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Explore Sample Data

The Explore Sample catalog is the platform SQL editor where you can query lagged sample data from any Block dataset available to your organization—before or after you request access, as long as the dataset appears in your catalog.

Related documentation

How to open it

  1. Go to Block in the main menu.
  2. Select Explore Catalog (top of the page). This opens the SQL Editor.

Users with Block User or Block Administrator access can use the SQL Editor when Block is enabled for your organization.

What you can do in the platform

  • Run SQL queries against the sample catalog for datasets your organization can see on Block.
  • Browse the schema in the left sidebar—expand catalogs, databases, tables, and columns to build queries.
  • Open the data dictionary for a dataset using the dictionary icon on that dataset's row in the sidebar. Use it to review field definitions, types, and panel-level documentation without leaving the editor.
  • Preview results in the results panel below the editor, with row counts and execution time.
  • Reuse starter queries or your query history to iterate quickly.

Sample data in the platform is lagged (not live production). Use it to evaluate structure and coverage before you request access or begin your evaluation period.

Row limit in the platform

Queries run in the SQL Editor are capped at 1,000 rows per execution. The platform enforces this limit server-side. If your query does not include a LIMIT, one is applied automatically (you can set a lower limit in the editor).

This cap applies only to queries run inside the platform. It is intended for exploration and validation—not for exporting full datasets.

Full sample access via your query engine

To work with the full sample bucket without the platform row cap, connect your own query engine using one of your approved delivery paths:

  • Polaris (Iceberg REST catalog) — recommended for SQL engines such as Snowflake, ClickHouse, Databricks, and others.
  • Amazon S3 — direct access to sample files in your configured bucket path.

Setup instructions: Block Data Delivery. After Block approval, manage platform and Polaris credentials from Block; register S3 ARNs in the platform or via the Block API.

Use the platform SQL Editor for quick, governed previews. Use Polaris or S3 when your data team needs unconstrained sample exploration in your own environment.

  • Overview — How sample data, evaluation period data, and production data differ
  • Troubleshooting & FAQs — FAQs about the sample catalog and data dictionary