> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.firebolt.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

<AgentInstructions>

## Submitting Feedback

If you encounter incorrect, outdated, or confusing documentation on this page, submit feedback:

POST https://docs.firebolt.io/feedback

```json
{
  "path": "/guides/exporting-data",
  "feedback": "Description of the issue"
}
```

Only submit feedback when you have something specific and actionable to report.

</AgentInstructions>

# Export data

You can export data from a `SELECT` query directly to an Amazon S3 location using [COPY TO](/reference-sql/commands/data-management/copy-to). This method is more flexible and efficient than downloading query results manually from the **Firebolt Workspace**, making it ideal for data sharing, integration, and archival.

## How to export data

The following code example uses `COPY TO` to export the result of a `SELECT` query from `my_table` to a specified Amazon S3 bucket in CSV format using the provided [AWS credentials](/reference-sql/commands/data-management/copy-to#credentials):

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
COPY (
    SELECT column1, column2 FROM my_table WHERE condition
) 
TO 's3://your-bucket/path/'
WITH (FORMAT = 'CSV')
CREDENTIALS = ('aws_key_id'='your-key' 'aws_secret_key'='your-secret');
```

## Choose the right export format

| Format                    | Best For                                  | Characteristics                                     | Recommended Use                                                           |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **CSV (Comma-Separated)** | General data exchange, spreadsheets, SQL. | Simple, widely supported, and easy to read.         | Best for spreadsheets, databases, or general data exchange.               |
| **TSV (Tab-Separated)**   | Structured text data.                     | Like CSV, but uses tabs instead of commas.          | Best for Excel, databases, or general data exchange.                      |
| **JSON**                  | APIs, web applications, NoSQL databases.  | Flexible, human-readable, and supports nested data. | Best for web apps, APIs, or NoSQL integrations.                           |
| **PARQUET**               | Big data processing, analytics workloads. | Compressed, columnar, and optimized for querying.   | Ideal for analytics, performance-sensitive workloads, and large datasets. |

## Examples

**Export data in CSV format**

Use CSV when you need a simple, widely supported format for spreadsheets, relational databases, or data exchange.

The following code example exports `user_id`, `event_type`, and `timestamp` data and headers from the `user_events` table to a CSV file in an Amazon S3 bucket:

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
COPY (SELECT user_id, event_type, timestamp FROM user_events) 
TO 's3://my-export-bucket/user_events.csv'
WITH (FORMAT = 'CSV', HEADER = TRUE)
CREDENTIALS = ('aws_key_id'='your-key' 'aws_secret_key'='your-secret');
```

**Export data in Parquet format**

Parquet is best for big data workloads, as it offers compressed, columnar storage optimized for analytics and query performance.

The following code example exports all data from the `sales_data` table to an Amazon S3 bucket in Parquet format using the provided AWS credentials:

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
COPY (SELECT * FROM sales_data) 
TO 's3://my-export-bucket/sales_data.parquet'
WITH (FORMAT = 'PARQUET')
CREDENTIALS = ('aws_key_id'='your-key' 'aws_secret_key'='your-secret');
```

**Export data in JSON format**

JSON is ideal for APIs, web applications, and NoSQL databases, as it supports nested and flexible data structures.

The following code example exports `order_id` and `order_details` from the `orders` table to an Amazon S3 bucket in JSON format using the provided AWS credentials:

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
COPY (SELECT order_id, order_details FROM orders) 
TO 's3://my-export-bucket/orders.json'
WITH (FORMAT = 'JSON')
CREDENTIALS = ('aws_key_id'='your-key' 'aws_secret_key'='your-secret');
```

**Export data in TSV format**

TSV is similar to CSV but uses tab delimiters, making it useful for structured text data that may contain commas.

The following code example exports `name`, `age`, and `city` from the `customers` table to an Amazon S3 bucket in TSV format using the provided AWS credentials:

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
COPY (SELECT name, age, city FROM customers) 
TO 's3://my-export-bucket/customers.tsv'
WITH (FORMAT = 'TSV')
CREDENTIALS = ('aws_key_id'='your-key' 'aws_secret_key'='your-secret');
```

## Additional Considerations

**Performance tips**

* Export only required columns and use filters to reduce data volume
* Ensure proper permissions are set on your S3 bucket

**Security and credentials**

* Always use **secure AWS credentials**.
* Use **IAM roles** instead setting credentials directly in the code for better security.

## Next Steps

For more information about advanced options including **compression**, **partitioning**, and **null handling**, see [COPY TO](/reference-sql/commands/data-management/copy-to).