superset2/docs/developer_docs/extensions/extension-points/sqllab.md

---
title: SQL Lab
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---

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# SQL Lab Extension Points

SQL Lab provides 4 extension points where extensions can contribute custom UI components. Each area serves a specific purpose and supports different types of customizations. These areas will evolve over time as new features are added to SQL Lab.

## Layout Overview

```
┌──────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────┬─────────────┐
│          │                                         │             │
│          │                                         │             │
│          │                Editor                   │             │
│          │                                         │             │
│   Left   │                                         │    Right    │
│  Sidebar ├─────────────────────────────────────────┤   Sidebar   │
│          │                                         │             │
│          │                Panels                   │             │
│          │                                         │             │
│          │                                         │             │
│          │                                         │             │
└──────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────┘
```

| Extension Point   | ID                    | Views | Menus | Description                                    |
| ----------------- | --------------------- | ----- | ----- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Left Sidebar**  | `sqllab.leftSidebar`  | —     | ✓     | Menu actions for the database explorer         |
| **Editor**        | `sqllab.editor`       | ✓\*   | ✓     | Custom editors + toolbar actions               |
| **Right Sidebar** | `sqllab.rightSidebar` | ✓     | —     | Custom panels (AI assistants, query analysis)  |
| **Panels**        | `sqllab.panels`       | ✓     | ✓     | Custom tabs + toolbar actions (data profiling) |

\*Editor views are contributed via [Editor Contributions](./editors.md), not standard view contributions.

## Customization Types

### Views

Extensions can add custom views (React components) to **Right Sidebar** and **Panels**. Views appear as new panels or tabs in their respective areas.

### Menus

Extensions can add toolbar actions to **Left Sidebar**, **Editor**, and **Panels**. Menu contributions support:

```
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  [Button] [Button]   [•••]                                    │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                          Area Content                         │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

| Action Type           | Location         | Use Case                                              |
| --------------------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Primary Actions**   | Toolbar buttons  | Frequently used actions (e.g., run, refresh, add new) |
| **Secondary Actions** | 3-dot menu (•••) | Less common actions (e.g., export, settings)          |

### Custom Editors

Extensions can replace the default SQL editor with custom implementations (Monaco, CodeMirror, etc.). See [Editor Contributions](./editors.md) for details.

## Examples

### Adding a Panel

This example adds a "Data Profiler" panel to SQL Lab:

```typescript
import React from 'react';
import { views } from '@apache-superset/core';
import DataProfilerPanel from './DataProfilerPanel';

views.registerView(
  { id: 'my-extension.data-profiler', name: 'Data Profiler' },
  'sqllab.panels',
  () => <DataProfilerPanel />,
);
```

### Adding Actions to the Editor

This example adds primary, secondary, and context actions to the editor:

```typescript
import { commands, menus, sqlLab } from '@apache-superset/core';

commands.registerCommand(
  { id: 'my-extension.format', title: 'Format Query', icon: 'FormatPainterOutlined' },
  async () => {
    const tab = sqlLab.getCurrentTab();
    if (tab) {
      const editor = await tab.getEditor();
      // Format the SQL query
    }
  },
);

commands.registerCommand(
  { id: 'my-extension.explain', title: 'Explain Query' },
  async () => {
    const tab = sqlLab.getCurrentTab();
    if (tab) {
      const editor = await tab.getEditor();
      // Show query explanation
    }
  },
);

commands.registerCommand(
  { id: 'my-extension.copy-as-cte', title: 'Copy as CTE' },
  async () => {
    const tab = sqlLab.getCurrentTab();
    if (tab) {
      const editor = await tab.getEditor();
      // Copy selected text as CTE
    }
  },
);

menus.registerMenuItem(
  { view: 'builtin.editor', command: 'my-extension.format' },
  'sqllab.editor',
  'primary',
);
menus.registerMenuItem(
  { view: 'builtin.editor', command: 'my-extension.explain' },
  'sqllab.editor',
  'secondary',
);
menus.registerMenuItem(
  { view: 'builtin.editor', command: 'my-extension.copy-as-cte' },
  'sqllab.editor',
  'context',
);
```

## Next Steps

- **[Contribution Types](../contribution-types.md)** - Learn about other contribution types (commands, menus)
- **[Development](../development.md)** - Set up your development environment
- **[Quick Start](../quick-start.md)** - Build a complete extension