---
name: ckg-databricks-unity-catalog
description: "Databricks Unity Catalog — complete CKG of the docs.databricks.com Unity Catalog surface. 205 nodes, 327 edges, 9 domains. Covers the account/workspace/metastore model and three-level namespace, the catalog/schema/table/view/volume/function/model object model + system tables, Catalog Explorer discovery and AI-generated docs/certification, Lakehouse Monitoring and pipeline expectations, automatic table & column lineage, the privilege/ownership/inheritance access model with row filters/column masks/dynamic views and ABAC governed tags, storage credentials/external locations/managed storage, audit logs, business context (governed tags, tag policies, certification, data products), open formats (Delta Lake, managed Iceberg/UniForm, Iceberg REST Catalog API, Unity Catalog OSS, Lakehouse Federation), and sharing (Delta Sharing, Clean Rooms, Marketplace)."
metadata:
  node_type: reference
  type: reference
  version: 1.0.0
  date: 2026-06-18
  source: "Databricks documentation — https://docs.databricks.com (Unity Catalog)"
  nodes: 205
  edges: 327
  domains: 9
  formats:
    - md
---

# Databricks Unity Catalog — Compressed Knowledge Graph (CKG) v1.0.0
# Source: docs.databricks.com  (live docs, fetched 2026-06-18)
# NOTE: Unity Catalog is the unified governance layer for data & AI on the Databricks Lakehouse;
#       the open-source server (unitycatalog.io, Apache 2.0 / LF AI & Data) mirrors the same object model.
# Generated by Graphify.md | graphifymd.com
# 205 concepts · 327 dependency edges · 9 domains
# Paste into any LLM, ask: "What depends on [concept]?" or "Trace the path from External Location to Managed Iceberg Table."

## META
domain:      databricks-unity-catalog
nodes:       205
edges:       327
domains:     9 (CORE · META · SRCH · DQ · LIN · GOV · GLOS · OPEN · SHARE)
edge_type:   technical dependency (source concept required to understand/implement the target)
version:     1.0.0

## CORE — Account, Workspace, Metastore & Namespace (22 concepts)
# Source: data-governance/unity-catalog (overview) · enable-workspaces · create-metastore · admin-privileges · catalogs
Databricks Lakehouse Platform                                                   deps: none (root)
Unity Catalog                                                                   deps: Databricks Lakehouse Platform
Databricks Account                                                              deps: none (root)
Account Console                                                                 deps: Databricks Account
Workspace                                                                       deps: Databricks Account
Cloud Object Storage                                                            deps: none (root)
Metastore                                                                       deps: Unity Catalog | Databricks Account
Metastore per Region                                                            deps: Metastore
Workspace-Metastore Assignment                                                  deps: Workspace | Metastore
Identity Federation                                                             deps: Databricks Account | Workspace
Account-Level Identities (users/groups/SPs)                                     deps: Identity Federation
Account Admin                                                                   deps: Databricks Account | Account-Level Identities (users/groups/SPs)
Metastore Admin                                                                 deps: Metastore | Account-Level Identities (users/groups/SPs)
Workspace Admin                                                                 deps: Workspace | Account-Level Identities (users/groups/SPs)
Three-Level Namespace (catalog.schema.object)                                   deps: Metastore
Securable Object                                                                deps: Metastore | Three-Level Namespace (catalog.schema.object)
Workspace-Catalog Binding                                                       deps: Workspace | Three-Level Namespace (catalog.schema.object)
Default Catalog                                                                 deps: Three-Level Namespace (catalog.schema.object) | Workspace
Workspace Catalog (auto-provisioned)                                            deps: Default Catalog | Workspace-Metastore Assignment
hive_metastore (legacy catalog)                                                 deps: Workspace | Three-Level Namespace (catalog.schema.object)
Legacy Hive Metastore Migration (UCX)                                           deps: hive_metastore (legacy catalog) | Metastore
Unified Governance for Data & AI                                                deps: Unity Catalog | Securable Object

