Retool

Retool is the leading low-code platform for building internal tools, admin panels, dashboards, and operations software. By providing a library of pre-built UI components that connect directly to databases, APIs, and third-party services, Retool enables developers to build powerful internal applications in hours rather than weeks, without writing frontend code from scratch.

The Retool building experience centers on a drag-and-drop canvas where developers assemble application interfaces from a comprehensive library of components. Available components include tables, forms, buttons, inputs, dropdowns, date pickers, file uploaders, charts, maps, code editors, modals, steppers, and many others. Each component has an extensive set of properties that control its appearance and behavior, and all properties support dynamic values through JavaScript expressions.

Data connectivity is central to what makes Retool productive. Retool connects directly to SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite, BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, etc.), REST and GraphQL APIs, and dozens of integrated services including Stripe, Twilio, GitHub, Slack, Google Sheets, S3, and others. Queries are written in SQL or configured through form-based API builders, and their results are automatically available to components on the canvas.

JavaScript can be written throughout a Retool application to implement custom logic, transform data, trigger actions, and calculate derived values. Transformers allow writing JavaScript functions that process query results before passing them to components. Event handlers on components trigger query executions, navigate pages, set variables, and call custom JavaScript, enabling complex application behaviors without a separate backend.

The permissions system in Retool controls which users can view and edit each application. Permission groups can be defined with granular access rules, and sensitive queries can be configured to run only with elevated permissions. Source credentials are managed centrally and are not exposed to application users, ensuring that database passwords and API keys remain secure.

Retool Workflows is the automation component that enables building scheduled and event-driven workflows that run in the cloud. Workflows are composed of blocks including code blocks (JavaScript or Python), query blocks (SQL or API calls), conditional blocks, and loop blocks, and can be triggered by cron schedules, webhook events, or other workflows. Workflows are useful for data synchronization, automated reports, event processing, and other backend automation tasks.

Retool Mobile enables building iOS and Android applications using the same Retool components and query system as web applications. Mobile applications are published through the Retool Mobile app and can be distributed to team members, enabling field operations and mobile data collection use cases.

Retool Cloud is the managed hosting option, while Retool On-Premise can be deployed in the customer's own infrastructure for maximum data security. Large enterprises across finance, healthcare, logistics, and technology rely on Retool for mission-critical internal tooling.