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---
name: bigquery
description: Instructions for querying Google BigQuery using the bq command-line tool. Useful for running SQL queries, exploring datasets, and exporting results.
---
# BigQuery Skill
This skill enables you to query Google BigQuery using the `bq` command-line tool.
Authentication is already configured. The default project is `project_id`.
Use the `project_id_exploration` dataset as scratch space for temporary tables and experimentation.
The `public` dataset contains tables synced from the production Postgres database.
## 1. Explore Available Datasets
List datasets in the current project (defaults to `project_id`):
```bash
bq ls
```
List datasets in a specific project:
```bash
bq ls --project_id=PROJECT_ID
```
List tables in a dataset:
```bash
bq ls PROJECT_ID:DATASET_NAME
```
Get table schema:
```bash
bq show --schema --format=prettyjson PROJECT_ID:DATASET_NAME.TABLE_NAME
```
## 2. Run Queries
**Run a simple query:**
```bash
bq query --use_legacy_sql=false 'SELECT * FROM `project.dataset.table` LIMIT 10'
```
**Run a query with formatted output:**
```bash
bq query --use_legacy_sql=false --format=prettyjson 'YOUR_QUERY'
```
**Run a query and save to a destination table:**
```bash
bq query --use_legacy_sql=false --destination_table=PROJECT:DATASET.NEW_TABLE 'YOUR_QUERY'
```
**Run a dry run to estimate costs:**
```bash
bq query --use_legacy_sql=false --dry_run 'YOUR_QUERY'
```
## 3. Export Results
**Export to CSV:**
```bash
bq query --use_legacy_sql=false --format=csv 'YOUR_QUERY' > results.csv
```
## 4. Best Practices
- Always use `--use_legacy_sql=false` for standard SQL syntax
- Use `LIMIT` clauses when exploring data to reduce costs
- Use `--dry_run` to estimate query costs before running expensive queries
- Use backticks around table references: `` `project.dataset.table` ``
## 5. Common Patterns
**Preview table data:**
```bash
bq head -n 10 PROJECT:DATASET.TABLE
```
**Get table info (row count, size):**
```bash
bq show --format=prettyjson PROJECT:DATASET.TABLE
```
**Query with parameters:**
```bash
bq query --use_legacy_sql=false --parameter='name:STRING:value' 'SELECT * FROM `table` WHERE col = @name'
```
