DBeaver is a desktop database client for Windows, macOS and Linux. Its free, open-source Community edition connects to databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, Oracle and SQL Server. It combines SQL scripts, editable table data and database structure views, so you can query records and inspect the tables behind them within the same application.
Database connections
Each connection in DBeaver stores the database driver and the information needed to reach a particular database. For a server database, that usually means a host, port, database name and credentials. An embedded database can instead use a local file path. The available settings follow the selected driver, with JDBC support allowing DBeaver to work with many database systems.
Saved connections appear in a tree where you can open database objects and filter their names. Connection types distinguish development, test and production environments, while connection settings control the initial database or schema and transaction behavior.
SQL scripts
The SQL editor saves scripts as files for later use and displays query results beneath the script. Syntax highlighting follows the connected database’s SQL dialect. Completion suggestions, reusable SQL templates and formatting help with composing statements, while recognized table and view names can open their object editors directly.
DBeaver can retain the SQL text while you change its active connection or schema. For longer queries, an outline presents their components as a tree: selecting an item highlights the corresponding fragment in the editor. Result tabs use the Data Editor, connecting the written query to the same filtering, viewing and export controls used for table data.
Transactions
For databases that support transactions, DBeaver offers automatic and manual commit modes. Auto-commit finalizes each statement after execution. Manual commit leaves data changes pending until you choose Commit or Rollback, allowing several related changes to form one transaction. Already committed changes cannot be undone through Rollback.
A pending-transactions view brings together open transactions from the current session, and a transaction log records executed operations. Smart commit provides another option: it leaves ordinary SELECT queries in auto-commit mode, then switches to manual commit before a statement changes data or an edited table is saved.
Table editing
The Data Editor shows table contents and query results in a grid. You can filter values, set column ordering or switch to a record layout that displays one row’s fields vertically. A separate value editor gives individual cells more space than the grid provides.
Editable tables support changes to values, new rows, duplicated records and row deletion. Unsaved changes remain available to save or cancel; marking a row for deletion does not immediately remove it from the database. Editing depends on the connection’s permissions and whether DBeaver can identify the underlying rows. Read-only connections and results from complex queries can therefore remain view-only.
Data transfers
DBeaver exports tables and query results to formats including CSV, JSON, XML and SQL. The transfer controls let you choose columns and, when exporting from a result grid, use selected rows or data already fetched. CSV settings cover delimiters, headers, encoding and the representation of NULL values. SQL export produces statements for inserting the exported records into a target table.
CSV import works in the other direction. You select the source file and destination table, configure how the file is read, then map its columns to database columns. Date patterns, NULL markers and the treatment of empty strings determine how text in the file becomes stored values.
Import and export configurations can be saved as tasks and run again from the Database Tasks view. A saved task retains choices such as the objects and file format, avoiding the need to configure the same transfer each time. Time-based task scheduling belongs to the paid editions.
Relationship diagrams
Entity relationship diagrams display tables and their links for an individual object or an entire schema. You can rearrange the tables and choose whether to show all columns or only keys, along with details such as data types and nullability.
DBeaver can retain a diagram’s layout locally, print it or export an image such as PNG.
AI Chat and DBeaver editions
AI Chat accepts natural-language requests and returns SQL that you can copy, open in the SQL editor or execute. You choose the database connection and the metadata scope supplied as context, ranging from the current schema to a custom selection of objects. Conversations retain earlier questions so a request can build on the preceding exchange.
Community includes AI Chat alongside its SQL and data editors. Paid DBeaver PRO editions extend the application with features such as a visual query builder, ODBC connections, additional NoSQL support and native cloud integrations.
