Azure Data Api Builder Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Data Api Builder. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.

How to Use This Skill

> IMPORTANT for Agent: Use the Category Index below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., L35-L120), use read_file with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., [security.md](security.md)), use read_file on the linked reference file

> IMPORTANT for Agent: If metadata.generated_at is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If mcp_microsoftdocs tools are not available, suggest the user install it: Installation Guide

This skill requires network access to fetch documentation content:

• Preferred: Use mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch with query string from=learn-agent-skill. Returns Markdown.
• Fallback: Use fetch_webpage with query string from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown. Returns Markdown.

Category Index

| Category | Lines | Description | |----------|-------|-------------| | Troubleshooting | L36-L48 | Diagnosing and fixing DAB issues: config/CLI errors, REST/CORS problems, GraphQL schema/auth, and database-specific troubles for Cosmos DB, SQL (incl. MCP), MySQL, and PostgreSQL. | | Best Practices | L49-L55 | Guidance on secure, reliable Data API builder configs, adding semantic metadata to SQL MCP entities, and safely using SQL MCP Server with local LLMs. | | Decision Making | L56-L61 | Comparisons of Data API builder features across supported databases and guidance on selecting secure Microsoft SQL authentication/authorization patterns. | | Limits & Quotas | L62-L69 | Configuring SQL timeouts, setting and tuning REST/GraphQL page size limits, and understanding database-specific constraints and feature requirements in Data API builder. | | Security | L70-L90 | Configuring authentication, authorization, and row-level security for Data API builder, including Entra ID, JWT, EasyAuth, managed identity, simulator, and SQL auth, plus security best practices. | | Configuration | L91-L133 | Configuring Data API builder: CLI setup, JSON schema, entities, data sources, security, caching, telemetry, logging, health checks, OpenAPI, and exposing DB objects via REST/GraphQL. | | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L134-L149 | GraphQL/REST query patterns in DAB: filtering, sorting, pagination, field projection, exporting schemas, batching mutations, and using SQL MCP tools from AI agents. | | Deployment | L150-L158 | How to build and run Data API builder from source or Docker, and deploy it to Azure (App Service, Cosmos DB, air‑gapped/local SQL) with configuration and environment-specific guidance. |

Troubleshooting

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Validate DAB configuration and interpret CLI exit codes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/dab-validate | | Resolve common issues in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/faq | | Troubleshoot Azure Cosmos DB issues in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/troubleshooting/cosmos | | Troubleshoot GraphQL schema and authorization in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/troubleshooting/graphql | | Troubleshoot SQL MCP Server issues in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/troubleshooting/mcp | | Troubleshoot SQL Server issues in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/troubleshooting/mssql | | Troubleshoot MySQL issues in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/troubleshooting/mysql | | Troubleshoot PostgreSQL issues in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/troubleshooting/postgresql | | Troubleshoot REST endpoint and CORS issues in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/troubleshooting/rest |

Best Practices

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Apply configuration best practices in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/config/best-practices | | Add semantic descriptions to SQL MCP Server entities | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/how-to-add-descriptions | | Use SQL MCP Server with local LLMs securely and reliably | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/use-local-models |

Decision Making

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Compare Data API builder feature availability by database | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/feature-availability | | Choose Microsoft SQL security patterns for Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/quickstart/microsoft-sql-security |

Limits & Quotas

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Configure SQL command timeout for Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/database/timeout | | Limit GraphQL page size with first in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/first-graphql | | Control REST page size with $first in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/first-rest | | Database-specific feature requirements for Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/reference-database-specific-features |

Security

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Select and configure authentication models in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/ | | Configure custom JWT authentication for Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/authenticate-custom | | Use Azure App Service EasyAuth with Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/authenticate-easy-auth | | Configure Microsoft Entra ID auth for Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/authenticate-entra | | Configure On-Behalf-Of authentication for DAB SQL access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/authenticate-on-behalf-of | | Use Simulator authentication for local DAB testing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/authenticate-simulator | | Configure Unauthenticated provider in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/authenticate-unauthenticated | | Apply security best practices in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/best-practices | | Configure database policies for row-level filtering in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/database-policies | | Implement SQL row-level security with DAB session context | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/row-level-security | | Configure authentication for SQL MCP Server and database | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/how-to-configure-authentication | | Use managed identity for Data API builder to Azure SQL | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/quickstart/authentication-managed-identity | | Add Microsoft Entra authentication provider to Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/quickstart/authentication-microsoft-entra-provider | | Configure on-behalf-of authentication from Data API builder to Azure SQL | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/quickstart/authentication-on-behalf-of | | Configure SQL authentication for Data API builder endpoints | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/quickstart/authentication-sql-credentials | | Secure Data API builder with Entra ID and DAB policies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/quickstart/authorization-database-policies | | Apply SQL row-level security with Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/quickstart/authorization-sql-row-level-security |

