grafana/docs/sources/datasources/_index.md

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data-sources/ overview/	Data sources	60

Data sources

Grafana can query and integrate with many different types of databases. This is done by adding a data source of the type you want to query or integrate with. When you have created and configured a data source you are ready to start exploring and visualizing data, either in Explore or in a new Dashboard. A dashboard is composed of [panels]({{< relref "../panels-visualizations/" >}}), each panel contains a set of queries to one or more data sources.

You can also create new a alert rule from a data source query and have Grafana continuously evaluate it and notify you when things change.

You can also query data sources without building a dashboard by using the [Explore]({{< relref "../explore/" >}}) feature.

Manage data sources

Only users with the [organization administrator role]({{< relref "../administration/roles-and-permissions#organization-roles" >}}) can add or remove data sources. To access data source management tools in Grafana as an administrator, navigate to Configuration > Data Sources in the Grafana sidebar.

For details on data source management, including instructions on how to add data sources and configure user permissions for queries, refer to the [administration documentation]({{< relref "../administration/data-source-management" >}}).

Use query editors

{{< figure src="/static/img/docs/queries/influxdb-query-editor-7-2.png" class="docs-image--no-shadow" max-width="1000px" caption="The InfluxDB query editor" >}}

Each data source's query editor provides a customized user interface that helps you write queries that take advantage of its unique capabilities. You use a data source's query editor when you create queries in [dashboard panels]({{< relref "../panels-visualizations/query-transform-data" >}}) or [Explore]({{< relref "../explore/" >}}).

Because of the differences between query languages, each data source query editor looks and functions differently. Depending on your data source, the query editor might provide auto-completion features, metric names, variable suggestions, or a visual query-building interface.

For example, this video demonstrates the visual Prometheus query builder:

{{< vimeo 720004179 >}}

For general information about querying in Grafana, and common options and user interface elements across all query editors, refer to [Query and transform data]({{< relref "../panels-visualizations/query-transform-data/" >}}).

Built-in core data sources

These built-in core data sources are included in the Grafana documentation:

• [Alertmanager]({{< relref "./alertmanager/" >}})
• [AWS CloudWatch]({{< relref "./aws-cloudwatch/" >}})
• [Azure Monitor]({{< relref "./azure-monitor/" >}})
• [Elasticsearch]({{< relref "./elasticsearch/" >}})
• [Google Cloud Monitoring]({{< relref "./google-cloud-monitoring/" >}})
• [Graphite]({{< relref "./graphite/" >}})
• [InfluxDB]({{< relref "./influxdb/" >}})
• [Jaeger]({{< relref "./jaeger/" >}})
• [Loki]({{< relref "./loki/" >}})
• [Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL)]({{< relref "./mssql/" >}})
• [MySQL]({{< relref "./mysql/" >}})
• [OpenTSDB]({{< relref "./opentsdb/" >}})
• [PostgreSQL]({{< relref "./postgres/" >}})
• [Prometheus]({{< relref "./prometheus/" >}})
• [Tempo]({{< relref "./tempo/" >}})
• [Testdata]({{< relref "./testdata/" >}})
• [Zipkin]({{< relref "./zipkin/" >}})

Special data sources

Grafana also includes three special data sources:

• Grafana: A built-in data source that generates random walk data and can poll the [Testdata]({{< relref "./testdata/" >}}) data source. This helps you test visualizations and run experiments.
• Mixed: An abstraction that lets you query multiple data sources in the same panel. When you select Mixed, you can then select a different data source for each new query that you add.
  • The first query uses the data source that was selected before you selected Mixed.
  • You can't change an existing query to use the Mixed data source.
  • Grafana Play example: Mixed data sources
• Dashboard: A data source that uses the result set from another panel in the same dashboard.