> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://private-7c7dfe99-fix-nav-issues.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Local File dictionary source

> Configure a local file as a dictionary source in ClickHouse.

The local file source loads dictionary data from a file on the local filesystem. This is useful for small, static lookup tables that can be stored as flat files in formats such as TSV, CSV, or any other [supported format](/reference/formats/index).

Example of settings:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="DDL">
    ```sql theme={null}
    SOURCE(FILE(path './user_files/os.tsv' format 'TabSeparated'))
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Configuration file">
    ```xml theme={null}
    <source>
      <file>
        <path>/opt/dictionaries/os.tsv</path>
        <format>TabSeparated</format>
      </file>
    </source>
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<br />

Setting fields:

| Setting  | Description                                                                                      |
| -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `path`   | The absolute path to the file.                                                                   |
| `format` | The file format. All the formats described in [Formats](/reference/formats/index) are supported. |

When a dictionary with source `FILE` is created via DDL command (`CREATE DICTIONARY ...`), the source file needs to be located in the `user_files` directory to prevent DB users from accessing arbitrary files on the ClickHouse node.

**See Also**

* [Dictionary function](/reference/functions/table-functions/dictionary)