Today, we’re excited to announce the general availability of MongoDB SQL Interface for MongoDB Enterprise Advanced. This builds upon the foundation established by MongoDB Atlas SQL Interface, which began by extending SQL connectivity to self-managed MongoDB deployments. Teams can now query their MongoDB data directly from familiar BI tools like Tableau and Microsoft’s Power BI using standard ODBC and Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) connections, eliminating the need to learn MongoDB Query Language (MQL), build extract, transform, and load (ETL) pipelines, or move data.

Bridging the SQL-MongoDB gap

Organizations new to MongoDB often face a data access challenge: While developers benefit from increased flexibility and performance, teams moving from SQL-based tools often struggle to access the data they need. Without direct SQL connectivity, they must either learn MongoDB’s query language or build and maintain custom ETL pipelines to move data out of MongoDB for reporting and analytics. This creates fragmented operational reporting workflows, with users switching between multiple tools and data sources to piece together the insights they need. These approaches often lead to increased maintenance overhead, outdated data, and dependency bottlenecks.

MongoDB SQL Interface now eliminates this friction by providing direct SQL access to MongoDB data through custom connectors and drivers. This works by generating comprehensive JSON schemas of MongoDB collections and translating standard SQL queries into MongoDB operations in real time. Users can connect from popular BI tools like Tableau and Power BI, or through JDBC and ODBC drivers for other SQL-based tools. They can use familiar SQL syntax, including joins, aggregations, and subqueries through MongoSQL, a SQL-92 compatible dialect designed specifically for MongoDB. This speeds up analysis and enables self-service reporting while maintaining database performance.

Getting started

MongoDB SQL Interface is now included with Enterprise Advanced licenses and works with MongoDB 6.0 or higher, requiring no changes to your existing MongoDB server configuration. The setup process involves three main steps:

1. Download the MongoDB SQL Schema Builder CLI from the download center.
2. Use the command line interface (CLI) to analyze your data structure and generate schemas that map your collections’ document structures to SQL-queryable formats.
3. Connect your BI tools using MongoDB’s custom connectors for Tableau and Power BI, or JDBC and ODBC drivers for other SQL-based tools.

The Schema Builder CLI examines your existing collections to understand document patterns, nested objects, and array structures. It then creates JSON Schema definitions that preserve the full richness of your document model while making complex nested structures and arrays queryable through familiar SQL syntax. This schema-first approach ensures optimal query performance and maintains data type accuracy across your SQL operations.

Once the MongoDB Schema Builder CLI generates your schemas, it stores them alongside your data. SQL Interface then automatically uses them to validate queries and provide proper type information for results. This creates a seamless bridge between MongoDB’s flexible document model and SQL’s structured query expectations.

Moving forward from MongoDB BI Connector

For organizations currently using MongoDB BI Connector, MongoDB SQL Interface represents a significant improvement to our SQL connectivity solution. The interface addresses several limitations of the MongoDB BI Connector approach, including improved query performance through native MongoDB operations and enhanced schema flexibility that better represents document structures. While support for BI Connector will continue until September 2026, MongoDB SQL Interface offers improved performance, enhanced schema control, and a more intuitive setup process.