- Why does the dialect matter?
- Each database has its own syntax: backtick identifiers in MySQL, [brackets] and TOP in SQL Server, :: casts and $$ strings in PostgreSQL, STRUCT and backtick table paths in BigQuery. Picking the right dialect lets the formatter understand those parts instead of reporting a syntax error.
- Does formatting change what my query does?
- No. Only whitespace, line breaks and the case of keywords change. String literals, quoted identifiers and comments are kept exactly. Minify also removes comments (except MySQL /*! */ and optimizer hints).
- Is my SQL sent to a server?
- No. The formatter runs entirely in your browser, so queries with table names, customer data or credentials never leave your device.