Write

A write action persists a flow into a target. The write mode you choose depends on how the data changes and what shape you need downstream.

You need to…	Reach for	Guide
Append or upsert rows into a table as they arrive	A standard streaming table	Configure a streaming table write
Track row changes over time (a slowly changing dimension) from a change feed	CDC into a streaming table (mode: cdc)	Apply CDC changes to a streaming table
Build a dimension from periodic full snapshots instead of a change feed	Snapshot CDC (mode: snapshot_cdc)	Build a dimension from periodic snapshots
Serve a query result that Databricks keeps fresh (an aggregate, a join)	A materialized view	Write a materialized view
Send rows out to Kafka, Delta, or another external system	An external sink	Write to an external sink

Tip

Streaming table vs materialized view, in one line: a streaming table is incremental — it processes new rows as they arrive. A materialized view is declarative — it re-derives its full result when its inputs change. Use a streaming table for ingestion and CDC; a materialized view for aggregates and joins over existing tables.