> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.carto.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-agents/cli/command-reference/sql.md).

# sql

Run SQL on your data warehouse using existing connections. Two modes: `query` returns result rows; `job` runs DDL/DML and polls to completion without returning a result set.

## `carto sql query <connection> [sql]`

Run a SQL query and return results. Queries are sent as a `POST` (no URL-length limit, 1-minute timeout).

```bash
# Query argument
carto sql query <connection> "SELECT * FROM dataset.table LIMIT 10"

# Read SQL from a file
carto sql query <connection> --file query.sql

# Pipe via stdin
echo "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM dataset.table" | carto sql query <connection>

# Bind parameters
carto sql query <connection> "SELECT * FROM t WHERE id = @id" --param id=a-001

# JSON output
carto sql query <connection> "SELECT * FROM dataset.table" --json
```

**Options:**

| Option                 | Description                                                                                                         |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--file <path>`        | Read SQL from a file.                                                                                               |
| `--param <key=value>`  | Bind a query parameter. Repeatable. Values are JSON-parsed (number, boolean, array), otherwise treated as a string. |
| `--params-json <json>` | Bind query parameters from a JSON object or array, for full type control. Not combinable with `--param`.            |

## `carto sql job <connection> [sql]`

Run a DDL/DML job. Polls until complete; no timeout. Used when no result set is returned.

```bash
# CREATE TABLE
carto sql job <connection> "CREATE TABLE dataset.newtable AS SELECT * FROM dataset.oldtable"

# INSERT
carto sql job <connection> "INSERT INTO dataset.table VALUES (1, 'test')"

# Read from a file
carto sql job <connection> --file create_table.sql
```

**Use cases:**

* `CREATE TABLE` operations.
* `INSERT`, `UPDATE`, `DELETE` statements.
* Long-running data transformations.
* Operations that don't return result sets.

## Input methods (both `query` and `job`)

1. Command argument: `carto sql query myconn "SELECT * FROM table"`.
2. File: `carto sql query myconn --file query.sql`.
3. Stdin: `echo "SELECT * FROM table" | carto sql query myconn`.


---

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