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title: Data 360 SQL Query APIs
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locale: en-us
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  - Data 360 Query Guide
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---
# Data 360 SQL Query APIs

Use Data 360 Query APIs with custom SQL for complex queries that don't have an object-specific API or a supported language library. Query APIs provide the most flexible way to access your Data 360 data using Data 360 SQL syntax.

## When to Use Query APIs

Query APIs are ideal when you need to:

-   Execute complex SQL queries across multiple data model objects (DMOs) and data lake objects (DLOs)
-   Perform advanced joins, aggregations, and data transformations
-   Extract large volumes of data for analytics or reporting
-   Build custom applications that require flexible data access
-   Query data that doesn't have a dedicated object-specific API
-   Build custom applications in a language without supported libraries

## Key Features

### SQL Support

-   **Data 360 SQL**: Enhanced SQL features specific to Data 360 objects
-   **Complex Operations**: Joins, subqueries, window functions, and aggregations

### Performance and Scalability

-   **Asynchronous Execution**: Handle long-running queries without blocking
-   **Pagination**: Process large result sets efficiently
-   **Query Optimization**: Automatic optimization for Data Cloud architecture

### Integration Capabilities

-   **REST Endpoints**: Connect REST API calls
-   **Apex Integration**: Native support in Salesforce Apex code
-   **Multiple Data Sources**: Query across unified, engagement, and profile data

## Prerequisites

Before using Query APIs, ensure you have:

1. **Data Cloud License**: Active Data Cloud licenses provisioned for your org
2. **User Permissions**: Appropriate roles and permissions assigned
3. **Authentication Setup**: Valid access tokens and external client app configuration
4. **Data Model Knowledge**: Understanding of your Data Cloud object schema

## Getting Started

1. **Set Up Authentication**: Configure OAuth or Data Cloud authentication
2. **Explore Your Data**: Use the Metadata API to understand available objects
3. **Write Your First Query**: Start with simple SELECT statements
4. **Handle Results**: Implement pagination and error handling

**See Also**

-   [Query Guide Decision Tree](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/guide/query-guide-get-started.md): Choose the right data retrieval method
-   [Query Data with the Query API](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/data-cloud-query-api-reference/c360a-api-queryservices-overview.html) - Direct API v3 endpoints with ASYNC and ADAPTIVE modes
-   [Object-Specific APIs](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/guide/obj-specific-apis.md): Alternatives for targeted data access
-   [Language-Specific Libraries](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/guide/lang-specific-libraries.md): Client library options
-   _Salesforce Help_: [Data 360 Limits and Guidelines](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_limits_and_guidelines.htm&type=5)
-   [_Salesforce Developers Blog:_ Boost Data 360 Integrations with the New Query Connect API](https://developer.salesforce.com/blogs/2025/08/boost-data-cloud-integrations-with-the-new-query-connect-api)