Dictionary - ClickHouse Documentation

The Dictionary database engine exposes every configured dictionary as a read-only table. It is useful when a query needs to read or join dictionary data using ordinary table syntax.

Creating a database

CREATE DATABASE dictionaries
ENGINE = Dictionary;

Usage

After creating the database, use a configured dictionary name as the table name:

SELECT *
FROM dictionaries.products;

The database has no tables of its own. Its tables are the dictionaries configured on the server, so creating, dropping, or altering tables in the database is not supported. Manage the dictionaries themselves with CREATE DICTIONARY or the server configuration.

See also

Last modified on September 10, 2026