# 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](/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.md) - Direct API v3 endpoints with ASYNC and ADAPTIVE modes
- [Object-Specific APIs](/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/guide/obj-specific-apis.md): Alternatives for targeted data access
- [Language-Specific Libraries](/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)