diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 4d2687bf28..03288939d7 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1678,6 +1678,7 @@ name = "dbx-core"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
+ "async-trait",
  "base64 0.22.1",
  "calamine",
  "chrono",
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/Cargo.toml b/crates/dbx-core/Cargo.toml
index 9107c2e89f..4f8f4696a0 100644
--- a/crates/dbx-core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/Cargo.toml
@@ -30,3 +30,4 @@ calamine = "0.30.1"
 odbc-api = "25"
 rust-gaussdb = { git = "https://github.com/t8y2/rust-gaussdb", branch = "main" }
 base64 = "0.22"
+async-trait = "0.1"
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/connection.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/connection.rs
index 1d5257d5fc..3cb68e8fec 100644
--- a/crates/dbx-core/src/connection.rs
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/connection.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use tokio::sync::Mutex;
 
 use crate::db;
 use crate::db::ssh_tunnel::TunnelManager;
+use crate::external;
 use crate::models::connection::{parse_mongo_first_host, ConnectionConfig, DatabaseType};
 use crate::plugins::{PluginDriverSession, PluginRegistry};
 use crate::query_cancel::RunningQueries;
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ pub enum PoolKind {
     Elasticsearch(db::elasticsearch_driver::EsClient),
     Dameng(Arc<std::sync::Mutex<db::dm_driver::DmClient>>),
     Gaussdb(Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<db::gaussdb_driver::GaussdbClient>>),
+    ExternalTabular(Arc<external::ExternalPool>),
     ExternalDriver { driver_id: String, config: ConnectionConfig, session: Arc<PluginDriverSession> },
 }
 
@@ -437,6 +439,7 @@ mod tests {
             ssl: false,
             sysdba: false,
             connection_string: None,
+            external_config: None,
             jdbc_driver_class: None,
             jdbc_driver_paths: Vec::new(),
         }
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/connection_secrets.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/connection_secrets.rs
index 1622805080..2bf3c1a68d 100644
--- a/crates/dbx-core/src/connection_secrets.rs
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/connection_secrets.rs
@@ -289,6 +289,7 @@ mod tests {
             ssl: false,
             sysdba: false,
             connection_string: None,
+            external_config: None,
             jdbc_driver_class: None,
             jdbc_driver_paths: Vec::new(),
         }
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/external/duckdb_cache.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/external/duckdb_cache.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..50bfc9bb14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/external/duckdb_cache.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use super::types::{CacheState, ExternalTableRef, ExternalTableSnapshot};
+
+/// Loads an external table snapshot into an in-memory DuckDB connection.
+pub fn load_snapshot_to_duckdb(con: &duckdb::Connection, snapshot: &ExternalTableSnapshot) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let table_name = sanitize_table_name(&snapshot.table_ref.table_name);
+
+    con.execute(&format!("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS \"{}\"", table_name), [])
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to drop table: {e}"))?;
+
+    let col_defs: Vec<String> = snapshot
+        .columns
+        .iter()
+        .map(|c| {
+            format!(
+                "\"{}\" {}{}",
+                c.name.replace('"', "\"\""),
+                &c.duckdb_type,
+                if c.is_nullable { "" } else { " NOT NULL" }
+            )
+        })
+        .collect();
+
+    let pk_cols: Vec<&str> = snapshot.columns.iter().filter(|c| c.is_primary_key).map(|c| c.name.as_str()).collect();
+
+    let mut create_sql = format!("CREATE TABLE \"{}\" ({}", table_name, col_defs.join(", "));
+    if !pk_cols.is_empty() {
+        create_sql.push_str(&format!(
+            ", PRIMARY KEY ({})",
+            pk_cols.iter().map(|c| format!("\"{}\"", c.replace('"', "\"\""))).collect::<Vec<_>>().join(", ")
+        ));
+    }
+    create_sql.push(')');
+
+    con.execute(&create_sql, []).map_err(|e| format!("Failed to create table: {e}"))?;
+
+    if snapshot.rows.is_empty() {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    let placeholders: Vec<&str> = (0..snapshot.columns.len()).map(|_| "?").collect();
+    let insert_sql = format!("INSERT INTO \"{}\" VALUES ({})", table_name, placeholders.join(", "));
+    let mut stmt = con.prepare(&insert_sql).map_err(|e| format!("Failed to prepare insert: {e}"))?;
+
+    for row in &snapshot.rows {
+        let params: Vec<Box<dyn duckdb::ToSql>> = row
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .map(|(i, val)| {
+                let col_type = snapshot.columns.get(i).map(|c| c.duckdb_type.as_str()).unwrap_or("VARCHAR");
+                json_to_duckdb_param(val, col_type)
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        let param_refs: Vec<&dyn duckdb::ToSql> = params.iter().map(|p| p.as_ref()).collect();