## META — Object Model — Catalogs, Schemas, Tables, Views, Volumes, Functions, Models, System Tables (35 concepts)
# Source: catalogs · tables/managed · views · volumes · machine-learning/manage-model-lifecycle · admin/system-tables · information_schema
Catalog                                                                         deps: Three-Level Namespace (catalog.schema.object) | Metastore
Schema (database)                                                               deps: Catalog
Table                                                                           deps: Schema (database)
Managed Table                                                                   deps: Table
External Table                                                                  deps: Table
Foreign Table                                                                   deps: Table
View                                                                            deps: Schema (database)
Materialized View                                                               deps: Schema (database) | View
Streaming Table                                                                 deps: Table
Metric View                                                                     deps: Schema (database) | View
Temporary View                                                                  deps: View
Volume                                                                          deps: Schema (database)
Managed Volume                                                                  deps: Volume
External Volume                                                                 deps: Volume
Volume Path (/Volumes/catalog/schema/volume)                                    deps: Volume | Three-Level Namespace (catalog.schema.object)
Function                                                                        deps: Schema (database)
SQL User-Defined Function (UDF)                                                 deps: Function
Python UDF                                                                      deps: Function
Registered Model (Models in Unity Catalog)                                      deps: Schema (database) | Function
Model Version                                                                   deps: Registered Model (Models in Unity Catalog)
Model Alias                                                                     deps: Model Version
MLflow Model Registry (databricks-uc)                                           deps: Registered Model (Models in Unity Catalog)
Column                                                                          deps: Table | View
Comment (object/column)                                                         deps: Table | Column | Schema (database) | Catalog
Constraint                                                                      deps: Table
System Catalog (system)                                                         deps: Catalog | Metastore
system.access schema                                                            deps: System Catalog (system)
system.billing schema                                                           deps: System Catalog (system)
system.compute schema                                                           deps: System Catalog (system)
system.lakeflow schema                                                          deps: System Catalog (system)
system.query schema                                                             deps: System Catalog (system)
system.storage schema                                                           deps: System Catalog (system)
system.marketplace schema                                                       deps: System Catalog (system)
information_schema (per-catalog)                                                deps: Catalog
External Metadata (external system object)                                      deps: Metastore | Securable Object

## SRCH — Discovery, Catalog Explorer, Search, Tags, AI Docs, Certification (19 concepts)
# Source: catalog-explorer · certify-deprecate-data · tags · Discover (curated internal marketplace) · search
Catalog Explorer                                                                deps: Unity Catalog | Securable Object
Browse Catalogs / Schemas / Objects                                             deps: Catalog Explorer | Three-Level Namespace (catalog.schema.object)
Workspace Search                                                                deps: Catalog Explorer
Sample Data Preview                                                             deps: Catalog Explorer | Table
Object Details / Schema View                                                    deps: Catalog Explorer | Table | Column
Tag (key + optional value)                                                      deps: Securable Object
Apply Tag to Object / Column                                                    deps: Tag (key + optional value) | Column
AI-Generated Comments                                                           deps: Catalog Explorer | Comment (object/column)
AI-Generated Documentation                                                      deps: AI-Generated Comments | Table | Column
Natural Language Exploration (LLM)                                              deps: Catalog Explorer | Sample Data Preview
Genie Code Interface                                                            deps: Catalog Explorer
Certification Status (system.certification_status)                              deps: Tag (key + optional value)
Certified Flag                                                                  deps: Certification Status (system.certification_status)
Deprecated Flag                                                                 deps: Certification Status (system.certification_status)
Certification Status Search Filter                                              deps: Workspace Search | Certification Status (system.certification_status)
Intelligent Signals (quality/usage/relationships)                               deps: Catalog Explorer | Certification Status (system.certification_status)
Discover Experience (curated marketplace)                                       deps: Catalog Explorer | Data Steward Curation
Data Steward Curation                                                           deps: Catalog Explorer | Certified Flag
Insights (popularity/frequent queries)                                          deps: Catalog Explorer | Workspace Search

