Looker – Product

Enterprise BI & Embedded Analytics Platform

Looker is more than just a visualization tool; it is a complete data platform that sits on top of your database. By using a centralized semantic layer (LookML), Looker ensures that every department in your organization – from marketing to finance – uses the exact same definitions for their metrics. It empowers users to explore data independently while maintaining a single source of truth.

The Semantic Layer (LookML)

Stop arguing about whose number is correct. LookML allows you to define business logic and metrics once centrally. When a definition changes, it updates everywhere instantly, ensuring total consistency across all reports and dashboards.

In-Database Architecture

Looker doesn't extract your data; it queries it directly where it lives. By leveraging the power of modern cloud data warehouses like BigQuery, Looker delivers real-time insights on massive datasets without the need for data movement or cubes.

Embedded Analytics

Deliver data experiences to your customers. Looker's architecture makes it easy to embed interactive dashboards and custom data applications directly into your own product, portal, or website, providing value to your external users.

API-First Platform

Looker is built to be integrated. Its robust API allows you to send data to other applications, automate workflows, or build entirely custom front-end experiences powered by the Looker engine.

See what features Looker offers:

Governed Self-Service

True self-service means giving users freedom without chaos. Looker's semantic layer acts as a guardrail, allowing non-technical users to build their own queries and explore data safely. They can filter, pivot, and drill down into details, knowing that the underlying calculations are governed and accurate.

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Curated Exploration

Business users explore trusted data without needing to know SQL.

Shared Definitions

Define 'Gross Margin' once in code, and it applies to every report.

Code-Based Git Workflow

Analysts use Git for version control, collaboration, and peer review of data models.

Data Experiences

Looker goes beyond internal reporting. It powers 'Data Experiences' – custom applications that infuse data into workflows. Whether it's a customer-facing portal, a custom internal tool for the sales team, or an automated alert system, Looker turns static data into interactive software.

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Custom Applications

Build bespoke tools and portals powered by Looker's data engine.

Embedded Dashboards

White-label Looker visualizations and place them inside your own SaaS product.

Action Hub

Send data directly to tools like Slack, HubSpot, or Marketo to trigger workflows.

Multi-Cloud Agility

Looker is database-agnostic and multi-cloud. While it integrates perfectly with Google Cloud and BigQuery, it connects to any SQL-compliant database (like Snowflake, Redshift, or PostgreSQL) and can be hosted on AWS, Azure, or GCP. This flexibility ensures it fits into your existing tech stack.

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Database Freedom

Connect to 50+ supported SQL dialects including BigQuery, Snowflake, and Redshift.

Hosting Options

Choose between Looker-hosted (SaaS) or self-hosted options to meet compliance needs.

No Data Movement

Query data directly in the database for real-time results and lower latency.

Product Updates

What’s new from Looker: Get product updates about the latest features and insights into betas and learn how to use them. Digitl supports customers in using the products most efficiently and staying at the forefront of innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

LookML (Looker Modeling Language) is a language used to describe dimensions, aggregates, calculations, and data relationships in a SQL database. It provides a semantic layer between the database and the user, ensuring that all queries generated by Looker use consistent, governed logic.

No, Looker does not store your data. It connects directly to your analytic database and runs queries in real-time. This 'in-database' architecture means you don't have to extract data into a proprietary engine, ensuring data freshness and security.

Yes, Looker is multi-cloud and database agnostic. It supports over 50 SQL dialects, including Snowflake, Amazon Redshift, Azure Synapse, PostgreSQL, and of course, Google BigQuery.

The main difference is the semantic layer. Tools like Tableau often rely on extracting data or defining metrics at the report level, which can lead to inconsistency. Looker defines metrics centrally in code (LookML), so the definition is reusable and consistent across the entire enterprise. Looker is also web-native and API-first, making it superior for embedded analytics.