Explore BigQuery in the Google Cloud console

The BigQuery Google Cloud console provides a graphicalinterface that you can use to create and manage BigQuery resources. Youcan also use the console to complete tasks such as running SQLqueries and creating pipelines.

In this walkthrough, you explore the components of the BigQueryGoogle Cloud console.

Before you begin

Sign in to your Google Cloud account. If you're new to Google Cloud, create an account to evaluate how our products perform in real-world scenarios. New customers also get $300 in free credits to run, test, and deploy workloads.

In the Google Cloud console, on the project selector page, select or create a Google Cloud project.

Roles required to select or create a project

• Select a project: Selecting a project doesn't require a specific IAM role—you can select any project that you've been granted a role on.
• Create a project: To create a project, you need the Project Creator role (roles/resourcemanager.projectCreator), which contains theresourcemanager.projects.create permission.Learn how to grant roles.

Note: If you don't plan to keep the resources that you create in this procedure, create a project instead of selecting an existing project. After you finish these steps, you can delete the project, removing all resources associated with the project.

Go to project selector

In the Google Cloud console, on the project selector page, select or create a Google Cloud project.

Roles required to select or create a project

• Select a project: Selecting a project doesn't require a specific IAM role—you can select any project that you've been granted a role on.
• Create a project: To create a project, you need the Project Creator role (roles/resourcemanager.projectCreator), which contains theresourcemanager.projects.create permission.Learn how to grant roles.

Note: If you don't plan to keep the resources that you create in this procedure, create a project instead of selecting an existing project. After you finish these steps, you can delete the project, removing all resources associated with the project.

Go to project selector

1. Enable the BigQuery API.

   Roles required to enable APIs

   To enable APIs, you need the Service Usage Admin IAM role (roles/serviceusage.serviceUsageAdmin), which contains theserviceusage.services.enable permission.Learn how to grant roles.

   Enable the API

   For new projects, the BigQuery API is automatically enabled.

2. Optional:Enable billing for the project. If you don't want to enable billing or provide a credit card, the steps in this document still work. BigQuery provides you a sandbox to perform the steps. For more information, seeEnable the BigQuery sandbox.Note: If your project has a billing account and you want to use the BigQuery sandbox, thendisable billing for your project.

Open the Google Cloud console

1. Go to the Google Cloud console.

   Go to the console

2. In the Google Cloud console toolbar, clickmenuNavigation menu.

3. ClickSolutions> All products.

4. In theAnalytics section, clickBigQuery.

   The BigQueryStudio page opens.

5. To expand or collapse the menu, clicklast_page orfirst_pageToggle BigQuery navigation menu.

   

You can use the navigation menu to open the following pages:

• Overview (Preview):lets you discover tutorials, features, and resources.
• Studio: lets you display your BigQueryresources and perform common tasks.
• Search (Preview):lets you search for Google Cloud resources fromBigQuery by using natural language queries.
• Agents (Preview):lets you create and chat with data agents that are designed to answerquestions about BigQuery resources.

You can also use the navigation menu to perform specific tasks in the followingmenu sections:

• Pipelines and integration: lets you create and configuredata transfers, create and listDataformrepositories, and create and listscheduled resourcessuch asscheduled queries.
• Governance: lets you display shareddata exchangesandcleanrooms, viewpolicy tags,andcurate metadata.
• Administration: lets you perform administrative tasks such asmonitoring, viewinginformation aboutjobs,managing capacity,viewing information aboutdisaster recovery,and displayingrecommendations.
• Migration: lets you view and set up options formigrating your datawarehouse toBigQuery.
• Partner Center: provides tools and services frompartners toaccelerate your workflow.
• Settings (Preview):lets you customize BigQuery defaults or user interfacesettings.
• Release notes: contains the latestproduct updates andannouncements for BigQuery.

The BigQuery Studio page

The BigQueryStudiopage displays your BigQuery resources and lets you perform commontasks. The Studio page has the following components:

1. Explorer tab of the left pane: use theExplorer tab to work withtables, views, routines, and other BigQuery resources, andview yourjob history.