+        stmt.execute(param_refs.as_slice()).map_err(|e| format!("Failed to insert row: {e}"))?;
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn json_to_duckdb_param(val: &serde_json::Value, col_type: &str) -> Box<dyn duckdb::ToSql> {
+    match val {
+        serde_json::Value::Null => Box::new(None::<String>),
+        serde_json::Value::Bool(b) => Box::new(*b),
+        serde_json::Value::Number(n) => {
+            if col_type.contains("INT") {
+                Box::new(n.as_i64().unwrap_or(0))
+            } else if col_type.contains("DOUBLE") || col_type.contains("FLOAT") || col_type.contains("DECIMAL") {
+                Box::new(n.as_f64().unwrap_or(0.0))
+            } else {
+                Box::new(n.to_string())
+            }
+        }
+        serde_json::Value::String(s) => Box::new(s.clone()),
+        _ => Box::new(val.to_string()),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Sanitize a source table name into a stable DuckDB table identifier.
+pub fn sanitize_table_name(name: &str) -> String {
+    let sanitized: String = name.chars().map(|c| if c.is_alphanumeric() || c == '_' { c } else { '_' }).collect();
+
+    if sanitized.is_empty() {
+        "_unnamed_".to_string()
+    } else if sanitized.chars().next().is_some_and(|c| c.is_ascii_digit()) {
+        format!("_{sanitized}")
+    } else {
+        sanitized
+    }
+}
+
+/// Manages a DuckDB cache for one external source.
+pub struct ExternalPool {
+    pub source: Arc<dyn super::traits::ExternalTabularSource>,
+    pub cache: Arc<std::sync::Mutex<duckdb::Connection>>,
+    pub cache_state: std::sync::Mutex<CacheState>,
+    pub table_map: std::sync::Mutex<std::collections::HashMap<String, ExternalTableRef>>,
+}
+
+impl ExternalPool {
+    pub fn new(
+        source: Arc<dyn super::traits::ExternalTabularSource>,
+        cache: Arc<std::sync::Mutex<duckdb::Connection>>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            source,
+            cache,
+            cache_state: std::sync::Mutex::new(CacheState::Empty),
+            table_map: std::sync::Mutex::new(std::collections::HashMap::new()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub async fn refresh_cache(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+        {
+            let mut state = self.cache_state.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            *state = CacheState::Loading;
+        }
+
+        let tables = self.source.list_tables().await?;
+        let mut new_table_map = std::collections::HashMap::new();
+
+        for table_ref in &tables {
+            let snapshot = self.source.load_table(table_ref).await?;
+            let mut sanitized_name = sanitize_table_name(&table_ref.table_name);
+
+            if new_table_map.contains_key(&sanitized_name) {
+                let base = sanitized_name.clone();
+                let mut suffix = 2;
+                loop {
+                    sanitized_name = format!("{base}_{suffix}");
+                    if !new_table_map.contains_key(&sanitized_name) {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    suffix += 1;
+                }
+            }
+
+            let cache = self.cache.clone();
+            tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+                let con = cache.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                load_snapshot_to_duckdb(&con, &snapshot)
+            })
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| e.to_string())??;
+
+            new_table_map.insert(sanitized_name, table_ref.clone());
+        }
+
+        {
+            let mut map = self.table_map.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            *map = new_table_map;
+        }
+        {
+            let mut state = self.cache_state.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            *state = CacheState::Fresh;
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for ExternalPool {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("ExternalPool")
+            .field("source", &self.source.display_name())
+            .field("cache_state", &self.cache_state)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/external/mod.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/external/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1fc33bef5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/external/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+pub mod duckdb_cache;
+pub mod traits;
+pub mod types;
+
+pub use duckdb_cache::ExternalPool;
+pub use traits::ExternalTabularSource;
+pub use types::*;
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/external/traits.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/external/traits.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6fdafa33f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/external/traits.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+use async_trait::async_trait;
+
+use super::types::{ExternalCapabilities, ExternalColumnDef, ExternalTableRef, ExternalTableSnapshot};
+
+/// Trait for external tabular data sources.
