---
title: Data views
description: A Kibana data view selects Elasticsearch indices, data streams, or aliases for Discover, Lens, and other analytics features. Create one yourself, or use one created automatically or managed by Elastic.
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/data-views
products:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless
  - Kibana
applies_to:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless: Generally available
  - Elastic Stack: Generally available
---

# Data views
A data view tells Kibana which Elasticsearch indices, [data streams](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/manage-data/data-store/data-streams), or [index aliases](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/manage-data/data-store/aliases) to query. Analytics features such as **Discover** and **Lens** use a data view to access your data. For example, a data view can point to your log data from yesterday, or to all indices that contain your data.
<note>
  In some apps, you can query Elasticsearch with [ES|QL](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/reference/query-languages/esql) instead. ES|QL doesn't require a data view.
</note>


## How data views are created

A data view in your space is created automatically or by you.
<definitions>
  <definition term="Created automatically">
    Some ingest and onboarding workflows create a data view for you. Adding [sample data](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/manage-data/ingest/sample-data) installs one. [Uploading a file](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/manage-data/ingest/upload-data-files) creates one when **Create data view** is turned on. These are ordinary data views that you can edit.
    Installing an Elastic integration through Fleet also creates data views. Those data views are [managed by Elastic](#managed-data-views).
  </definition>
  <definition term="Created by you">
    For your own data, you often need to create the data view yourself. Refer to [Create a data view](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/data-views/create-data-view).
  </definition>
</definitions>

To see which data views already exist in your space, open the data view menu in **Discover** or **Lens**, or go to the **Data Views** management page.

## Managed data views

Some data views are configured and managed by Elastic, including those created by Fleet integrations, Elastic Security, and Cases. Managed data views carry a **Managed** tag.
You can view and use a managed data view, but you can't edit it.
<applies-to>Elastic Stack: Generally available since 9.4</applies-to> You also can't delete a managed data view.
To customize a managed data view, [duplicate it](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/data-views/duplicate-data-view) and edit the copy.

## Search across clusters, projects, or rolled-up data

To match data in another cluster, another project, or a rollup index, refer to [What the index pattern matches](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/data-views/create-data-view#what-the-index-pattern-matches).

## Work with data views

- [Create a data view](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/data-views/create-data-view)
- [Delete a data view](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/data-views/delete-data-view)
- [Duplicate a data view](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/data-views/duplicate-data-view)
- [Customize data view fields](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4075/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/data-views/customize-data-view-fields)