# LIST DESCRIPTORS

## Syntax

```sql
[ LIST | SHOW ] DESCRIPTORS
[ IN DESCRIPTOR_SOURCE descriptor_source_name ];
```

## Description

[Descriptor](https://github.com/deltastreaminc/ds-docs-gitbook/blob/main-dcap/overview/core-concepts/data-format-serde.md)[s](https://github.com/deltastreaminc/ds-docs-gitbook/blob/main-dcap/overview/core-concepts/data-format-serde.md) are used for supporting [protocol buffers](https://protobuf.dev/). Creating a descriptor source enables users to associate [ProtoBuf descriptors](https://protobuf.dev/) with specific [entities](https://docs.deltastream.io/overview/core-concepts/store#entity) for data serialization and deserialization. This command provides a list of descriptors that the user has access to in the current organization. Descriptors are created when descriptor sources are created with [CREATE DESCRIPTOR\_SOURCE](https://docs.deltastream.io/reference/sql-syntax/ddl/create-descriptor_source).

This command provides a list of [descriptor](https://docs.deltastream.io/reference/sql-syntax/data-format-serialization)[s](https://docs.deltastream.io/reference/sql-syntax/data-format-serialization), optionally filtered by a specific descriptor source.

Descriptors are listed only if the current role has `USAGE` privileges on the descriptor source.

### Arguments

#### descriptor\_source\_name

Optionally, this lists the descriptors belonging to the specified descriptor source.

## Examples

#### List all descriptors

```sh
demodb.public/demostore# LIST DESCRIPTORS;
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
|  Name      |  Source Name |  Type      |  Owner     |  Created At                   |  Updated At                   |
+============+==============+============+============+===============================+===============================+
| Message2   | src1         | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-03 16:59:52 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-03 16:59:52 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Message1   | src1         | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-03 16:59:52 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-03 16:59:52 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| StaffKey   | employee     | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Manager    | employee     | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Employee   | employee     | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Address    | employee     | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
```

#### List all descriptors from a descriptor source

From a list of all available descriptors, you can choose one of the descriptor source names — for example, `employee` — and list only the descriptors imported using that source:

```sh
demodb.public/demostore# LIST DESCRIPTORS IN DESCRIPTOR_SOURCE employee;
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
|  Name      |  Source Name |  Type      |  Owner     |  Created At                   |  Updated At                   |
+============+==============+============+============+===============================+===============================+
| StaffKey   | employee     | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Manager    | employee     | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Employee   | employee     | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Address    | employee     | protobuf   | sysadmin   | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC | 2024-06-04 19:03:51 +0000 UTC |
+------------+--------------+------------+------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+
```