+#[async_trait]
+pub trait ExternalTabularSource: Send + Sync + std::fmt::Debug {
+    fn capabilities(&self) -> ExternalCapabilities;
+
+    async fn list_tables(&self) -> Result<Vec<ExternalTableRef>, String>;
+
+    async fn get_columns(&self, table: &ExternalTableRef) -> Result<Vec<ExternalColumnDef>, String>;
+
+    async fn load_table(&self, table: &ExternalTableRef) -> Result<ExternalTableSnapshot, String>;
+
+    async fn source_version(&self, table: &ExternalTableRef) -> Result<String, String>;
+
+    async fn test_connection(&self) -> Result<String, String>;
+
+    fn display_name(&self) -> String;
+}
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/external/types.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/external/types.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..75161ae4e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/external/types.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+/// Reference to a specific table within an external source.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct ExternalTableRef {
+    pub source_id: String,
+    pub table_name: String,
+    pub display_name: String,
+}
+
+/// Column definition for an external table snapshot.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct ExternalColumnDef {
+    pub name: String,
+    pub duckdb_type: String,
+    pub is_nullable: bool,
+    pub is_primary_key: bool,
+    pub comment: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// A full table snapshot loaded from an external source.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct ExternalTableSnapshot {
+    pub table_ref: ExternalTableRef,
+    pub columns: Vec<ExternalColumnDef>,
+    pub rows: Vec<Vec<serde_json::Value>>,
+    pub source_version: String,
+}
+
+/// Capability flags for an external data source.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, Default)]
+pub struct ExternalCapabilities {
+    pub can_read: bool,
+    pub can_write: bool,
+    pub can_append: bool,
+    pub can_delete_rows: bool,
+    pub supports_multiple_tables: bool,
+    pub supports_refresh: bool,
+    pub supports_file_watch: bool,
+    pub supports_schema_detection: bool,
+}
+
+/// Cache state tracking for external source snapshots.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub enum CacheState {
+    Empty,
+    Fresh,
+    Stale,
+    Loading,
+    Error(String),
+}
+
+impl Default for CacheState {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::Empty
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/lib.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/lib.rs
index 30697b8bd2..cd34fdf92e 100644
--- a/crates/dbx-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ pub mod ai;
 pub mod connection;
 pub mod connection_secrets;
 pub mod db;
+pub mod external;
 pub mod history;
 pub mod models;
 pub mod mongo_ops;
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/models/connection.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/models/connection.rs
index ea938b9efb..5315673246 100644
--- a/crates/dbx-core/src/models/connection.rs
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/models/connection.rs
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ pub struct ConnectionConfig {
     pub sysdba: bool,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub connection_string: Option<String>,
+    /// Typed configuration for external tabular sources.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub external_config: Option<serde_json::Value>,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub jdbc_driver_class: Option<String>,
     #[serde(default)]
@@ -57,7 +60,7 @@ pub fn default_ssh_connect_timeout_secs() -> u64 {
     5
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
 pub enum DatabaseType {
     Mysql,
@@ -397,6 +400,7 @@ mod tests {
             ssl: false,
             sysdba: false,
             connection_string: None,
+            external_config: None,
             jdbc_driver_class: None,
             jdbc_driver_paths: Vec::new(),
         }
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/query.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/query.rs
index 54573dbc54..e6c1672ed1 100644
--- a/crates/dbx-core/src/query.rs
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/query.rs
@@ -237,6 +237,22 @@ pub async fn do_execute(
             .await
             .map(truncate_result)
         }
+        PoolKind::ExternalTabular(ext_pool) => {
+            if !starts_with_executable_sql_keyword(sql, &["SELECT", "WITH", "SHOW", "DESCRIBE", "EXPLAIN", "PRAGMA"]) {
+                return Err("External data sources are read-only. Only SELECT queries are supported.".to_string());
+            }
+            let con = ext_pool.cache.clone();
+            let sql = sql.to_string();
+            drop(connections);
+            wait_for_query(cancel_token, async move {
+                let task = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+                    let con = con.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                    duckdb_execute(&con, &sql)
+                });
+                task.await.map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
+            })
+            .await
+        }
         PoolKind::ExternalDriver { config, session, .. } => {
             let config = config.clone();
             let session = session.clone();
@@ -414,6 +430,7 @@ pub async fn execute_statements_in_transaction(
             | PoolKind::MongoDb(_)
