SQL reference

Overview of the Firebolt SQL dialect, which is modeled after PostgreSQL, and of the SQL reference sections.

Firebolt SQL is modeled after PostgreSQL. It uses PostgreSQL syntax, type names, function names, and expression semantics, and Firebolt accepts connections over the PostgreSQL wire protocol. Firebolt extends the dialect for analytics with features such as QUALIFY, GROUP BY ALL, aggregating indexes, lambda functions on arrays, and table-valued functions that read files from object storage.

For a detailed compatibility matrix covering data types, query syntax, functions, statements, and the system catalog, see Differences from PostgreSQL.

Sections

• Lexical structure: identifiers, literals, operators, comments, and query parameters.
• Explicit transactions: BEGIN, COMMIT, and ROLLBACK.
• Data types: the types Firebolt stores and computes on.
• Information schema: catalog views over databases, tables, engines, and access control.
• SQL commands: data definition, data management, queries, access control, and engines.
• SQL functions: scalar, aggregate, window, and table-valued functions.
• System settings: session settings.
• Differences from PostgreSQL: where Firebolt SQL and PostgreSQL differ.

Firebolt can also read BigQuery and Snowflake SQL through compatibility modes, which translate those dialects into Firebolt SQL. See BigQuery compatibility and Snowflake compatibility.