Note
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try signing in or changing directories.
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try changing directories.
In Azure Databricks, a table is a structured collection of data stored within a schema. Tables are used to store, query, and manage data using SQL or Spark. The default table type is a Unity Catalog (UC) managed table, which uses Delta Lake for reliable data storage.
Azure Databricks supports three main table types, each with different ownership and data management characteristics:
| Table type | Description | Managed by | Write support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managed | Databricks manages both metadata and data files. | Unity Catalog | Yes |
| External | Metadata is in Databricks, data is stored externally. | None or Unity Catalog | Yes |
| Foreign | References read-only data in external systems via federation. | External system | No |
For most use cases, Databricks recommends using managed tables.