   The left pane also contains an option to add data toBigQuery. When you clickaddAdd data, you can use search and filtering capabilities to find a datasource that you want to work with. After you select a data source, you cando the following based on the capabilities available for your data source:

   • Set up BigQuery table over external data (federation):enables BigQuery to access external data without ingestingit into BigQuery. You cancreate a table to accessexternal data orcreate aconnection to an external source.
   • Load data to BigQuery: lets you load data toBigQuery by setting up adata transferor by using apartner capability.Loading data to BigQuery is recommended for optimal dataprocessing at scale.
   • Change data capture to BigQuery: replicates data from adata source to BigQuery by capturing and applying changes.You can use applications such asdatastreamorpartner solutions to ingestdata from a data source.
   • Stream data to BigQuery: ingests data intoBigQuery with low latency. You can use applications such asDataflow,Pub/Sub,orpartner solutions to ingestdata from a data source.

   For more information about loading data into BigQuery, seeIntroduction to loading data.

2. Classic Explorer tab of the left pane: use the legacy version of theExplorer pane to view BigQuery resources.

3. Files tab of the left pane (Preview):use theFiles tab to organize code assets such as saved queries andnotebooks by using folders. For more information, seeOrganize code assetswith folders.

4. Repository tab of the left pane (Preview):use theRepository tab to store code, edit files, and track changesusing version control through repositories or by using remote Git-basedrepositories. For more information, seeIntroduction to repositories.

5. Home tab: use theHome tab to view the following resources:

   • TheCheck out what's new in Studio section that lists new features inBigQuery Studio. You can clickTry it to view the features. If thesection isn't visible, clickWhat's new in Studio toexpand the section.
   • TheCreate new section that has options to create a new SQL query,notebook, Apache Spark notebook, data canvas, data preparationfile, pipeline, or table.
   • TheRecent section where you can view your 10 most recently accessedresources. These resources include tables, saved queries, models, androutines.
   • TheTry with templates section that lets you use templates to getstarted querying data and working with notebooks.
   • TheAdd your own data section that helps you get started loading datainto BigQuery.

6. Query editor: use the query editor to create andrun an interactive query. You canalso view the results in theQuery results pane that opens after you runthe query.

Explore the Studio page

TheStudio page BigQuery is the central point for viewingyour BigQuery resources and for performing common tasks such ascreating datasets and creating and running notebooks.

1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the BigQueryStudiopage.

   Go to Studio

   Alternatively, enter the following URL in your browser:

   https://console.cloud.google.com/bigquery

   TheStudio page opens in your most recently accessed project.

2. In the left pane, clickexploreExplorer.

   TheExplorer pane lists different code assets and data resources, and itlets you search for BigQuery resources.

   Note: You can expand and collapse the left pane by clickingfirst_pageCollapse left pane orlast_pageExpand left pane.

3. Go to thebigquery-public-data project, clickarrow_rightToggle node to expandit, and then clickDatasets. A new tab opens in the details pane thatshows a list of all the datasets in the project.

   BigQuerypublic datasets are storedin BigQuery and made available to the general public throughthe Google Cloud Public Dataset Program.

4. In the list, click theaustin_crime dataset.

5. On theOverview tab, view the resources stored in the datasetsuch as tables, models, and routines.

6. Click theDetails tab. This tab shows all details for the datasetincluding metadata information.

7. To navigate different tabs and resources, use the breadcrumb trail as shownin the following example:

   

8. In theExplorer pane, clickJob history. This opens the list of jobhistories in a new tab:

   

   Every time you load, export, query, or copy data, BigQueryautomatically creates, schedules, and runs a job that tracks the progress ofthe task.

   1. To view details of your own jobs, clickPersonal history.

   2. To view details of recent jobs in your project, clickProjecthistory.

      Note: To see the details of a job or to open a query from a query job,in theActions column for a job or query, clickmore_vertActions>Show job details orView job in editor.

9. In the left pane, click thefolder_dataRepository tab (Preview).

   You can use repositories to perform version control on files that you use inBigQuery. BigQuery uses Git to record changesand manage file versions.

   You can use workspaces within repositories to edit the code stored in therepository. When you click aworkspace in theGit repository pane, it opens in a tab in the details pane.

10. In the left pane, clickfolderFiles (Preview).

    The Files tab lets you create user and team folders that store andorganize your code assets.

11. Click thehomeHome tab.

    The Home tab provides links and templates that let you get started usingBigQuery.

    If you close theHome tab, you can open it by clickinghomeHome in theExplorer tab.

12. Click the query editor. This tab is labeledsearch_insightsUntitled query.

    You use the query editor to create SQL queries, run SQL queries, and view theresults.

