docs-mintlify/reference/core-data-apis/index.mdx
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 (JSON), and GraphQL.
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 (JSON) API or GraphQL API. When using the REST (JSON) 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.
<Note>See this GitHub issue for an unofficial, community-maintained client library for Python.
</Note>Support for data modeling features differ across APIs, integrations, and visualization tools. Some of the features with partial support are listed below:
| Feature | ✅ Supported in |
|---|---|
| Hierarchies | Microsoft Power BI via the DAX API |
| Cube Cloud for Excel | |
| Cube Cloud for Sheets | |
| Tableau via Semantic Layer Sync |
Also, supported in Playground | | Flat folders | Microsoft Power BI via the DAX API Cube Cloud for Excel Cube Cloud for Sheets Tableau via Semantic Layer Sync Apache Superset via Semantic Layer Sync Preset via Semantic Layer Sync
Also, supported in Playground | | Nested folders | Microsoft Power BI via the DAX API | | Custom time formats | Playground and Workbooks |
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.
Support for authentication methods differ across APIs, integrations, and visualization tools:
| Method | ✅ Supported in |
|---|---|
| User name and password | DAX API |
| Semantic Layer Sync | |
| SQL API | |
| Kerberos and NTLM | DAX API |
| Identity provider | Cube Cloud for Excel |
| Cube Cloud for Sheets | |
| JSON Web Token | REST (JSON) API |
| GraphQL API |