> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.helix-db.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# helix shell

> Run line-oriented Helix v3 JSON requests

<div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2"><Badge color="gray" size="sm">Reference</Badge></div>

```bash theme={"languages":{"custom":["languages/helixql.json"]}}
helix shell [INSTANCE] [--compact]
```

Enter one complete v3 query request per line. Use `:quit` or `:exit` to stop. The request's
`request_type` selects read or write execution.

Local instances use the existing auth-disabled local endpoint. With no target, the CLI uses local
`dev` or the sole linked instance; ambiguous projects must specify an instance or an explicit
`tenant:<id>` / `cluster:<id>` reference. Cloud requests use the backend query broker and the current
WorkOS session; the CLI never contacts the Cloud gateway directly.