> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.speckle.systems/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Snowflake

> Register read-only Snowflake tables and views as data sources in Speckle for the AI chat and data tools.

<Note>
  The Snowflake integration is in **Beta** and is enabled per workspace. Before you can register
  tables or views, an IT administrator must prepare Snowflake and connect the warehouse in Speckle.
  If your project's **Integrations** does not show Snowflake, ask your IT administrator to follow
  [Enable Snowflake integration](/workspaces/it-admin-snowflake-integration).
</Note>

## Setup

These steps assume an IT administrator has already connected a Snowflake warehouse in Speckle. If it hasn't, your IT administrator must complete [Enable Snowflake integration](/workspaces/it-admin-snowflake-integration) first.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Browse to your table or view">
    In Speckle, open your project's **Integrations > Snowflake**, expand **database > schema**, and find the table or view you want. Only databases, schemas, tables, and views your IT administrator has granted access to will appear. Select a table or view to preview its rows.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/speckle/9RbkumpeJG7u9HEf/images/connectors/data-warehouses/snowflake_preview_table.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9RbkumpeJG7u9HEf&q=85&s=6a97ad85809d407f3819abfa733ca9a1" alt="Browsing and previewing a Snowflake table or view" width="2400" height="1756" data-path="images/connectors/data-warehouses/snowflake_preview_table.png" />
    </Frame>

    You can preview the rows before registering.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the columns and register">
    Select **Register data source**, pick the **columns** to include — only the columns you choose are ever read or cached — then choose a short **Name** for the data source. You can also adjust the **Snapshot TTL** (time to live) if the default freshness window does not fit your workflow. The TTL controls how long Speckle reuses the cached snapshot before it is considered stale. Select **Register data source** to finish. Speckle validates access and the table now appears as a registered data source.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/speckle/9RbkumpeJG7u9HEf/images/connectors/data-warehouses/snowflake_register_table.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9RbkumpeJG7u9HEf&q=85&s=4d2b66f6eb055628d95b8b030c9cdb2c" alt="Registering a Snowflake table or view as a data source" width="2400" height="1756" data-path="images/connectors/data-warehouses/snowflake_register_table.png" />
    </Frame>

    The table or view appears as a registered data source in your project.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Registered data sources are available to Speckle tools such as the **AI chat**, where you can query the table and combine it with your model data. See [Intelligence Dashboards](/analytics/intelligence-dashboards) for analytics and data tools.

## How snapshots are stored and refreshed

When you register a table or view, Speckle stores the selected columns as a cached **snapshot** in your workspace's object storage. Tools query the snapshot rather than your live warehouse.

* **Snapshot TTL.** TTL means **time to live**. It is the freshness window for the cached snapshot. The default is 24 hours.
* **Automatic refresh.** After the TTL expires, the snapshot is marked stale. Speckle rebuilds it from Snowflake the next time a tool uses that registered data source.
* **Manual refresh.** You can force an immediate refresh from the registered table's controls — useful right after the source data changes.
* **Disconnecting.** If your IT administrator removes the Snowflake connection, registered sources keep serving their **last snapshot read-only**. Reconnecting the same warehouse relinks them and resumes refreshing.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Which columns does Speckle read?">
    Only the columns you select when registering a table or view. Columns you don't include are
    never queried or cached.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is the data live or cached?">
    Speckle stores a snapshot of your registered columns and refreshes it on a schedule. See [How
    snapshots are stored and refreshed](#how-snapshots-are-stored-and-refreshed).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What does Snapshot TTL mean?">
    TTL means **time to live**. It controls how long Speckle treats the cached snapshot as fresh.
    After that time passes, Speckle refreshes the snapshot from Snowflake the next time it is used.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if the Snowflake connection is removed?">
    Your registered sources keep serving their last cached snapshot read-only, so existing tools
    don't break. If your IT administrator reconnects the same warehouse, refreshing resumes.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can Speckle modify or write to my warehouse?">
    No. The integration is **read-only** — Speckle issues read-only queries only and never writes,
    updates, or deletes data in Snowflake.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>