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Explorer: Visual Query Builder

VSCode document

Explorer is a no-code, visual query builder for Malloy. Use it yourself in VS Code during development, or serve it to your entire team via Publisher.

Accessing Explorer

In VS Code

Click Explore above a source: definition to open Explorer directly in VS Code.

Explore link above source in VS Code

Via Publisher

Deploy Publisher (see Publishing) and share the URL with your team. Click on a published Malloy model to explore it.

Publisher model list

The URL format is: http://localhost:4000/project/package/model

Anyone with access to Publisher can explore your semantic models—no Malloy knowledge required.

Key Benefits

  • Semantic-first foundation – Every query runs against a Malloy model, which captures the business meaning and relationships of the data.

  • No-code UX – Construct queries visually using dimensions, measures, filters, and charts.

  • Live, nested analysis – Drill down into rich multi-level breakdowns using Malloy's native nesting capabilities.

  • Full transparency – View the Malloy and SQL generated by your visual query.

  • AI and developer ready – All queries are valid Malloy code, making them composable, reusable, and LLM-consumable.

  • Guaranteed correct metrics – Malloy supports symmetric aggregates, ensuring that metrics compute correctly even across joins with varying cardinality.

Interface Overview

Explorer is organized into three main panels:

  1. Source Panel – Browse available dimensions, measures, and views from the semantic model.

  2. Query Panel – Assemble and refine your query using a visual editor.

  3. Results Panel – View results as tables or charts, and inspect the underlying Malloy and SQL.

Explorer Full UI

Source Panel

The Source Panel presents the structure of your Malloy model—typically organized around a central fact table—and surfaces all the fields and reusable logic available for analysis.

Source Panel

The panel is organized into three sections:

Dimensions

Attributes you can group by, filter on, or sort with. Dimensions are grouped by their source. For example, in a query centered around order_items, you might also see dimensions from joined models like users or products.

Hovering over a dimension reveals actions:

  • Add as Group By – Segment results by this dimension

  • Add as Filter – Apply a filter based on the field

  • Add as Sort – Sort results by this value

Dimension Hover Actions

Measures

Predefined metrics you can aggregate, filter on, or sort with. These include calculations such as totals, averages, counts, and ratios.

Hovering over a measure provides actions:

  • Add as Aggregate – Include the metric in results

  • Add as Filter – Use the measure to restrict results

  • Add as Sort – Sort results based on the metric value

Measure Hover Actions

Views

Saved queries defined in the underlying Malloy model. Views often represent curated KPIs, commonly-used explorations, or analytical building blocks.

Hovering over a view provides actions:

  • Add to Query – Load the view's query

  • Add as Nested Query – Add the view as a nested subquery

View Hover Actions

Query Panel

The Query Panel is where queries come together. It provides a structured, visual representation of your query.

Query Panel

Top Components

  • Run Button – Execute the query and display results

  • Clear Button – Remove the current query configuration

  • Source – Shows which source the query runs against

  • Chart Type Selector – Select visualization type

  • Query Display – Shows your current query structure

Add Query Element (+)

This menu lets you add fields by operation type:

  • Add Group By

  • Add Aggregate

  • Add Filter

  • Add View

  • Limit

  • Order By

  • Add Blank Nested Query

Add Query Element

Display Format Selector

Choose how to visualize results:

  • Table

  • Bar Chart

  • Line Chart

  • Dashboard

  • JSON

  • List / List Detail

  • Point Map

  • Scatter Chart

  • Segment Map

Chart Selector

Query Configuration

Your current query displays in clearly labeled sections:

  • Group By – Dimensions to segment by

  • Aggregate – Measures to calculate

  • Filter By – Conditions to apply

  • Order By – Sort order

  • Limit – Row limit

Hovering over a section shows additional ways to add elements.

Query Panel Hover

Nested Queries

Malloy's nesting feature enables rich, multidimensional analysis—and Explorer gives you a no-code way to use it.

To add a nested query:

  • Select Nest Query from the Query Panel More Actions menu

  • Or hover over a view in the Source Panel and select Add as Nested Query

Nest Action

Each nested block can have its own groupings, aggregates, filters, ordering, and even additional nests.

Building Nested Query

Use nesting to:

  • Break down results by subgroups

  • Create expandable subtables or charts

  • Explore deep, layered data relationships

Malloy compiles nested blocks into safe, aggregating subqueries in SQL. Filters can be scoped to any level.

Results Panel

The Results Panel displays query output whenever you click Run. Results render according to your selected chart type and include support for nested results.

Results Panel

Nested queries produce expandable sub-tables or inline charts that show multidimensional breakdowns per row.

Code Transparency

Alongside visual output, the Results Panel includes:

Malloy Tab – Shows the Malloy query generated by your visual configuration.

Generated Malloy

SQL Tab – Displays the fully compiled SQL sent to the database.

Generated SQL

This transparency gives developers, analysts, and AI systems full access to inspect, reproduce, or extend any query.

When to Use Explorer

Use Explorer when:

  • Interactive exploration

  • Ad-hoc business questions

  • Visualizing results

  • Sharing findings via URL

  • No coding required

Use other tools when:

Next Steps

Explorer is a Publisher SDK component. If you want to embed it in your own data application, see the SDK documentation.