# ksqlDB for Confluent Platform ksqlDB is Confluent’s purpose-built streaming SQL database that enables developers to build real-time, event-driven applications on Apache Kafka® using familiar SQL syntax. As the industry-leading solution for stream processing with SQL, ksqlDB simplifies real-time data processing by eliminating the need for complex code—allowing you to query, transform, and enrich streaming data with simple SQL statements. Whether you’re building real-time analytics, event-driven microservices, or continuous data transformations, ksqlDB provides a powerful yet intuitive approach to stream processing that scales from development to production. ## Why ksqlDB? ksqlDB stands out as the most mature and feature-complete streaming SQL solution available: - **Familiar SQL syntax** for stream processing—no need to learn new frameworks like Kafka Streams or Apache Flink - **Fully integrated with Confluent Platform and Confluent Cloud**—enterprise-grade security, monitoring, and management built-in - **Production-ready** with features like exactly-once processing, automatic scaling, and fault tolerance - **Rich ecosystem support** including Schema Registry integration, connectors, and Control Center management Unlike other stream processing tools that require writing and deploying code in Java or Scala (Kafka Streams, Flink), ksqlDB enables developers and data engineers to build streaming applications using only SQL—dramatically reducing time-to-value for real-time data processing use cases. ## ksqlDB quick start - Run ksqlDB locally with Confluent Platform in the [ksqlDB Quick Start](quickstart.md#ksqldb-quick-start). - Get started with hosted ksqlDB in Confluent Cloud in the [ksqlDB for Confluent Cloud Quick Start](/cloud/current/ksqldb/ksqldb-quick-start.html). ## ksqlDB distributions Confluent offers ksqlDB in flexible deployment options to meet your needs—from fully managed cloud service to self-hosted enterprise deployments: ksqlDB for Confluent Platform : ksqlDB for Confluent Platform is packaged as part of Confluent Platform. This is a commercial component of Confluent Platform. ksqlDB for Confluent Platform includes enterprise features, like [role-based access control](../security/authorization/rbac/ksql-rbac.md#ksql-rbac). You can install it by using the [cp-ksqldb-server](https://hub.docker.com/r/confluentinc/cp-ksqldb-server) Docker images or by using TAR, ZIP, or Systemd deployments. For more information, see [On-Premises Deployments](../installation/overview.md#installation).
Control Center is a graphical interface for Confluent Platform and provides the convenience of running streaming queries on one or more ksqlDB clusters. For more information, see [Manage ksqlDB Using Control Center for Confluent Platform](https://docs.confluent.io/control-center/current/ksql.html#controlcenter-userguide-ksql). ksqlDB for Confluent Cloud : ksqlDB is available as a hosted offering in Confluent Cloud. For more information, see [ksqlDB for Confluent Cloud](/cloud/current/index.html). The following table summarizes the distributions. | | Project Type | Docker Images | TAR, ZIP, Systemd deployment | |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | ksqlDB for Confluent Platform | Packaged with Confluent Platform | - [cp-ksqldb-server](https://hub.docker.com/r/confluentinc/cp-ksqldb-server)
Includes both ksqlDB server and the ksqlDB CLI.

For more information, see [Docker Image Reference for Confluent Platform](../installation/docker/image-reference.md#image-reference). | [Install Confluent Platform On-Premises](../installation/overview.md#installation) | | ksqlDB for Confluent Cloud | Hosted | - [cp-ksqldb-server](https://hub.docker.com/r/confluentinc/cp-ksqldb-server)
Includes both ksqlDB server and the ksqlDB CLI.

For more information, see [Docker Image Reference for Confluent Platform](../installation/docker/image-reference.md#image-reference). | [Install Confluent Platform On-Premises](../installation/overview.md#installation) | ## Related content - Developer course: [ksqlDB 101](https://developer.confluent.io/learn-kafka/ksqldb/intro/) - Developer course: [Inside ksqlDB](https://developer.confluent.io/learn-kafka/inside-ksqldb/)