---
title: Introduction to the query builder
source: https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/query-your-data/explore-query-data/query-builder/introduction-query-builder
---

With [the query builder](https://one.newrelic.com/data-exploration/query-builder), you can run queries of your data to create custom charts and other visualizations. You can also build custom [dashboards](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/dashboards/manage-your-dashboard/manage-your-dashboard#dash-create-chart) containing multiple charts.

## Why it matters

Modern business systems are a complex maze of data-generating elements. You need an easy, solid way to fetch, analyze, and visualize the never-ending stream of data flowing from your daily working activities.

Use the query builder to:

-   Quickly access your data and build customized charts to learn and understand the health of your infrastructure, applications, and other services.
-   Add charts to your dashboards to obtain a complete real-time view of the state of your system.
-   Share your charts with colleagues or users in just two clicks.
-   Create NRQL alerts from the queries you build and run.

![Query builder](https://docs.newrelic.com/images/queries-nrql_screenshot-full_query-builder.webp "Query builder")

Access the query builder through the **Query your data** drawer at the bottom of any New Relic page to run queries and create custom charts, other visualizations, and NRQL alerts.

## Get started [#get-started]

If you haven't already, create your free New Relic account below to start monitoring your data today.

Before using the query builder, we recommend reading:

-   [Introduction to querying](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/telemetry-data-platform/ingest-manage-data/understand-data/introduction-querying-new-relic-data)
-   [How to explore your data](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/query-your-data/explore-query-data/explore-data/introduction-data-explorer)

Also note that [our NerdGraph API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/examples/nerdgraph-nrql-tutorial) gives you access to more powerful querying features. For example, you can run queries across multiple accounts, run asynchronous queries, and more.

To access the query builder, click the **Query your data** button in the bottom drawer of any New Relic page, then select the **Query builder** option.

## Use and share charts [#customize-chart]

Once you have built a chart you can:

-   [Change the type of chart](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/chart-builder/use-chart-builder/use-charts/use-your-charts#change-appearance). Based on the data you specified, the query builder selects the chart type that displays your results most effectively. However, you can choose from other [available chart types](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/insights/use-insights-ui/manage-dashboards/insights-chart-types) to present your data in the visual format that you want to use.
-   [Share your chart](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/chart-builder/use-chart-builder/use-charts/use-your-charts#share-charts).
-   [Add your chart to a dashboard](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/chart-builder/use-chart-builder/use-charts/use-your-charts#add-to-dashboard).
-   [Create a NRQL alert condition from your chart](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/alerts-applied-intelligence/new-relic-alerts/alert-conditions/create-nrql-alert-conditions/#create-chart).