querying-yesoreyeram-infinity-datasource

Apps & Automation

Build queries with the Infinity data source — the query types (JSON, CSV, TSV, XML, GraphQL, HTML, UQL, GROQ, Google Sheets, Series, Transformations), the parsers (Frontend/simple, Backend JSONata, JQ, UQL, GROQ) and which support alerting, the sources (URL, Inline, Reference, Azure Blob, Random walk), output formats (table, timeseries, logs, trace, node graph, dataframe), root selector and columns, computed columns/filters/summarize, pagination, and template variables. Use when a user asks how to query Infinity; how to fetch JSON/CSV/XML/GraphQL/HTML from a URL or inline; how to select rows and columns; how to transform data with UQL/GROQ/JSONata/JQ; how to make a query work with alerting; how to paginate; or how to use variables in a query.

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Querying the Infinity data source

The Infinity data source retrieves data from HTTP endpoints (and other sources) and turns it into Grafana data frames. Every query is defined by four core choices in the query editor: a Type (the data format), a Parser (how the data is processed), a Source (where the data comes from), and a Format (the output shape).

The four core choices

Choice	Options
Type	JSON, CSV, TSV, XML, GraphQL, HTML, UQL, GROQ, Google Sheets, Series (mock), Transformations.
Parser	Frontend (simple), Backend (JSONata), Backend (JQ), UQL, GROQ — availability depends on the type.
Source	URL, Inline, Reference, Azure Blob, Random walk (for Series).
Format	Table, Time series, Logs, Trace, Node graph (nodes/edges), Data frame, As-is.

Query types

Type	Use it to…
JSON	Query JSON APIs (the most common type).
CSV / TSV	Query comma/tab-separated data, with options for delimiter, headers, comments.
XML	Query XML responses.
GraphQL	Send a GraphQL query and parse the JSON response.
HTML	Scrape data from HTML pages.
UQL	Transform any response with Unstructured Query Language.
GROQ	Transform any response with GROQ.
Google Sheets	Read a spreadsheet by ID, sheet name, and range.
Series	Generate mock series (random walk or expression) without a backend API.
Transformations	Apply limit, filter, computed column, and summarize steps to other query results.

Parsers (and alerting)

The Parser controls where and how the response is processed. This determines alerting support, because alerting evaluates queries on the backend.

Parser	Runs in	Alerting	Best for
Backend (JSONata)	Backend	Yes	Complex transformations; alerting (default).
Backend (JQ)	Backend	Yes	JQ-style expressions; alerting.
UQL	Frontend	No	SQL-like queries, pivoting, reshaping.
GROQ	Frontend	No	GROQ expressions.
Frontend (simple)	Frontend	No	Simple selector + column mapping.

To use a query in alerts, recording rules, or expressions, choose a backend parser (JSONata or JQ). Frontend, UQL, and GROQ parsers run in the browser and aren't available to alerting.

Sources

Pick where the data comes from:

URL — Fetch from an HTTP endpoint. Set the Method (GET or POST; PUT, PATCH, and DELETE require Allow dangerous HTTP methods in the data source config). Configure Headers, Request params, and (for POST) a request Body (none, form-data, x-www-form-urlencoded, raw, or GraphQL).
Inline — Paste the data directly into the editor (useful for testing or static data).
Reference — Use a named dataset defined in the data source's reference data.
Azure Blob — Read a blob by container and blob name (requires Azure Blob auth in the data source config).
Random walk — For the Series type only; generates mock data.

Use variables and macros in URLs

URLs support Grafana template variables and time macros, for example:

https://api.example.com/data?from=${__timeFrom}&to=${__timeTo}

See URL configuration and macros.

Output format

Set Format to match your panel:

Table — Tabular data (default for most queries).
Time series — Data with a time field for time-series panels.
Logs — Log lines for the Logs panel / Explore.
Trace — Trace data.
Node graph (nodes / edges) — Two queries that together build a node graph.
Data frame — Pass-through data frame.
As-is — Return the response with minimal processing.

Selecting rows and columns

For JSON/CSV/XML/GraphQL/HTML, the Parsing options & Result fields section extracts the data:

Rows / Root (root selector) — A selector that returns the array of elements to turn into rows. For JSON this is a path into the response; leave it empty when the root is already an array.
Columns — Click Add Columns to define each output field:
- Selector — Path to the field within each row.
- Title — Display name for the column.
- Type — String, Number, Time, Time (UNIX ms), Time (UNIX s), or Boolean. Use a time type for the field your time-series panel should use as time.

CSV/TSV add options such as delimiter, skip empty lines, skip lines with errors, relax column count, header columns, and comment character.

Computed columns, filters, and summarize (backend parsers)

When using a backend parser (JSONata or JQ), the Computed columns, Filter, Group by section adds transformations:

Feature	Description	Example
Computed Columns	Create a new field from an expression.	`price * qty`
Filter	Keep rows matching an expression.	`age >= 18`
Summarize	Aggregate with functions like `sum()`, `count()`, `mean()`.	`sum(amount)`
Summarize By	Group the aggregation by a field.	`country`
Summarize Alias	Name for the summarized result column.	`total`

See JSONata backend parser and JQ backend parser.

Filters

Beyond backend expressions, you can add field-level filters that keep rows where a field matches an operator and value. See Filters.

Pagination

For paged APIs (backend parsers), configure pagination so Infinity fetches multiple pages automatically. Supported modes:

None — Single request (default).
Offset — Increment an offset parameter.
Page — Increment a page-number parameter.
Cursor — Follow a cursor value extracted from each response.
List — Iterate a fixed list of values.

Each mode lets you set the parameter names, where they're sent (query, header, body, or URL replace), and a max pages limit.

UQL and GROQ

For advanced reshaping, set the Type (or parser) to UQL or GROQ and write an expression that transforms the response:

UQL — SQL-like commands for parsing, projecting, pivoting, and summarizing. See UQL.
GROQ — GROQ query expressions. See GROQ.

Template variables

Infinity queries support Grafana template variables and time macros (for example ${__timeFrom}, ${__timeTo}, and dashboard variables like $region) in URLs, headers, params, bodies, and selectors. You can also create Infinity-based variables that query an API for dropdown values. See Template variables.

Tips and troubleshooting

My alert can't use this query: Switch the Parser to a backend parser (JSONata or JQ). UQL, GROQ, and Frontend parsers run in the browser and aren't available to alerting.
Query is blocked / "host not allowed": When the data source uses auth, custom headers, or TLS, add the target host to Allowed hosts in the data source config.
No rows returned: Check the Rows / Root selector — it must point to the array of elements. Leave it empty if the root response is already an array.
Wrong time axis: Set the time field's column Type to a time type (Time, Time (UNIX ms), or Time (UNIX s)) and set Format to Time series.
PUT / PATCH / DELETE missing: Enable Allow dangerous HTTP methods in the data source configuration.
Only some pages of data appear: Configure pagination (backend parsers) and raise the max pages limit if needed.