## DQ — Data Quality — Lakehouse Monitoring, Expectations, Constraints (23 concepts)
# Source: lakehouse-monitoring · ldp/expectations · ldp/expectation-patterns · table constraints
Lakehouse Monitoring                                                            deps: Unity Catalog | Table
Monitor                                                                         deps: Lakehouse Monitoring
Snapshot Profile Monitor                                                        deps: Monitor
Time Series Profile Monitor                                                     deps: Monitor
Inference Log Monitor                                                           deps: Monitor
Profile Metrics Table                                                           deps: Monitor
Drift Metrics Table                                                             deps: Monitor
Baseline Table                                                                  deps: Monitor
Data Slices / Time Windows                                                      deps: Profile Metrics Table
Monitor Dashboard                                                               deps: Profile Metrics Table | Drift Metrics Table
Monitor Alerts                                                                  deps: Monitor Dashboard
Lakeflow Declarative Pipelines (DLT)                                            deps: Streaming Table | Materialized View
Pipeline Expectation                                                            deps: Lakeflow Declarative Pipelines (DLT)
expect (retain + track)                                                         deps: Pipeline Expectation
expect_or_drop (drop invalid)                                                   deps: Pipeline Expectation
expect_or_fail (halt pipeline)                                                  deps: Pipeline Expectation
Expectation Metrics (pass/fail counts)                                          deps: Pipeline Expectation
Table Constraint                                                                deps: Constraint
CHECK Constraint                                                                deps: Table Constraint
NOT NULL Constraint                                                             deps: Table Constraint
Primary Key (informational)                                                     deps: Table Constraint
Foreign Key (informational)                                                     deps: Table Constraint
data_quality_monitoring system table                                            deps: system.access schema | Monitor

## LIN — Lineage — Automatic Table & Column Lineage (15 concepts)
# Source: data-lineage · lineage graph · system.access.table_lineage / column_lineage
Data Lineage                                                                    deps: Unity Catalog | Metastore
Automatic Lineage Capture                                                       deps: Data Lineage
Table-Level Lineage                                                             deps: Automatic Lineage Capture | Table
Column-Level Lineage                                                            deps: Table-Level Lineage | Column
Lineage Graph                                                                   deps: Table-Level Lineage | Column-Level Lineage
Lineage Graph Visualization (Catalog Explorer)                                  deps: Lineage Graph | Catalog Explorer
Upstream / Downstream Lineage                                                   deps: Lineage Graph Visualization (Catalog Explorer)
Notebook / Job / Pipeline Lineage                                               deps: Automatic Lineage Capture | Workspace
Dashboard / Query Lineage                                                       deps: Automatic Lineage Capture
ML Model Lineage                                                                deps: Automatic Lineage Capture | Registered Model (Models in Unity Catalog)
External Asset Lineage (External Metadata)                                      deps: Automatic Lineage Capture | External Metadata (external system object)
Lineage System Tables (table_lineage/column_lineage)                            deps: system.access schema | Table-Level Lineage | Column-Level Lineage
Lineage Permissions (BROWSE/SELECT gating)                                      deps: Lineage Graph | Privilege
Lineage Retention (1-yr system tables)                                          deps: Lineage System Tables (table_lineage/column_lineage)
Impact Analysis / Root-Cause Tracing                                            deps: Upstream / Downstream Lineage

