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databricks Platform · Updated Jul 22, 2026

Databricks-hosted Sample Datasets

Access a variety of sample datasets through the samples catalog.

GA Open docs ↗release note ↗
What it does

Databricks has made sample datasets available in the `samples` catalog as `samples.databricks.datasets`, accessible in Unity Catalog-enabled workspaces. This includes a variety of datasets such as taxi trip records, TPC benchmark datasets, and simulated datasets for testing and building data pipelines. Users can reference these datasets directly in notebooks or SQL editors using the `..` format.

Why it matters

This update enhances data accessibility and usability for data engineers and analysts, allowing them to quickly prototype and test data pipelines without needing to source external datasets. It streamlines the development process, reduces time to insights, and supports better data governance through the Unity Catalog.

Key capabilities
Sample Dataset Access
Access a variety of Databricks-provided datasets for testing and development.
Unity Catalog Integration
Datasets are available in Unity Catalog, ensuring better governance and organization.
Direct Querying
Users can query datasets directly in notebooks and SQL editors using a standard format.
Diverse Dataset Options
Includes datasets like NYC taxi records and TPC benchmark datasets for varied use cases.
Prerequisites
Unity Catalog-enabled workspace
Recommended use cases
Building and testing data pipelinesPrototyping analytics solutionsEvaluating system performance with benchmark datasetsTraining machine learning models with real-world data
Architecture
Unity Catalog → Samples Catalog → Databricks Datasets
In short

You can now access Databricks-hosted sample datasets directly from the samples catalog in Unity Catalog-enabled workspaces.

Read the full documentation ↗
Key takeaway
Databricks now offers a streamlined way to access sample datasets, enhancing data pipeline development and testing.
2026-07-22-databricks-hosted-sample-datasets-available-in-the-samples-catalog Generated by the Databricks Updates Agent · browse all updates