Snowflake Zero-Copy Cloning Explained
➤ How to create instant clones without additional storage costs
Managing data efficiently while keeping costs low is a top priority for data teams. Snowflake’s Zero-Copy Cloning is a game-changing feature that allows you to create copies of databases, schemas, or tables instantly — without duplicating data or incurring extra storage costs. In this blog, we’ll explain how this feature works, why it’s beneficial, and how you can use it to improve workflows and save money.
✅ What is Zero-Copy Cloning?
In traditional systems, when you create a copy of a dataset, it involves duplicating the data. This means additional storage, increased cost, and more time spent copying files.
Zero-Copy Cloning in Snowflake is different. It allows you to create a clone of a database, schema, or table that behaves like a full copy but shares the underlying data. The clone only stores new changes, not the original data. This results in:
✔ Instant creation – clones are ready within seconds
✔ No extra storage cost – until new changes are made
✔ Efficient data sharing – ideal for testing, development, and analytics
✅ How Does It Work?
Snowflake’s architecture separates storage and compute, enabling it to create virtual copies of data without moving it. When you clone a table or database, Snowflake references the existing data files, and any modifications made to the clone are stored separately.
This process is similar to creating snapshots or pointers rather than copying actual files.
✅ Use Cases for Zero-Copy Cloning
1️⃣ Development and Testing
Developers can quickly spin up environments with the same data as production without worrying about cost or delays. Testing can be done safely without affecting the original dataset.
2️⃣ Data Science Experiments
Data scientists can experiment on cloned datasets without risking the integrity of the source data. They can test models, transformations, or algorithms in isolation.
3️⃣ Analytics and Reporting
Analysts can run reports on snapshots of data at specific points in time, ensuring that exploratory queries do not interfere with production workflows.
4️⃣ Disaster Recovery
Clones can be used as backup points to restore data after accidental changes, alongside Time Travel for quick recovery.
✅ How to Create a Clone
Creating a clone is simple and can be done using SQL commands.
Example: Clone a Table
CREATE TABLE my_table_clone CLONE my_table;
Example: Clone a Database
CREATE DATABASE my_database_clone CLONE my_database;
Example: Clone a Schema
CREATE SCHEMA my_schema_clone CLONE my_schema;
Once the clone is created, it can be queried, modified, and used just like the original dataset. Changes made to the clone are stored separately, while unchanged data continues to reference the original.
✅ Important Considerations
✔ Only new changes consume additional storage – clones remain cost-effective.
✔ Clones can be created from any object with data – tables, schemas, or entire databases.
✔ Changes do not reflect back – modifying a clone does not alter the original.
✔ Clones respect access permissions – user roles and privileges apply based on the clone’s context.
✔ Best paired with Time Travel – for historical snapshots and recovery scenarios.
📌 Final Thoughts
Snowflake’s Zero-Copy Cloning is a powerful tool that allows teams to create full-featured copies of their datasets instantly without duplicating storage. It’s ideal for development, testing, reporting, and disaster recovery, offering flexibility without incurring unnecessary costs.
By leveraging this feature, you can streamline workflows, increase productivity, and ensure data safety — all while optimizing your cloud storage usage.
Start experimenting with clones today and take your Snowflake experience to the next level!