---
title: Connecting to Databend and Running Queries with bendsql
description: Introducing the CLI tool bendsql
slug: category-engineering/bendsql
date: 2023-03-02
tags: [beginner]
category: Engineering
cover_url: bendsql-cover.png
image: bendsql-cover.png
authors:
  - Eric
---

Recently, the Databend team made the CLI tool "bendsql" available to Databend users. The tool was rolled out last year and provided a command-line alternative to connect to [Databend Cloud](https://www.databend.com/). Now, the team has extended its capabilities by allowing connections to Databend. This post walks you through the installation process and basic commands of bendsql.

{/* truncate */}

## Downloading and Installing bendsql

To download and install bendsql, please go to the [bendsql](https://github.com/databendcloud/bendsql) repository on GitHub and follow the README instructions.

## Connecting to Databend

Use `bendsql connect` to connect to a Databend instance:

```shell
eric@ericdeMacBook rsdoc % bendsql connect -h
Connect to Databend Instance

USAGE
  bendsql connect [flags]

FLAGS
  -d, --database string    (default "default")
  -H, --host string        (default "localhost")
  -p, --password string
  -P, --port int           (default 8000)
      --ssl
  -u, --user string        (default "root")

INHERITED FLAGS
  --help   Show help for command

LEARN MORE
  Use 'bendsql <command> <subcommand> --help' for more information about a command.
```

To connect to a local Databend, simply run `bendsql connect`:

```shell
eric@ericdeMacBook rsdoc % bendsql connect
Connected to Databend on Host: localhost
Version: DatabendQuery v0.9.58-nightly-790be61(rust-1.68.0-nightly-2023-03-01T16:41:18.376657Z)
```

## Running Queries with bendsql

After connecting bendsql to your Databend instance, you can use `bendsql query` to run queries with the tool:

```shell
eric@ericdeMacBook rsdoc % bendsql query
Connected with driver databend (DatabendQuery v0.9.58-nightly-790be61(rust-1.68.0-nightly-2023-03-01T16:41:18.376657Z))
Type "help" for help.

dd:root@localhost/default=> SELECT NOW();
+------------------------+
|         now()          |
+------------------------+
| 2023-03-02T21:47:10.4Z |
+------------------------+
(1 row)
```