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Enables simultaneous processing of files matching a specified path across multiple nodes within a cluster. The initiator establishes connections to worker nodes, expands globs in the file path, and delegates file-reading tasks to worker nodes. Each worker node is querying the initiator for the next file to process, repeating until all tasks are completed (all files are read).

Note

This function will operate *correctly* only in case the set of files matching the initially specified path is identical across all nodes, and their content is consistent among different nodes.  
In case these files differ between nodes, the return value cannot be predetermined and depends on the order in which worker nodes request tasks from the initiator.

## Syntax[​](#syntax "Direct link to Syntax")

```
fileCluster(cluster_name, path[, format, structure, compression_method])
```

## Arguments[​](#arguments "Direct link to Arguments")

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Argument Description|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `cluster_name` Name of a cluster that is used to build a set of addresses and connection parameters to remote and local servers.|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `path` The relative path to the file from [user\_files\_path](/docs/operations/server-configuration-parameters/settings#user_files_path). Path to file also supports [globs](#globs-in-path).| `format` [Format](/docs/sql-reference/formats) of the files. Type: [String](/docs/sql-reference/data-types/string).| `structure` Table structure in `'UserID UInt64, Name String'` format. Determines column names and types. Type: [String](/docs/sql-reference/data-types/string).| `compression_method` Compression method. Supported compression types are `gz`, `br`, `xz`, `zst`, `lz4`, and `bz2`. | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Returned value[​](#returned_value "Direct link to Returned value")

A table with the specified format and structure and with data from files matching the specified path.

**Example**

Given a cluster named `my_cluster` and given the following value of setting `user_files_path`:

```
$ grep user_files_path /etc/clickhouse-server/config.xml
    <user_files_path>/var/lib/clickhouse/user_files/</user_files_path>
```

Also, given there are files `test1.csv` and `test2.csv` inside `user_files_path` of each cluster node, and their content is identical across different nodes:

```
$ cat /var/lib/clickhouse/user_files/test1.csv
    1,"file1"
    11,"file11"

$ cat /var/lib/clickhouse/user_files/test2.csv
    2,"file2"
    22,"file22"
```

For example, one can create these files by executing these two queries on every cluster node:

```
INSERT INTO TABLE FUNCTION file('file1.csv', 'CSV', 'i UInt32, s String') VALUES (1,'file1'), (11,'file11');
INSERT INTO TABLE FUNCTION file('file2.csv', 'CSV', 'i UInt32, s String') VALUES (2,'file2'), (22,'file22');
```

Now, read data contents of `test1.csv` and `test2.csv` via `fileCluster` table function:

```
SELECT * FROM fileCluster('my_cluster', 'file{1,2}.csv', 'CSV', 'i UInt32, s String') ORDER BY i, s
```

```
┌──i─┬─s──────┐
│  1 │ file1  │
│ 11 │ file11 │
└────┴────────┘
┌──i─┬─s──────┐
│  2 │ file2  │
│ 22 │ file22 │
└────┴────────┘
```

## Globs in Path[​](#globs-in-path "Direct link to Globs in Path")

All patterns supported by [File](/docs/sql-reference/table-functions/file#globs-in-path) table function are supported by FileCluster.

## Related[​](#related "Direct link to Related")

- [File table function](/docs/sql-reference/table-functions/file)

- [Syntax](#syntax)- [Arguments](#arguments)- [Returned value](#returned_value)- [Globs in Path](#globs-in-path)- [Related](#related)

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