## GOV — Governance — Privileges, Storage, FGAC, ABAC, Audit (42 concepts)
# Source: permissions-concepts · privileges (reference) · manage-privileges · row-and-column-filters · abac · external-locations · audit-logs
Principal (user/group/service principal)                                        deps: Account-Level Identities (users/groups/SPs)
Privilege                                                                       deps: Securable Object
Ownership / Owner                                                               deps: Securable Object | Principal (user/group/service principal)
GRANT                                                                           deps: Privilege | Principal (user/group/service principal)
REVOKE                                                                          deps: Privilege | Principal (user/group/service principal)
Privilege Inheritance (downward)                                                deps: Privilege | Three-Level Namespace (catalog.schema.object)
ALL PRIVILEGES                                                                  deps: Privilege
MANAGE privilege                                                                deps: Privilege
BROWSE privilege                                                                deps: Privilege
USE CATALOG                                                                     deps: Privilege | Catalog
USE SCHEMA                                                                      deps: Privilege | Schema (database)
CREATE SCHEMA / CREATE TABLE / CREATE VOLUME / CREATE FUNCTION / CREATE MODEL   deps: Privilege | Catalog | Schema (database)
SELECT                                                                          deps: Privilege | Table | View
MODIFY                                                                          deps: Privilege | Table
EXECUTE                                                                         deps: Privilege | Function
READ VOLUME / WRITE VOLUME                                                      deps: Privilege | Volume
APPLY TAG                                                                       deps: Privilege | Tag (key + optional value)
EXTERNAL USE SCHEMA                                                             deps: Privilege | Schema (database)
Storage Credential                                                              deps: Metastore | Cloud Object Storage
IAM Role / Managed Identity / Service Principal (cloud auth)                    deps: Storage Credential
External Location                                                               deps: Storage Credential | Cloud Object Storage
Managed Storage Location                                                        deps: External Location | Metastore | Catalog | Schema (database)
Default Storage                                                                 deps: Managed Storage Location
READ FILES / WRITE FILES                                                        deps: Privilege | Storage Credential | External Location
Service Credential                                                              deps: Metastore
Allowlist (init scripts/JARs)                                                   deps: Metastore | External Location
Dynamic View (FGAC)                                                             deps: View | Privilege
current_user() / is_account_group_member()                                      deps: Dynamic View (FGAC)
Row Filter Function                                                             deps: SQL User-Defined Function (UDF) | Table
Column Mask Function                                                            deps: SQL User-Defined Function (UDF) | Column
ALTER TABLE SET ROW FILTER                                                      deps: Row Filter Function
ALTER COLUMN SET MASK                                                           deps: Column Mask Function
Fine-Grained Access Control (FGAC)                                              deps: Row Filter Function | Column Mask Function | Dynamic View (FGAC)
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)                                           deps: Governed Tag | Privilege Inheritance (downward)
ABAC Policy                                                                     deps: Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
Row Filter Policy                                                               deps: ABAC Policy | Row Filter Function
Column Mask Policy                                                              deps: ABAC Policy | Column Mask Function
GRANT Policy (Beta)                                                             deps: ABAC Policy | GRANT
Audit Logs                                                                      deps: Metastore | Databricks Account
system.access.audit (audit system table)                                        deps: system.access schema | Audit Logs
Verbose Audit Logs                                                              deps: Audit Logs
Encryption (CMK / at-rest)                                                      deps: Cloud Object Storage | Metastore

## GLOS — Business Context — Governed Tags, Tag Policies, Certification, Attributes (11 concepts)
# Source: tags · governed-tags · tag-policies · certify-deprecate-data · abac
Governed Tag                                                                    deps: Tag (key + optional value) | Databricks Account
Tag Policy                                                                      deps: Governed Tag
Allowed Tag Values                                                              deps: Tag Policy
ASSIGN permission (governed tags)                                               deps: Governed Tag | Privilege
System Tag (Databricks-predefined)                                              deps: Governed Tag
Tag-Based Inheritance                                                           deps: Tag (key + optional value) | Privilege Inheritance (downward)
Business Domain (Sales/Marketing/Finance)                                       deps: Discover Experience (curated marketplace) | Governed Tag
Data Product                                                                    deps: Discover Experience (curated marketplace) | Certified Flag
Data Steward / Ownership Context                                                deps: Ownership / Owner | Data Steward Curation
Data Classification (PII tagging)                                               deps: System Tag (Databricks-predefined) | Governed Tag
Attribute (for ABAC)                                                            deps: Governed Tag | Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

