Core Data APIs

Core Data APIs enable you to query and retrieve data from your Cube semantic layer using various protocols and formats, including SQL, DAX, REST, and GraphQL.

Choosing the Right API

• To connect to Microsoft Power BI, use the DAX API

• To connect to Microsoft Excel, use Cube Cloud for Excel

• To connect to Google Sheets, use Cube Cloud for Sheets

• To connect to AI assistants, use the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server

• For internal or self-serve business intelligence , use Semantic Layer Sync if it supports your BI tools. Otherwise, connect via the SQL API directly

• For embedded analytics  and real-time analytics , use REST API or GraphQL API. When using the REST API, the JavaScript SDK can simplify integration with your front-end code

All Core Data APIs share common querying concepts and support authentication, security contexts, and access policies defined in your semantic layer.

Data modeling

Support for data modeling features differ across APIs, integrations, and visualization tools. Some of the features with partial support are listed below:

Personal Core Data API Token

Cube users can generate a personal token to authenticate SQL API connections from external tools like BI dashboards, notebooks, and SQL clients. Navigate to Preferences → Personal Core Data API Token and click Generate Token.

The token authenticates as that user, so all groups, user attributes, and data access policies are applied to queries made with this token. The page also provides connection instructions including host, port, and database name for your deployment.

Authentication methods

Support for authentication methods differ across APIs, integrations, and visualization tools: