Getting Started with dbxlite

Learn the basics of dbxlite and start querying data in minutes.

What is dbxlite?

dbxlite is a SQL workbench for DuckDB that works two ways: instantly in your browser, or connected to your local DuckDB CLI for full native power.

Browser Mode - Zero install, data stays local:

  • Just open the website and start querying
  • Your data never leaves your browser
  • Powered by DuckDB WASM
  • Works offline once loaded

Server Mode - Full native DuckDB:

  • All extensions (httpfs, spatial, iceberg, etc.)
  • Unlimited memory
  • Direct filesystem access
  • Native performance

Quick Start: Browser Mode

Visit sql.dbxlite.com to launch the application. No signup or account required.

Quick Start: Server Mode

Connect to your local DuckDB CLI for full native capabilities:

# Start the asset server
npx dbxlite-ui

# In another terminal, launch DuckDB
export ui_remote_url="http://localhost:8080"
duckdb -unsigned -ui

Open http://localhost:4213 and you're connected to native DuckDB.

See Server Mode for detailed setup and configuration.

Interface Overview

The interface consists of three main areas:

  1. Schema Explorer (left) - Browse loaded tables and their columns
  2. Query Editor (center) - Write and execute SQL queries
  3. Results Panel (bottom) - View query results in a data grid

Your First Query

Let's start with a simple example. dbxlite can query remote files directly:

SELECT *
FROM read_csv('https://example.com/data.csv')
LIMIT 10;

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics, explore these topics: