# Redpanda Catalogs

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [cloud-data-platform-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform-full.txt)

---
title: Redpanda Catalogs
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.9
docname: query-data/redpanda-catalogs
page-component-name: cloud-data-platform
page-version: master
page-component-version: master
page-component-title: Cloud
page-relative-src-path: query-data/redpanda-catalogs.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/cloud-docs/edit/main/modules/sql/pages/query-data/redpanda-catalogs.adoc
description: A Redpanda catalog is a named collection of source data that exposes Redpanda topics as queryable SQL tables.
page-topic-type: concept
personas: app_developer, data_engineer, platform_admin
learning-objective-1: Explain the components of the Redpanda catalog model
learning-objective-2: Recognize when the default Redpanda catalog is auto-created
page-git-created-date: "2026-05-26"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-05-26"
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/sql/query-data/redpanda-catalogs.md -->

A Redpanda catalog is a named collection of source data, typically the data in your Redpanda [cluster](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/reference/glossary/#cluster), that Redpanda SQL exposes as queryable SQL tables.

When Redpanda SQL is enabled on your cluster, a default Redpanda catalog named `default_redpanda_catalog` is created automatically. Use this catalog to map your Redpanda [topics](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/reference/glossary/#topic) as SQL tables and query them.

After reading this page, you will be able to:

-   Explain the components of the Redpanda catalog model

-   Recognize when the default Redpanda catalog is auto-created


> 📝 **NOTE**
>
> Redpanda SQL operates in read-only mode. Data Manipulation Language (DML) operations such as `INSERT`, `UPDATE`, and `DELETE` are not available. Data is ingested into Redpanda topics and made queryable through catalog mappings.

## [](#catalog-model)Catalog model

The Redpanda catalog model has three components:

-   Storage connection: A named connection to an object storage bucket or container that backs the catalog. The default Redpanda catalog’s storage connection is automatically defined using your cluster’s object storage.

-   Catalog: A named collection of source data, typically containing your Redpanda cluster’s topics.

-   Tables: Redpanda topics mapped as queryable SQL tables using the `catalog_name⇒table_name` syntax.


### [](#layered-catalogs-for-iceberg-enabled-topics)Layered catalogs for Iceberg-enabled topics

To query an Iceberg-enabled topic alongside its history in Apache Iceberg, a Redpanda catalog is layered over an Iceberg catalog using the `USING CATALOG` clause of `CREATE REDPANDA CATALOG`. The layered Redpanda catalog reads live records from the topic and historical records from the linked Iceberg catalog, returning both in a single query.

In Redpanda BYOC, both catalogs are created and linked for you when Redpanda SQL is enabled, so you can query an Iceberg-enabled topic with a simple `CREATE TABLE` against `default_redpanda_catalog`. No manual `CREATE ICEBERG CATALOG` or `CREATE REDPANDA CATALOG …​ USING CATALOG` is required. To inspect the layered relationship, run `DESCRIBE REDPANDA CATALOG default_redpanda_catalog`.

## [](#example)Example

Map a Redpanda topic as a SQL table through `default_redpanda_catalog`:

```sql
CREATE TABLE default_redpanda_catalog=>user_events
WITH (topic = 'user-events');
```

Query the table:

```sql
SELECT * FROM default_redpanda_catalog=>user_events LIMIT 10;
```

## [](#related-statements)Related statements

| Statement | Description |
| --- | --- |
| CREATE REDPANDA CATALOG | Create a catalog connection to a Redpanda cluster. |
| ALTER REDPANDA CATALOG | Modify connection properties of an existing catalog. |
| CREATE TABLE | Map a Redpanda topic to a SQL table through a catalog. |
| ALTER TABLE | Modify options of an existing catalog table. |
| DROP TABLE | Remove a catalog table mapping. |
| DROP REDPANDA CATALOG | Remove a Redpanda catalog connection. |
| DROP STORAGE | Remove a named storage definition. |
| SHOW TABLES | List tables within a catalog. |
| DESCRIBE | Show details about a catalog or catalog table. |
| CREATE STORAGE | Create a connection to external object storage. |
| ALTER STORAGE | Modify an existing storage connection. |