Introduction to saved queries

This document provides an introduction to saved queries in BigQuery. You can use saved queries to create and manage SQL scripts. Changes to a saved query are automatically saved so that you don't lose your work when you close the query editor. Saved queries improve collaboration and query management with the following options:

  • Share saved queries with specific users and groups by using Identity and Access Management (IAM).
  • Review the query version history.
  • Revert to or branch from previous versions of the query.

Saved queries are BigQuery Studio code assets powered by Dataform. Notebooks are also code assets. All code assets are stored in a default region. Updating the default region changes the region for all code assets created after that point.

Saved query capabilities are available only in the Google Cloud console.

Saved query security

You control access to saved queries by using Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles. For more information, see Share saved queries.

Supported regions

BigQuery Studio lets you save, share, and manage saved queries. The following table lists the regions where BigQuery Studio is available:

Region descriptionRegion nameDetails
Africa
Johannesburgafrica-south1
Americas
Columbusus-east5
Dallasus-south1leaf icon Low CO2
Iowaus-central1leaf icon Low CO2
Los Angelesus-west2
Las Vegasus-west4
Montréalnorthamerica-northeast1leaf icon Low CO2
N. Virginiaus-east4
Oregonus-west1leaf icon Low CO2
São Paulosouthamerica-east1leaf icon Low CO2
South Carolinaus-east1
Asia Pacific
Hong Kongasia-east2
Jakartaasia-southeast2
Mumbaiasia-south1
Seoulasia-northeast3
Singaporeasia-southeast1
Sydneyaustralia-southeast1
Taiwanasia-east1
Tokyoasia-northeast1
Europe
Belgiumeurope-west1leaf icon Low CO2
Frankfurteurope-west3leaf icon Low CO2
Londoneurope-west2leaf icon Low CO2
Madrideurope-southwest1leaf icon Low CO2
Netherlandseurope-west4leaf icon Low CO2
Turineurope-west12
Züricheurope-west6leaf icon Low CO2
Middle East
Dohame-central1
Dammamme-central2

Quotas and limits

For more information, see Saved query quotas and limits.

Limitations

Saved queries have the following limitations:

Classic saved queries

Classic saved queries are an earlier way of saving and sharing SQL queries. Classic saved queries provide the query text, and the only query setting retained by a classic saved query is the SQL version. This setting governs whether the query uses legacy SQL or GoogleSQL. To query the data, users must have access to the data that the saved query accesses.

There are 3 types of classic saved queries:

  • Personal. Personal classic saved queries are visible only to the user who creates them. They are identified with the icon.
  • Project-level. Project-level saved queries are visible to principals that have the required permissions. They are identified with the icon.
  • Public. Public classic saved queries are visible to anyone with a link to the query. They are identified with the icon.

You can migrate classic saved queries to saved queries to take advantage of the new capabilities, or continue to maintain them as classic saved queries until deprecation. The timeline for deprecation is being reviewed.

The classic saved query feature is available only in the Google Cloud console.

Deprecation of classic saved queries

The saved queries feature of BigQuery Studio will replace classic saved queries. The deprecation timeline is being reviewed. To edit existing classic saved queries after deprecation, you must migrate classic queries to BigQuery Studio saved queries.

If users, including yourself, have personal queries with information that shouldn't be made available to others with access to data in the project, then the query's owner must delete the queries or the information before completing the migration.

To support this transition, the following BigQuery IAM roles were updated in February 2024:

To let users without the BigQuery Admin, BigQuery Job User, or BigQuery User roles use saved queries, grant them the required permissions in IAM.

Custom roles won't be automatically updated. To update a custom role with the required permissions, see Edit an existing custom role.

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