Configuration

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Use DAB CLI commands to manage configuration and runtime | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/ | | Configure DAB telemetry with OpenTelemetry and App Insights | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/dab-add-telemetry | | Create and manage autoentities via dab auto-config | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/dab-auto-config | | Simulate autoentities matches with dab auto-config-simulate | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/dab-auto-config-simulate | | Configure DAB runtime and data source settings | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/dab-configure | | Initialize Data API builder config with DAB CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/dab-init | | Update Data API builder entity configuration via CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/dab-update | | Control Data API builder caching via HTTP headers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/cache/http-headers | | Configure Redis-based level 2 cache in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/cache/level-2 | | Use @akv function with Azure Key Vault in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/config/akv-function | | Use auto configuration patterns in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/config/auto-config | | Use @env function for DAB configuration secrets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/config/env-function | | Manage DAB configuration by environment variants | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/config/environments | | Configure multiple data sources for hybrid DAB endpoints | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/config/multi-config | | Configure Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL with DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/database/set-up-cosmosdb | | Configure GraphQL entity relationships in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/graphql/relationships | | Expose stored procedures as GraphQL operations in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/graphql/stored-procedures | | Expose database views as GraphQL types in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/graphql/views | | Configure Azure Application Insights for DAB monitoring | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/monitor/application-insights | | Configure health checks and /health endpoint in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/monitor/health-checks | | Configure Azure Log Analytics for DAB logging | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/monitor/log-analytics | | Configure Data API builder logging levels and filters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/monitor/log-levels | | Set up OpenTelemetry tracing and metrics in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/monitor/open-telemetry | | Configure If-Match header for DAB upserts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/rest/http-if-match | | Understand Location header behavior in DAB REST | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/rest/http-location | | Configure OpenAPI and Swagger UI for DAB REST | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/rest/openapi | | Expose stored procedures as REST endpoints in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/rest/stored-procedures | | Expose database views as REST endpoints in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/rest/views | | Configure role inheritance in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/security/role-inheritance | | Configure full Data API builder JSON schema | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/configuration/ | | Configure full Data API builder JSON schema | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/configuration/ | | Configure Data API builder autoentities rules | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/configuration/autoentities | | Configure Data API builder data-source section for databases | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/configuration/data-source | | Configure Data API builder entities section schema | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/configuration/entities | | Configure Data API builder entity definitions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/configuration/entities | | Configure runtime section of Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/configuration/runtime | | Configure Data API builder runtime behavior | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/configuration/runtime | | Configure custom MCP tools for stored procedures in SQL MCP Server | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/how-to-configure-custom-tools | | Run SQL MCP Server in stdio transport mode | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/stdio-transport |

Integrations & Coding Patterns

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Export GraphQL schemas using DAB CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/command-line/dab-export | | Query aggregate data via GraphQL in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/graphql/aggregate-data | | Execute multiple GraphQL mutations in Data API builder | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/concept/graphql/multiple-mutations | | Use after cursors for GraphQL pagination in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/after-graphql | | Implement cursor pagination with $after in DAB REST | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/after-rest | | Filter GraphQL queries with DAB-specific operators | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/filter-graphql | | Filter REST queries with $filter in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/filter-rest | | Sort GraphQL results with orderBy in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/orderby-graphql | | Sort REST results with $orderby in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/orderby-rest | | Shape GraphQL selections and internal columns in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/select-graphql | | Use $select to project REST fields in DAB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/keywords/select-rest | | Use SQL MCP Server DML tools from AI agents | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/data-manipulation-language-tools |

Deployment

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Choose Data API builder deployment option in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/deployment/ | | Deploy Data API builder in air-gapped environments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/deployment/air-gapped | | Deploy Data API builder to Azure App Service | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/deployment/azure-app-service | | Build and run Data API builder from source | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/deployment/run-from-source | | Deploy Data API builder with Azure Cosmos DB NoSQL | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/quickstart/basic-nosql | | Deploy Data API builder with local SQL via Docker | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/quickstart/basic-sql |