, for browsing tables, running queries, and managing schemas.

The DuckDB driver plugin bundles DuckDB 1.5.3, with DuckLake 1.0 and Quack remote support.

## Connecting to a local DuckDB file

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a new connection">
    Open TablePro and click **New Connection** or press <kbd>⌘N</kbd>.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select DuckDB">
    Choose **DuckDB** from the database type list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep Connection Type set to Local File">
    Click **Browse** to select an existing `.duckdb` file, or enter the path to create a new database.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect">
    Click **Connect** to open the database.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connecting to a remote DuckDB server (Quack)

Quack is DuckDB's client-server protocol. A DuckDB server exposes itself with `quack_serve`, and TablePro attaches to it as a remote database.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select DuckDB and switch to Remote (Quack)">
    In the connection form, set **Connection Type** to **Remote (Quack, experimental)**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the server details">
    Fill in the **Host** and **Port** (9494 by default), the **Token** the server was started with, and a **Database Alias** for the attached remote.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect">
    Click **Connect**. TablePro opens an in-memory DuckDB, registers the token as a secret, and attaches the remote server.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Remote (Quack) is experimental and matches the Quack beta. You can connect and run SQL against the remote (for example `SELECT * FROM alias.main.your_table`), but the sidebar does not list remote tables: the Quack beta cannot enumerate a remote catalog (`SHOW TABLES` and `information_schema` queries are rejected with a "multiple streaming scans" error). DuckLake over Quack is not supported yet for the same reason. Browse and DuckLake support are expected once Quack stabilizes in DuckDB 2.0. On macOS the Quack extension downloads from the DuckDB extension registry on first use, so the first remote connection needs network access.
</Warning>

## Connection URL

```text theme={null}
# Local file
duckdb:///path/to/database.duckdb

# Remote (Quack)
quack://host:9494/alias
```

See [Connection URL Reference](/databases/connection-urls) for all parameters.

## Opening DuckDB files from Finder

Double-click any `.duckdb` file in Finder to open it directly in TablePro.

## DuckDB on iOS

The iOS app supports DuckDB too. In the connection form, pick DuckDB and either turn on **In-Memory Database** or open a `.duckdb`/`.ddb` file through the Files app. Opened files keep working across launches through a security-scoped bookmark, so edits write back to the original file.

The iOS build statically links the `core_functions`, `json`, `parquet`, `icu`, `httpfs`, and `quack` extensions, so remote Quack connections work on iOS without a download. Runtime extension autoloading stays off, so other on-demand extensions are not available on iOS. Large in-memory databases are bounded by the app's memory budget.

## Querying files directly

DuckDB can query CSV, Parquet, and JSON files directly with SQL:

```sql theme={null}
-- Query a CSV file
SELECT * FROM 'data.csv';

-- Query a Parquet file
SELECT * FROM read_parquet('analytics.parquet');

-- Query a JSON file
SELECT * FROM read_json('config.json');
```

## Schema support

DuckDB supports multiple schemas within a single database. The default schema is `main`. Use the schema switcher in the toolbar to navigate between schemas.

```sql theme={null}
-- Create a new schema
CREATE SCHEMA analytics;

-- Create a table in a specific schema
CREATE TABLE analytics.events (
    id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
    event_name VARCHAR,
    created_at TIMESTAMP
);
```

## DuckDB extensions

DuckDB has a rich extension ecosystem. Install and load extensions using SQL:

```sql theme={null}
-- Install an extension
INSTALL httpfs;

-- Load an extension
LOAD httpfs;

-- Query remote Parquet files
SELECT * FROM read_parquet('https://example.com/data.parquet');
```

## Data types

DuckDB supports a wide range of data types:

| Category  | Types                                                        |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Numeric   | `INTEGER`, `BIGINT`, `HUGEINT`, `DOUBLE`, `FLOAT`, `DECIMAL` |
| String    | `VARCHAR`, `TEXT`, `CHAR`                                    |
| Date/Time | `DATE`, `TIME`, `TIMESTAMP`, `INTERVAL`                      |
| Complex   | `LIST`, `MAP`, `STRUCT`, `UNION`, `ENUM`, `VARIANT`          |
| Other     | `BOOLEAN`, `BLOB`, `UUID`, `JSON`, `BIT`                     |

## Limitations

DuckDB is embedded (no network access) and allows only one writer at a time.