3 added, 3 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: motherduck-explore
description: Discover and explore databases, tables, columns, and data shares in MotherDuck. Use when you need to understand what data is available, preview table contents, or search the data catalog.
argument-hint: [database-or-workspace]
license: MIT
---
# Explore MotherDuck Data
Use this skill when you need to discover what databases, tables, and columns exist in a MotherDuck account; preview and sample data; understand schemas and data types; find shared databases; or search the data catalog.
## Prerequisites
- - Establish a MotherDuck connection first via `motherduck-connect`.
+ - An established MotherDuck connection (or an active MotherDuck MCP server)
## Default Posture
- Explore top-down: databases, then tables/views, then columns, then statistics, then sample rows.
- Use fully qualified table names once more than one database is attached.
- Check shared databases before concluding that data is unavailable.
- - Use MCP exploration tools when available because they return structured results faster than ad hoc SQL.
+ - Use the MotherDuck MCP tools (`list_databases`, `list_tables`, `list_columns`, `search_catalog`) when available because they return structured results faster than ad hoc SQL.
- Return a concise schema map with table grain, join keys, date columns, and likely measures before moving into modeling or dashboard work.
## Workflow
1. List databases in scope.
2. List tables and views in the target database.
3. Inspect columns, types, nullability, and comments before writing queries.
4. Run `SUMMARIZE` on important tables to understand ranges, cardinality, and null rates.
5. Preview rows, capture grain and join assumptions, and only then move into analytical SQL or modeling work.
## Open Next
- - `references/EXPLORATION_PLAYBOOK.md` for the full SQL workflow, share discovery patterns, MCP tool guidance, and common exploration mistakes
+ - Read `references/EXPLORATION_PLAYBOOK.md` for the full SQL workflow, share discovery patterns, MCP tool guidance, and common exploration mistakes
## Related Skills
- `motherduck-connect` for session setup and authentication
- `motherduck-query` for analytical SQL after the schema is understood
- `motherduck-duckdb-sql` for DuckDB syntax patterns during exploration
- `motherduck-share-data` for creating and consuming shares once shared datasets become part of the workflow