Introduction to datasets
This page provides an overview of datasets in BigQuery.
Datasets
A dataset is contained within a specific project. Datasets are top-level containers that are used to organize and control access to your tables and views. A table or view must belong to a dataset, so you need to create at least one dataset before loading data into BigQuery.
Dataset limitations
BigQuery datasets are subject to the following limitations:
- You can set the geographic location at creation time only. After a dataset has
been created, the location becomes immutable and can't be changed by using the
Google Cloud console, using the
bqcommand-line tool, or calling thepatchorupdateAPI methods. All tables that are referenced in a query must be stored in datasets in the same location.
When you copy a table, the datasets that contain the source table and destination table must reside in the same location.
Dataset names must be unique for each project.
Dataset quotas
For more information on dataset quotas and limits, see Quotas and limits.
Dataset pricing
You are not charged for creating, updating, or deleting a dataset.
For more information on BigQuery pricing, see Pricing.
Dataset security
To control access to datasets in BigQuery, see Controlling access to datasets. For information about data encryption, see Encryption at rest.
Next steps
- For more information on creating datasets, see Creating datasets.
- For more information on assigning access controls to datasets, see Controlling access to datasets.