OpenSearch SQL lets you write queries in SQL rather than the [OpenSearch query domain-specific language (DSL)](../opensearch/full-text). If you're already familiar with SQL and don't want to learn the query DSL, this feature is a great option.
## Workbench
The easiest way to get familiar with the SQL plugin is to use **SQL Workbench** in OpenSearch Dashboards to test various queries. To learn more, see [Workbench](workbench/).
By default, queries return data in JDBC format, but you can also return data in standard OpenSearch JSON, CSV, or raw formats:
```json
POST _opensearch/_sql?format=json|csv|raw
{
"query": "SELECT * FROM my-index LIMIT 50"
}
```
See the rest of this guide for detailed information on request parameters, settings, supported operations, tools, and more.
## Contributing
To get involved and help us improve the SQL plugin, see the [development guide](https://github.com/opensearch-project/sql/blob/master/docs/developing.rst) for instructions on setting up your development environment and building the project.