Full-text search indexes on tables
CREATE SEARCH INDEX on a text column lets the search and isearch functions skip files that cannot contain a match. Off by default, Databricks Runtime 18.2 and above.
Why it is worth watching
Substring and keyword lookups without scanning the whole table. Not the same thing as AI Search full-text indexes.
What Beta promises
Open to most customers but not for production: support runs through engineering, and the shape of it can still move. On by default on Premium, off on Enterprise.
| Who can use it | Most customers |
|---|---|
| Production use | No |
| Support | Engineering only |
| On by default | Premium yes, Enterprise no |
The definitions are Databricks' own, on its release types page. The label on this page is the one the feature's documentation states, last checked on 14 Sept 2026.
Where to read more
We have not written a concept about it yet: while it is in preview the documentation is the place to read, and it moves faster than a page here would.
The Databricks documentation for Full-text search indexes on tables