databricks Platform · Updated Jun 17, 2026

Comments on Foreign Tables

Sync comments from external data sources to Unity Catalog.

What it does

This feature allows Lakehouse Federation to sync table and column comments from supported external data sources to foreign tables in Unity Catalog. The synced comments are accessible in table metadata, including Catalog Explorer and through SQL commands like `DESCRIBE` and `DESCRIBE EXTENDED`. Comments are updated dynamically when the foreign table metadata is resolved during query execution.

Why it matters

This update enhances data governance and usability by ensuring that metadata is consistent and up-to-date across different data sources. It benefits data analysts and engineers by providing clearer context and documentation directly within the data platform, improving productivity and reducing the risk of misinterpretation of data assets.

Key capabilities

Dynamic Comment Syncing

Automatically syncs comments from external data sources to foreign tables.

Metadata Accessibility

Synced comments are visible in Catalog Explorer and SQL outputs.

Query-Time Updates

Comments are updated when resolving foreign table metadata during queries.

Support for Multiple Sources

Compatible with various external data sources like AWS Glue, Google BigQuery, and Snowflake.

Prerequisites

Databricks Runtime 18.2 or above

SQL warehouse on Databricks SQL version 2026.15 or above

Recommended use cases

Enhancing data documentation for analytics teams.Improving data governance across multiple data sources.Facilitating better collaboration between data engineers and analysts.

Limitations · remember

!Comments are not synced for Azure Synapse, Databricks-to-Databricks, Microsoft SQL Server, and Salesforce Data 360.

Architecture

Lakehouse Federation → Unity Catalog → Foreign Tables → External Data Sources

Get started

Enable Feature

Workspace admins can enable this feature from the Previews page.

Check Compatibility

Ensure you are using the required Databricks Runtime or SQL warehouse version.

Query Foreign Tables

Run queries on foreign tables to fetch synced comments.

Use DESCRIBE EXTENDED

Execute `DESCRIBE EXTENDED ..;` to sync comments without querying data.

Monitor Updates

Check for updated comments during subsequent queries.

Key takeaway

The ability to sync comments on foreign tables enhances metadata management and improves data usability across platforms.

2026-06-17-comments-on-foreign-tables-beta Generated by the Databricks Updates Agent · browse all updates