skill

Sql Queries

Write correct, performant SQL across all major data warehouse dialects (Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, PostgreSQL, etc.). Use when writing queries, optimizing slow SQL, translating between dialects, or building complex analytical queries with CTEs, window functions, or aggregations.

Anthropic4.80+ installsVetted

About

# SQL Queries Skill

Write correct, performant, readable SQL across all major data warehouse dialects.

## Dialect-Specific Reference

### PostgreSQL (including Aurora, RDS, Supabase, Neon)

**Date/time:** ```sql -- Current date/time CURRENT_DATE, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, NOW()

-- Date arithmetic date_column + INTERVAL '7 days' date_column - INTERVAL '1 month'

-- Truncate to period DATE_TRUNC('month', created_at)

-- Extract parts EXTRACT(YEAR FROM created_at) EXTRACT(DOW FROM created_at) -- 0=Sunday

-- Format TO_CHAR(created_at, 'YYYY-MM-DD') ```

**String functions:** ```sql -- Concatenation first_name || ' ' || last_name CONCAT(first_name, ' ', last_name)

-- Pattern matching column ILIKE '%pattern%' -- case-insensitive column ~ '^regex_pattern$' -- regex

-- String manipulation LEFT(str, n), RIGHT(str, n) SPLIT_PART(str, delimiter, position) REGEXP_REPLACE(str, pattern, replacement) ```

**Arrays and JSON:** ```sql -- JSON access data->>'key' -- text data->'nested'->'key' -- json data#>>'{path,to,key}' -- nested text

-- Array operations ARRAY_AGG(column) ANY(array_column) array_column @> ARRAY['value'] ```

**Performance tips:** - Use `EXPLAIN ANALYZE` to profile queries - Create indexes on frequently filtered/joined columns - Use `EXISTS` over `IN` for correlated subqueries - Partial indexes for common filter conditions - Use connection pooling for concurrent access

---

### Snowflake

**Date/time:** ```sql -- Current date/time CURRENT_DATE(), CURRENT_TIMESTAMP(), SYSDATE()

-- Date arithmetic DATEADD(day, 7, date_column) DATEDIFF(day, start_date, end_date)

-- Truncate to period DATE_TRUNC('month', created_at)

-- Extract parts YEAR(created_at), MONTH(created_at), DAY(created_at) DAYOFWEEK(created_at)

-- Format TO_CHAR(created_at, 'YYYY-MM-DD') ```

**String functions:** ```sql -- Case-insensitive by default (depends on collation) column ILIKE '%pattern%' REGEXP_LIKE(column, 'pattern')

-- Parse JSON column:key::string -- dot notation for VARIANT PARSE_JSON('{"key": "value"}') GET_PATH(variant_col, 'path.to.key')

-- Flatten arrays/objects SELECT f.value FROM table, LATERAL FLATTEN(input => array_col) f ```

**Semi-structured data:** ```sql -- VARIANT type access data:customer:name::STRING data:items[0]:price::NUMBER

-- Flatten nested structures SELECT t.id, item.value:name::STRING as item_name, item.value:qty::NUMBER as quantity FROM my_table t, LATERAL FLATTEN(input => t.data:items) item ```

**Performance tips:** - Use clustering keys on large tables (not traditional indexes) - Filter on clustering key columns for partition pruning - Set appropriate warehouse size for query complexity - Use `RESULT_SCAN(LAST_QUERY_ID())` to avoid re-running expensive queries - Use transient tables for staging/temp data

---

### BigQuery (Google Cloud)

**Date/time:** ```sql -- Current date/time CURRENT_DATE(), CURRENT_TIMESTAMP()

-- Date arithmetic DATE_ADD(date_column, INTERVAL 7 DAY) DATE_SUB(date_column, INTERVAL 1 MONTH) DATE_DIFF(end_date, start_date, DAY) TIMESTAMP_DIFF(end_ts, start_ts, HOUR)

-- Truncate to period DATE_TRUNC(created_at, MONTH) TIMESTAMP_TRUNC(created_at, HOUR)

-- Extract parts EXTRACT(YEAR FROM created_at) EXTRACT(DAYOFWEEK FROM created_at) -- 1=Sunday

-- Format FORMAT_DATE('%Y-%m-%d', date_column) FORMAT_TIMESTAMP('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S', ts_column) ```

**String functions:** ```sql -- No ILIKE, use LOWER() LOWER(column) LIKE '%pattern%' REGEXP_CONTAINS(column, r'pattern') REGEXP_EXTRACT(column, r'pattern')

-- String manipulation SPLIT(str, delimiter) -- returns ARRAY ARRAY_TO_STRING(array, delimiter) ```

**Arrays and structs:** ```sql -- Array operations ARRAY_AGG(column) UNNEST(array_column) ARRAY_LENGTH(array_column) value IN UNNEST(array_column)

-- Struct access struct_column.field_name ```

**Performance tips:** - Always filter on partition columns (usually date) to reduce bytes scanned - Use clustering for frequently filtered columns within partitions - Use `APPROX_COUNT_DISTINCT()` for large-scale cardinality estimates - Avoid `SELECT *` -- billing is per-byte scanned - Use `DECLARE` and `SET` for parameterized scripts - Preview query cost with dry run before executing large queries

---

### Redshift (Amazon)

**Date/time:** ```sql -- Current date/time CURRENT_DATE, GETDATE(), SYSDATE

-- Date arithmetic DATEADD(day, 7, date_column) DATEDIFF(day, start_date, end_date)

-- Truncate to period DATE_TRUNC('month', created_at)

-- Extract parts EXTRACT(YEAR FROM created_at) DATE_PART('dow', created_at) ```

**String functions:** ```sql -- Case-insensitive column ILIKE '%pattern%' REGEXP_INSTR(column, 'pattern') > 0

-- String manipulation SPLIT_PART(str, delimiter, position) LISTAGG(column, ', ') WITHIN GROUP (ORDER BY column) ```

**Performance tips:** - Design distribution keys for collocated joins (DISTKEY) - Use sort keys for frequently filtered columns (SORTKEY) - Use `EXPLAIN` to check query plan - Avoid cross-node data movement (watch for DS_BCAST and DS

Install

Run this command

git clone https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins && cp -r knowledge-work-plugins/data/skills/sql-queries ~/.claude/skills/

Works with

claude appclaude codeclaude apicursorcodexwindsurfclinezed

Manual steps

Clone the repository and copy the `data/skills/sql-queries` folder into your Claude skills directory. Compatible with Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and any Agent Skills-compatible agent.

View source
License: Apache-2.0By Anthropic

Frequently asked questions

What is the Sql Queries skill?

Write correct, performant SQL across all major data warehouse dialects (Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, PostgreSQL, etc.). Use when writing queries, optimizing slow SQL, translating between dialects, or building complex analytical queries with CTEs, window functions, or aggregations.

How do I install Sql Queries?

Run this in your terminal:

git clone https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins && cp -r knowledge-work-plugins/data/skills/sql-queries ~/.claude/skills/
Which AI tools does Sql Queries work with?

It works with claude_app, claude_code, claude_api, cursor, codex, windsurf, cline, zed.

Who made Sql Queries?

Anthropic, released under the Apache-2.0 license.

Is Sql Queries free?

Yes, it is free to use under the Apache-2.0 license.

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