# Connecting your first data source

Add a cloud database, warehouse, or SaaS source to Sequel — credentials, testing the connection, and what happens once it's live.

A **data source** is any database, warehouse, or SaaS API you connect to Sequel. Once connected, it's available to the in-app chat and to every AI tool you've authorized through the [MCP server](/docs/install). This guide walks through adding your first one.

<Callout type="info" title="Cloud-hosted sources">
Sequel connects to cloud-hosted data sources — managed Postgres/MySQL (RDS, Supabase, Neon, PlanetScale), warehouses like BigQuery and ClickHouse, and SaaS APIs like Stripe and Google Analytics. Make sure your source is reachable from the internet (or via the access method its guide describes).
</Callout>

## Add a connection

<Steps>
<Step title="Open Connections">
In the Sequel dashboard, go to **Connections** and click **New connection**.
</Step>

<Step title="Pick a source type">
Choose the source you want to connect — for example PostgreSQL, BigQuery, or Google Analytics. Each type asks for the credentials it needs.
</Step>

<Step title="Enter credentials">
Depending on the source, this is a connection string, a host/port/user/password, a service-account key, or an OAuth sign-in. The per-integration guides under [Integrations](/docs/integrations) cover exactly what each source needs.
</Step>

<Step title="Test and save">
Sequel verifies the credentials before saving. A green check means the connection is live and ready to query. If the test fails, double-check network access and credentials.
</Step>
</Steps>

## What happens after you connect

- **Schema discovery.** Sequel reads your tables, columns, and relationships so agents can navigate the source without you spelling everything out.
- **Available over MCP.** The source immediately becomes queryable from any AI tool connected to your organization's MCP server.
- **Scoped access.** Connections belong to your organization. API keys and OAuth sessions only ever see the sources your org has connected.

## Connecting more sources

Repeat the flow for every source you want Sequel to reach. Because Sequel can join across connections, adding a second and third source is where it gets powerful — see [Chatting with your data](/docs/chatting-with-your-data) for cross-source examples.

## Next steps

- [Chatting with your data](/docs/chatting-with-your-data)
- [Browse all integrations](/docs/integrations)
- [API keys & authentication](/docs/api-keys-and-auth)