Is a Data API coming?

[tlaverdure]

Does Cockroach plan to add a data api that allows SQL queries over HTTP?

[Yash-xoxo]

CockroachDB doesn't have a built-in HTTP data API currently, but you have options:

What exists:

• HTTP Admin API - cluster management, not SQL queries
• SQL over pgwire - standard Postgres protocol (TCP)

Workarounds:

1. PostgREST - Auto-generates REST API from your schema

   docker run postgrest/postgrest
   # Point at CockroachDB as Postgres

2. Hasura - GraphQL API over Postgres-compatible DBs

3. Roll your own - Simple HTTP wrapper:

   http.HandleFunc("/query", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
       db.Query(r.FormValue("sql"))
   })

Why no native HTTP API?

• CockroachDB focuses on wire protocol compatibility
• HTTP adds overhead vs pgwire
• Ecosystem tools like PostgREST handle this well

Feature request: If you want native support, open an issue - the team tracks demand for features like this.

For serverless-style HTTP SQL access, consider CockroachDB Serverless which has better connection pooling for HTTP-like workloads.