---
title: NetScript overview
slug: analytics/docs/netscript-overview
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:45:11.844Z
---

NetScript is a powerful analytical language that lets users author and manipulate SQL queries. NetScript query expressions, called *quads*, represent SQL queries. Operations on these quads transform the SQL queries according to common analytical requirements.

The exploration template facilitates a NetScript-based query-building experience and can be used when complex, code-based analysis is required. See [NetScript language reference](docId:8NvhL6PRcYM9S-k6jD1N1).

## Prerequisites[​](http://localhost:3000/documentation/docs/Explore%20Data/netscript#pre-requisites)

Before you create explorations inside Analytics, you must [create datasets](docId\:ceeHwVegmTgp3ZecBx86k) and [connect to your data sources](https://support.optimizely.com/hc/en-us/articles/33903147727885-Connect-to-Data-Sources).