> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.deltastream.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.deltastream.io/reference/sql-syntax/sandbox.md).

# Sandbox

A sandbox is an interactive environment you can use to interact with queries before persisting them into a [streaming query](/overview/core-concepts/queries.md#streaming_or_continuous_query).

Start a sandbox environment using the [`START SANDBOX`](/reference/sql-syntax/sandbox/start-sandbox.md) command. This command starts a new temporary cluster in your organization. Once started, the sandbox bootstraps the appropriate resources until it reaches the `RUNNING` state. At this state, you can run ad hoc queries such as [`SELECT`](/reference/sql-syntax/query/select.md) against DeltaStream relations without persisting them.

Store-level commands such as [`PRINT ENTITY`](/reference/sql-syntax/command/print-entity.md) do not require a sandbox because they read directly from the backing entity in the current store.

Sandboxes stop automatically after 10 minutes if not used. You can also stop them using the [`STOP SANDBOX`](/reference/sql-syntax/sandbox/stop-sandbox.md) command.