Build your queries

You can run a CloudWatch Metrics Insights query using the CloudWatch console, the AWS CLI, or the AWS SDKs. Queries run in the console are free of charge. For more information about CloudWatch pricing, see Amazon CloudWatch Pricing.

For more information about using the AWS SDKs to perform a Metrics Insights query, see GetMetricData.

To run a query using the CloudWatch console, follow these steps:

To query your metrics using Metrics Insights

1. Open the CloudWatch console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/.

2. In the navigation pane, choose Metrics, All metrics.

3. Choose the Query tab.

4. (Optional) To run a pre-built sample query, choose Add query and select the query to run. If you are satisfied with this query, you can skip the rest of this procedure. Or, you can choose Editor to edit the sample query and then choose Run to run the modified query.

5. To create your own query, you can use the Builder view, the Editor view, and also use a combination of both. You can switch between the two views anytime and see your work in progress in both views.

   In the Builder view, you can browse and select the metric namespace, metric name, filter, group, and order options. For each of these options, the query builder offers you a list of possible selections from your environment to choose from.

   In the Editor view, you can start writing your query. As you type, the editor offers suggestions based on the characters that you have typed so far.

6. When you are satisfied with your query, choose Run.

7. (Optional) Another way to edit a query that you have graphed is to choose the Graphed metrics tab and choose the edit icon next to the query formula in the Details column.

8. (Optional) To remove a query from the graph, choose Graphed metrics and choose the X icon at the right side of the row that displays your query.