## OPEN — Open Formats — Delta, Iceberg/UniForm, Iceberg REST, UC OSS, Federation (24 concepts)
# Source: tables/managed · external-access/iceberg · delta/uniform · open-sourcing-unity-catalog · query-federation
Delta Lake                                                                      deps: Table
Apache Iceberg                                                                  deps: Table
Managed Iceberg Table                                                           deps: Managed Table | Apache Iceberg
Foreign Iceberg Table                                                           deps: Foreign Table | Apache Iceberg
Delta UniForm (Iceberg reads on Delta)                                          deps: Delta Lake | Apache Iceberg
Iceberg Metadata Generation (async)                                             deps: Delta UniForm (Iceberg reads on Delta)
Iceberg REST Catalog API                                                        deps: Apache Iceberg | Unity Catalog
IRC Endpoint (/api/2.1/unity-catalog/iceberg-rest)                              deps: Iceberg REST Catalog API
Credential Vending                                                              deps: IRC Endpoint (/api/2.1/unity-catalog/iceberg-rest) | Storage Credential
External Data Access (metastore setting)                                        deps: Metastore | EXTERNAL USE SCHEMA
External Engine Access (Trino/Snowflake/DuckDB/Spark/Dremio)                    deps: Iceberg REST Catalog API | Credential Vending
Predictive Optimization (OPTIMIZE/VACUUM/ANALYZE)                               deps: Managed Table | Delta Lake
Unity Catalog REST API (open)                                                   deps: Unity Catalog | Securable Object
Unity Catalog OSS (Apache 2.0)                                                  deps: Unity Catalog REST API (open)
UC OSS OpenAPI Spec + Server + Clients                                          deps: Unity Catalog OSS (Apache 2.0)
LF AI & Data Foundation (Linux Foundation)                                      deps: Unity Catalog OSS (Apache 2.0)
Multi-Format Support (Delta/Iceberg/Hudi/Parquet)                               deps: Unity Catalog OSS (Apache 2.0) | Delta Lake | Apache Iceberg
Lakehouse Federation                                                            deps: Unity Catalog | Cloud Object Storage
Connection (external system)                                                    deps: Metastore | Lakehouse Federation
Foreign Catalog                                                                 deps: Connection (external system) | Catalog
Query Federation (JDBC + pushdown)                                              deps: Foreign Catalog | Connection (external system)
Catalog Federation (Hive/Glue/Snowflake)                                        deps: Foreign Catalog
Hive Metastore Federation                                                       deps: Catalog Federation (Hive/Glue/Snowflake) | hive_metastore (legacy catalog)
Supported Sources (MySQL/Postgres/Snowflake/Redshift/BigQuery/SQL Server)       deps: Query Federation (JDBC + pushdown)

## SHARE — Sharing & Collaboration — Delta Sharing, Clean Rooms, Marketplace (14 concepts)
# Source: delta-sharing · clean-rooms · marketplace
Delta Sharing (open protocol)                                                   deps: Unity Catalog | Metastore
Share                                                                           deps: Delta Sharing (open protocol) | Metastore
Recipient                                                                       deps: Delta Sharing (open protocol)
Provider                                                                        deps: Delta Sharing (open protocol)
Databricks-to-Databricks Sharing                                                deps: Share | Recipient
Open Sharing (Databricks-to-Open)                                               deps: Share | Recipient
Recipient Bearer Token                                                          deps: Open Sharing (Databricks-to-Open)
Shared Catalog (mount of a share)                                               deps: Share | Catalog
Shared Assets (tables/views/volumes/models/notebooks)                           deps: Share | Table | Volume | Registered Model (Models in Unity Catalog)
Databricks Marketplace                                                          deps: Delta Sharing (open protocol) | Provider
Marketplace Listing / Data Product                                              deps: Databricks Marketplace | Data Product
Clean Rooms                                                                     deps: Delta Sharing (open protocol) | Securable Object
Clean Room Task / Collaboration                                                 deps: Clean Rooms
sharing.materialization_history system table                                    deps: system.access schema | Share

