Data API Builder from Azure is an open-source, configuration-based engine designed to generate REST and GraphQL endpoints for various databases. Built on .NET/ASP.NET Core, it also functions as an MCP server, enabling AI agent integration with database entities. This tool is distributed primarily as a .NET global tool via NuGet and as Docker container images, offering flexible deployment options. It connects to systems like SQL Server, Azure Cosmos DB, PostgreSQL, and MySQL, providing a unified API layer.

What does Data API Builder connect to?

Data API Builder connects to various database systems, including SQL Server, Azure SQL, Azure Cosmos DB, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. It serves as an open-source, configuration-based engine for creating REST and GraphQL APIs for these databases. Furthermore, it integrates as an MCP server, enabling communication for AI agent integration directly with these connected database systems. This broad database support allows for a unified API layer across different data sources.

Core features and tools

Data API Builder exposes REST endpoints supporting standard HTTP methods like POST, GET, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE, alongside query features such as $select, $filter, $orderby, $first, and $after. It also provides GraphQL endpoints with both query and mutation capabilities. For AI agents, version 1.7 and later offers SQL operations as a small family of MCP tools, including DML tools for agents, enabling direct database interaction.

Who is it for?

This program is for developers aiming to expose database objects through secure, feature-rich REST and GraphQL endpoints without writing extensive custom data access code. It supports rapid API generation and cross-platform data access. It is also for those integrating AI agents with database entities using the Model Context Protocol. Skip this if your project does not require exposing database data via APIs or AI agent interaction.

How to get started

Access is granted through a standard OAuth authorization flow or by using custom JWT tokens. Local testing can simulate App Service authentication by manually providing the "X-MS-CLIENT-PRINCIPAL" header.

Use cases

• Rapid API Generation for SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Azure Cosmos DB using a single JSON configuration file.
• AI Agent Integration by enabling AI agents to interact with database entities through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
• Cross-Platform Data Access, providing a language-independent and platform-agnostic way to access data from various databases, deployable in any cloud or on-premises, including Docker containers.

Data API Builder from Azure offers a powerful, configuration-driven approach to creating database APIs. Its support for both REST and GraphQL, coupled with AI agent integration via MCP, makes it a versatile tool for modern application development. Developers can quickly expose database objects without custom coding, ensuring secure and efficient data access across platforms.