    If you close the query editor, you can open it by clicking theHome tab,and then in theCreate new section, clickadd_boxSQL query.

Work with tabs in Studio

Whenever you select a resource or clickadd_boxSQL query in the detailspane, a new tab opens. If more than one tab is open, you can split the tabs intotwo panes and view them side by side.

Prevent tabs from being replaced

To reduce tab proliferation, clicking a resource opens it within the same tab.To open the resource in a separate tab follow these steps:

1. PressCtrl (orCommand on macOS) and click theresource.

2. Alternatively, double-click the tab name. The name changes fromitalicized to regular font.

3. If you accidentally replace the current page, you can locate it byclickingtab_recentRecent tabs in the details pane.

Split and unsplit tabs

To split tabs into two panes, follow these steps:

1. Next to the tab name, clickarrow_drop_downOpen menu.

2. Select one of the following options:

   • To place the selected tab in the left pane, selectSplit tab toleft.

   • To place the selected tab in the right pane, selectSplit tab toright.

   Note: If only one tab is open, these menu options are unavailable.

3. To unsplit the tabs, selectarrow_drop_downOpen menu on one of the open tabs, and then selectMove tab to leftpane orMove tab to right pane.

Query data using split tabs

To split tabs when querying tables, follow these steps:

1. In theExplorer menu, click the table that you want to query.

2. ClickQuery, and then clickIn new tab orIn split tab:

   

3. Click the field name that you want to query:

   

The following image shows the details pane with two open tabs. One tab has aSQL query, and the other tab shows details about a table.

Move tabs between panes

To move a tab from one pane to the other pane, follow these steps:

1. Next to the tab name, clickarrow_drop_downOpen menu.

2. SelectMove tab to right pane orMove tab to left pane (whicheveroption is available).

Close all other tabs

To close all tabs except for one, follow these steps:

1. Next to the tab name, clickarrow_drop_downOpen menu.

2. SelectcancelClose other tabs.

The Overview page

This feature is subject to the "Pre-GA Offerings Terms" in the General Service Terms section of theService Specific Terms. Pre-GA features are available "as is" and might have limited support. For more information, see thelaunch stage descriptions.

1. In the console, go to theOverview page.

   Go to Overview

   You can also open the BigQueryOverview page by enteringthe following URL in your browser:

   https://console.cloud.google.com/bigquery/overview

2. Review the following sections of theOverview page:

   • TheIntroduction section: gives you a quick videooverview of BigQuery's capabilities.

   • TheGet started section: designed for learning bydoing. Here you can launch interactive guides that help you learn how touse BigQuery features.

   • TheFind out more section: shows theBigQuery release notes so you can view the latest featureannouncements and updates.

   • TheExplore possibilities section: providesin-depth tutorials and learning opportunities for specific features.

Customize the Overview page

You can customize theOverview page to show or hide information relevant toyour task or role.

1. On theOverview page, go to the filter bar.

   

2. Click the option that best matches your current task or role:

   • Data analysis
   • Data science
   • Data engineering
   • Data administration

   Selecting a task dynamically changes the content in theIntroduction,Get started, andExplore Possibilities sections to show the mostrelevant content.

3. Optional: To tailor the content on theOverview page to your specificneeds, hide individual cards:

   1. In the card, clickmore_vertMore options.

   2. ChooseHide card. Your preferences for hidden cards are saved peruser.

   3. To unhide the card, at the end of the section, clickShow hiddencontent.

4. If an entire section is not relevant, clickkeyboard_arrow_up tocollapse it. Your user preferences for collapsed sections are saved.

The Search page

TheSearch page(Preview) lets yousearch for Google Cloud resources from BigQuery by usingnatural language queries.

For information about opting into using theSearch page, seeSearch for resources.

The Agents page

TheAgents page (Preview)is a central location for creating and chatting with data agents that aredesigned to answer questions about BigQuery resources.

Data agents contain table metadata and use case-specific query processinginstructions that define the best way to answer user questions about a set oftables that you select. Users can haveconversationswith data agents to ask questions about BigQuery data usingnatural language. For more information, seeCreate data agents.

For information on creating agents and using conversational analytics, seeConversational analytics in BigQuery.

What's next

• To learn about querying a public dataset and using the BigQuery sandbox,seeTry BigQuery using thesandbox.
• To learn how to load and query data in the Google Cloud console, seeLoad and query data.