---

## APPENDIX A — KEY RESOURCES / API SURFACE

- **CORE** — Account -> Metastore (1 per region) -> Workspace assignment. Three-level namespace catalog.schema.object. Securables under the metastore. Identity federation lifts users/groups/service principals to the account; admins: account / metastore / workspace. Legacy hive_metastore catalog coexists; migrate with UCX.
- **META** — Securable tree: Catalog -> Schema -> {Table (managed/external/foreign), View, Materialized View, Streaming Table, Metric View, Volume (managed/external), Function (SQL/Python UDF), Registered Model (subtype of FUNCTION; versions + aliases; databricks-uc registry)}. system catalog schemas: access, billing, compute, lakeflow, query, storage, marketplace; per-catalog information_schema.
- **SRCH** — Catalog Explorer (Catalog icon) — browse, search, sample-data preview, details. AI-generated comments/docs, NL exploration (Preview), Genie Code (/getTableLineages, /getTableInsights). Certification via system.certification_status tag (certified/deprecated) + search filter. Discover = curated internal marketplace of certified data products by business domain (Private Preview).
- **DQ** — Lakehouse Monitoring: Snapshot / Time series / Inference Log monitors -> Profile Metrics + Drift Metrics tables + dashboard + alerts; optional Baseline table. Lakeflow Declarative Pipelines (DLT) expectations: expect / expect_or_drop / expect_or_fail with pass/fail metrics. Table constraints: CHECK, NOT NULL (enforced); PRIMARY KEY / FOREIGN KEY (informational).
- **LIN** — Automatic table + column lineage across all workspaces on a metastore; graph in Catalog Explorer (Lineage tab -> See Lineage Graph). Covers notebooks/jobs/pipelines/dashboards/queries/ML models/external assets. system.access.table_lineage + system.access.column_lineage (1-yr retention); BROWSE/SELECT gates visibility.
- **GOV** — Owner has all privileges + can manage all children (ownership does NOT inherit; privileges DO inherit downward). MANAGE = grant/revoke/transfer/delete without owning. Key privileges: USE CATALOG/SCHEMA, CREATE *, SELECT, MODIFY, EXECUTE, READ/WRITE VOLUME, BROWSE, APPLY TAG, EXTERNAL USE SCHEMA, ALL PRIVILEGES. FGAC: row filters (ALTER TABLE SET ROW FILTER), column masks (ALTER COLUMN SET MASK), dynamic views. ABAC policies (row filter / column mask / GRANT Beta) keyed on governed tags. Storage credential -> external location -> managed storage / default storage. Audit via system.access.audit.
- **GLOS** — Governed tags (account-level, lock icon) enforced by tag policies (allowed values) + ASSIGN permission; system tags (wrench icon, Databricks-predefined) for classification/lifecycle. Tag-based inheritance feeds ABAC. Business domains, data products, data stewardship, PII/data-classification context.
- **OPEN** — Managed tables in Delta Lake (default) or Apache Iceberg (USING iceberg). Delta UniForm exposes Iceberg reads on Delta (async metadata). Iceberg REST Catalog API at /api/2.1/unity-catalog/iceberg-rest (read/write managed Iceberg; read UniForm/foreign Iceberg) + credential vending; external engines: Trino, Snowflake, DuckDB, Spark, Dremio, Daft. Unity Catalog OSS = Apache-2.0 server/clients/OpenAPI (LF AI & Data). Lakehouse Federation: connection -> foreign catalog (query federation w/ pushdown, or catalog federation incl. Hive metastore federation).
- **SHARE** — Delta Sharing (open protocol): provider -> share -> recipient. Databricks-to-Databricks (no token) and Open Sharing (bearer token / OIDC). Shares hold tables/views/volumes/models/notebooks; recipients mount a shared catalog. Databricks Marketplace (data products on Delta Sharing) + Clean Rooms (secure multi-party collaboration). sharing.materialization_history system table.

