> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.datafold.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How It Works

> Datafold's Data Explorer maps lineage and profiles across your data assets, helping you understand the impact of changes across systems.

Our **Data Explorer** offers a comprehensive overview of your data assets, including [Lineage](https://docs.datafold.com/classic/data-explorer/lineage.md) and [Profiles](https://docs.datafold.com/classic/data-explorer/profile.md). It is built from your warehouse metadata and query history, plus your dbt and BI integrations. The same lineage and metadata are available to AI assistants via [MCP](https://docs.datafold.com/classic/datafold-mcp.md).

You can filter data assets by Data Connections, Tags, Data Owners, and Asset Types (e.g., tables, columns, and BI-created assets such as views, reports, and syncs). You can also search directly to find specific data assets for lineage analysis.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/hQ4DukKOuaj6vjhH/images/data_app_lineage_overview-3ffe6ae5a34c4e7d8918fae232eb1ed1.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=hQ4DukKOuaj6vjhH\&q=85\&s=9014fc5bee3d6f583a7ea851cf7558fe)

Data App Lineage Overview

After selecting a table or data asset, the UI will display a **graph of table-level lineage** by default. You can toggle between **Upstream** and **Downstream** perspectives and customize the lineage view by adjusting the **Max Depth** parameter to your preference.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/hQ4DukKOuaj6vjhH/images/data_app_lineage_graph-c33d286a7a8c4787f229e5590d32d2ff.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=hQ4DukKOuaj6vjhH\&q=85\&s=e55cacaf6922d256a43f3f78d90ea8b4)

Lineage Graph


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