AUTO CDC

AUTO CDC is the current Databricks name, previously APPLY CHANGES (since June 2025).

APPLY CHANGES → AUTO CDC

Declarative change data capture API for Lakeflow pipelines and Databricks SQL streaming tables that applies CDC records as SCD type 1 or type 2, handling out-of-order events without hand-written MERGE logic.

• The rename was purely cosmetic - the Python function keeps exactly the same signature as the one it replaced, and the docs simply recommend updating to the new name. 🔗
• The old verb survives inside the new syntax - an AUTO CDC statement still says APPLY AS DELETE WHEN to mark deletes. 🔗
• In June 2026 it escaped the pipeline - a FLOW AUTO CDC clause on CREATE STREAMING TABLE in Databricks SQL went generally available, pitched as CDC without the complex logic MERGE INTO needs. 🔗

⚠ Limitations: Identity columns are not supported on tables that are the target of AUTO CDC processing in Lakeflow pipelines. 🔗

Category

Data engineering

In use from

June 2025🔗

Announced at

Data + AI Summit 2025🔗

Also known as

AUTO CDC INTO, AUTO CDC APIs, create_auto_cdc_flow(), FLOW AUTO CDC

Verified

2026-09-27