## APPENDIX B — KEY ROLES & PRIVILEGES

- **Account admin** — creates/links metastores & workspaces, assigns admin roles, manages account identities & identity federation.
- **Metastore admin** (optional role) — manages the metastore, can grant on all securables, owns objects with no explicit owner.
- **Workspace admin** — manages workspace-level objects, users, and compute; not automatically a data owner.
- **Object owner** — full control of one securable + ability to manage (not own) its children; can GRANT/REVOKE, transfer ownership, DROP.
- **MANAGE** — grant/revoke/transfer/delete an object without owning it (does not auto-grant data access; holder can self-grant SELECT).
- **Metastore-level**: CREATE CATALOG / CONNECTION / EXTERNAL LOCATION / STORAGE CREDENTIAL / SERVICE CREDENTIAL / SHARE / RECIPIENT / PROVIDER / CLEAN ROOM / EXTERNAL METADATA; MANAGE ALLOWLIST; USE/SET SHARE PERMISSION; USE MARKETPLACE ASSETS.
- **Catalog/Schema**: USE CATALOG, USE SCHEMA, CREATE SCHEMA/TABLE/VIEW/MATERIALIZED VIEW/VOLUME/FUNCTION/MODEL, BROWSE, APPLY TAG, EXTERNAL USE SCHEMA.
- **Table/View/MV**: SELECT, MODIFY, REFRESH (MV), APPLY TAG, MANAGE, ALL PRIVILEGES.
- **Volume**: READ VOLUME, WRITE VOLUME. **Function/Model**: EXECUTE, CREATE MODEL VERSION.
- **Storage credential / external location**: READ FILES, WRITE FILES, CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE/VOLUME, CREATE MANAGED STORAGE, CREATE FOREIGN SECURABLE, EXTERNAL USE LOCATION.
- **Connection**: USE CONNECTION, CREATE FOREIGN CATALOG. **Governed tags**: ASSIGN (plus APPLY TAG).

## APPENDIX C — NAMING & DESIGN NOTES

- **Clean three-level namespace** (catalog.schema.object) is the spine — unlike Google Dataplex's logical lake/zone/asset overlay, Unity Catalog securables ARE the physical registry; objects outside the namespace (storage credentials, external locations, connections, shares, recipients, providers, clean rooms) sit directly under the metastore.
- **Ownership vs inheritance:** privileges inherit DOWNWARD (grant on catalog -> all schemas/tables); ownership does NOT inherit, but an owner can manage all child objects. MANAGE decouples administration from data access.
- **Managed is the default & recommended table type** — Databricks owns storage, optimization (Predictive Optimization: OPTIMIZE/VACUUM/ANALYZE), and lifecycle. External tables/volumes keep data in customer cloud storage governed via storage credential -> external location.
- **Open formats / no lock-in:** managed tables can be Delta Lake (default) or Apache Iceberg; Delta UniForm serves Iceberg reads on Delta; the Iceberg REST Catalog API (/api/2.1/unity-catalog/iceberg-rest) + credential vending lets Trino/Snowflake/DuckDB/Spark/Dremio read (and write managed Iceberg). Unity Catalog OSS open-sources the server, clients, and OpenAPI spec under Apache 2.0 (LF AI & Data Foundation).
- **Lakehouse Federation** governs external systems without moving data: a connection yields a foreign catalog (query federation with JDBC pushdown, or catalog federation incl. Hive metastore federation) — read-only, with Unity Catalog table-level access controls.
- **Two governance mechanisms for fine-grained access:** (1) classic table-level row filters + column masks (SQL UDFs via ALTER TABLE) and dynamic views; (2) ABAC policies keyed on GOVERNED TAGS (row-filter / column-mask / GRANT-Beta) that attach at catalog/schema and apply automatically wherever a tag appears — analogous to, but distinct from, Google's policy-tag taxonomies.
- **System tables (system catalog)** are the programmatic backbone: access (audit, table_lineage, column_lineage), billing (usage, list_prices), compute, lakeflow, query, storage, marketplace, sharing — plus per-catalog information_schema (ANSI metadata).
- **Sharing rides Delta Sharing** (open protocol): Databricks-to-Databricks (token-free) and Open Sharing (bearer token / OIDC) underpin both Databricks Marketplace and Clean Rooms.

---
**Version:** 1.0.0 — extracted from live Databricks documentation, 2026-06-18.
**Use for:** onboarding to Unity Catalog, data-governance & lakehouse architecture design, cert/exam prep, grounding an LLM/agent, mapping a governance program.
**Ask the graph:** "What must I understand before ABAC Policy?" · "Trace Storage Credential -> Managed Iceberg Table." · "What depends on Metastore?"