             | PoolKind::Oracle(_)
             | PoolKind::Elasticsearch(_)
+            | PoolKind::ExternalTabular(_)
             | PoolKind::ExternalDriver { .. } => TxPath::None,
         })
     };
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/schema.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/schema.rs
index f86b104ae4..45693f3e1f 100644
--- a/crates/dbx-core/src/schema.rs
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/schema.rs
@@ -72,6 +72,16 @@ pub fn extract_duckdb(
     }
 }
 
+pub fn extract_external(
+    connections: &HashMap<String, PoolKind>,
+    key: &str,
+) -> Option<Arc<crate::external::ExternalPool>> {
+    match connections.get(key)? {
+        PoolKind::ExternalTabular(pool) => Some(pool.clone()),
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn extract_sqlserver(
     connections: &HashMap<String, PoolKind>,
     key: &str,
@@ -122,6 +132,9 @@ pub fn extract_gaussdb(
 pub async fn list_databases_core(state: &AppState, connection_id: &str) -> Result<Vec<db::DatabaseInfo>, String> {
     {
         let connections = state.connections.lock().await;
+        if extract_external(&connections, connection_id).is_some() {
+            return Ok(vec![db::DatabaseInfo { name: "main".to_string() }]);
+        }
         if let Some(PoolKind::ExternalDriver { config, session, .. }) = connections.get(connection_id) {
             let config = config.clone();
             let session = session.clone();
@@ -230,6 +243,16 @@ pub async fn list_tables_core(
 
     {
         let connections = state.connections.lock().await;
+        if let Some(ext_pool) = extract_external(&connections, &pool_key) {
+            drop(connections);
+            let cache = ext_pool.cache.clone();
+            return tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+                let con = cache.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                duckdb_query_tables(&con)
+            })
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        }
         if let Some(PoolKind::ExternalDriver { config, session, .. }) = connections.get(&pool_key) {
             let config = config.clone();
             let session = session.clone();
@@ -301,6 +324,17 @@ pub async fn get_columns_core(
 
     {
         let connections = state.connections.lock().await;
+        if let Some(ext_pool) = extract_external(&connections, &pool_key) {
+            drop(connections);
+            let cache = ext_pool.cache.clone();
+            let table = table.to_string();
+            return tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+                let con = cache.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                duckdb_query_columns(&con, &table)
+            })
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        }
         if let Some(PoolKind::ExternalDriver { config, session, .. }) = connections.get(&pool_key) {
             let config = config.clone();
             let session = session.clone();
diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/transfer.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/transfer.rs
index b981d40783..297a3a55af 100644
--- a/crates/dbx-core/src/transfer.rs
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/transfer.rs
@@ -569,6 +569,17 @@ pub async fn execute_on_pool(state: &AppState, pool_key: &str, sql: &str) -> Res
             .await
             .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
         }
+        PoolKind::ExternalTabular(ext_pool) => {
+            let con = ext_pool.cache.clone();
+            let sql = sql.to_string();
+            drop(connections);
+            tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+                let con = con.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                crate::query::duckdb_execute(&con, &sql)
+            })
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
+        }
         _ => Err("Unsupported database type for transfer".to_string()),
     }
 }
@@ -603,6 +614,18 @@ pub async fn get_columns_for_transfer(
         .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
     }
 
+    if let Some(PoolKind::ExternalTabular(ext_pool)) = connections.get(pool_key) {
+        let con = ext_pool.cache.clone();
+        drop(connections);
+        let table = table.to_string();
+        return tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+            let con = con.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            crate::schema::duckdb_query_columns(&con, &table)
+        })
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    }
+
     if let Some(PoolKind::ClickHouse(client)) = connections.get(pool_key) {
         let client = client.clone();
         let database = database.to_string();
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands/connection.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands/connection.rs
index 756c9c45a7..f98221f0f8 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands/connection.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands/connection.rs
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ pub async fn disconnect_db(state: State<'_, Arc<AppState>>, connection_id: Strin
                 PoolKind::Elasticsearch(_) => {}
                 PoolKind::Dameng(_) => {}
                 PoolKind::Gaussdb(_) => {}
+                PoolKind::ExternalTabular(_) => {}
                 PoolKind::ExternalDriver { .. } => {}
             }
         }