New navigation-search feature, new /-/tables.json endpoint

Closes #2523

Also added allow() method with keyword-only arguments, closes #2519

datasette/app.py

@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ from .views.special import (
     AllowedResourcesView,
     PermissionRulesView,
     PermissionCheckView,
+    TablesSearchView,
 )
 from .views.table import (
     TableInsertView,
@@ -1069,8 +1070,161 @@ class Datasette:
         )
         return sql, params
 
-    async def permission_allowed_2(
-        self, actor, action, resource=None, *, default=DEFAULT_NOT_SET
+    async def get_allowed_tables(
+        self,
+        actor,
+        database: Optional[str] = None,
+        extra_sql: str = "",
+        extra_params: Optional[dict] = None,
+    ):
+        """
+        Get list of tables the actor is allowed to view.
+
+        Args:
+            actor: The actor dict (or None for anonymous)
+            database: Optional database name to filter by
+            extra_sql: Optional extra SQL to add to the WHERE clause
+            extra_params: Optional parameters for the extra SQL
+
+        Returns:
+            List of dicts with keys: database, table, resource
+        """
+        from datasette.utils.permissions import resolve_permissions_from_catalog
+
+        await self.refresh_schemas()
+        internal_db = self.get_internal_database()
+
+        # Build the candidate SQL query
+        where_clauses = []
+        params = extra_params.copy() if extra_params else {}
+
+        if database:
+            where_clauses.append("database_name = :database")
+            params["database"] = database
+
+        if extra_sql:
+            where_clauses.append(f"({extra_sql})")
+
+        where_sql = " AND ".join(where_clauses) if where_clauses else "1=1"
+
+        candidate_sql = f"""
+            SELECT database_name AS parent, table_name AS child
+            FROM catalog_tables
+            WHERE {where_sql}
+        """
+
+        # Collect plugin SQL blocks for view-table permission
+        table_plugins = []
+        for block in pm.hook.permission_resources_sql(
+            datasette=self,
+            actor=actor,
+            action="view-table",
+        ):
+            block = await await_me_maybe(block)
+            if block is None:
+                continue
+            if isinstance(block, (list, tuple)):
+                candidates = block
+            else:
+                candidates = [block]
+            for candidate in candidates:
+                if candidate is None:
+                    continue
+                if not isinstance(candidate, PluginSQL):
+                    continue
+                table_plugins.append(candidate)
+
+        # Collect plugin SQL blocks for view-database permission
+        db_plugins = []
+        for block in pm.hook.permission_resources_sql(
+            datasette=self,
+            actor=actor,
+            action="view-database",
+        ):
+            block = await await_me_maybe(block)
+            if block is None:
+                continue
+            if isinstance(block, (list, tuple)):
+                candidates = block
+            else:
+                candidates = [block]
+            for candidate in candidates:
+                if candidate is None:
+                    continue
+                if not isinstance(candidate, PluginSQL):
+                    continue
+                db_plugins.append(candidate)
+
+        # Get actor_id for resolve_permissions_from_catalog
+        if isinstance(actor, dict):
+            actor_id = actor.get("id")
+        elif actor:
+            actor_id = actor
+        else:
+            actor_id = None
+
+        actor_str = str(actor_id) if actor_id is not None else ""
+
+        # Resolve permissions for all matching tables
+        table_permission_results = await resolve_permissions_from_catalog(
+            internal_db,
+            actor=actor_str,
+            plugins=table_plugins,
+            action="view-table",
+            candidate_sql=candidate_sql,
+            candidate_params=params,
+            implicit_deny=True,
+        )
+
+        # Get unique database names from table results
+        database_names = list(
+            set(r["parent"] for r in table_permission_results if r["allow"] == 1)
+        )
+
+        # Check view-database permissions for those databases
+        if database_names:
+            # Build placeholders and params dict for database check
+            placeholders = ",".join(f":db{i}" for i in range(len(database_names)))
+            db_params = {f"db{i}": db_name for i, db_name in enumerate(database_names)}
+
+            db_candidate_sql = f"""
+                SELECT database_name AS parent, NULL AS child
+                FROM catalog_databases
+                WHERE database_name IN ({placeholders})
+            """
+            db_permission_results = await resolve_permissions_from_catalog(
+                internal_db,
+                actor=actor_str,
+                plugins=db_plugins,
+                action="view-database",
+                candidate_sql=db_candidate_sql,
+                candidate_params=db_params,
+                implicit_deny=True,
+            )
+
+            # Create set of allowed databases
+            allowed_databases = {
+                r["parent"] for r in db_permission_results if r["allow"] == 1
+            }
+        else:
+            allowed_databases = set()
+
+        # Filter to only tables in allowed databases
+        allowed = []
+        for result in table_permission_results:
+            if result["allow"] == 1 and result["parent"] in allowed_databases:
+                allowed.append(
+                    {
+                        "database": result["parent"],
+                        "table": result["child"],
+                        "resource": result["resource"],
+                    }
+                )
+
+        return allowed
+
+    async def allowed(
+        self, *, actor, action, resource=None, default=DEFAULT_NOT_SET
     ):
         """Permission check backed by permission_resources_sql rules."""
 
@@ -1178,6 +1332,14 @@ class Datasette:
 
         return result
 
+    async def permission_allowed_2(
+        self, actor, action, resource=None, *, default=DEFAULT_NOT_SET
+    ):
+        """Legacy method that delegates to allowed()."""
+        return await self.allowed(
+            actor=actor, action=action, resource=resource, default=default
+        )
+
     async def ensure_permissions(
         self,
         actor: dict,
@@ -1754,6 +1916,10 @@ class Datasette:
             AllowDebugView.as_view(self),
             r"/-/allow-debug$",
         )
+        add_route(
+            TablesSearchView.as_view(self),
+            r"/-/tables(\.(?P<format>json))?$",
+        )
         add_route(
             wrap_view(PatternPortfolioView, self),
             r"/-/patterns$",

datasette/database.py

@@ -374,12 +374,25 @@ class Database:
             self.cached_size = Path(self.path).stat().st_size
             return self.cached_size
 
-    async def table_counts(self, limit=10):
+    async def table_counts(self, limit=10, tables=None):
+        # Determine which tables we need counts for
+        if tables is None:
+            tables_to_count = await self.table_names()
+        else:
+            tables_to_count = tables
+
+        # If we have cached counts for immutable database, use them
         if not self.is_mutable and self.cached_table_counts is not None:
-            return self.cached_table_counts
+            # Return only the requested tables from cache
+            return {
+                table: self.cached_table_counts.get(table)
+                for table in tables_to_count
+                if table in self.cached_table_counts
+            }
+
         # Try to get counts for each table, $limit timeout for each count
         counts = {}
-        for table in await self.table_names():
+        for table in tables_to_count:
             try:
                 table_count = (
                     await self.execute(
@@ -392,8 +405,11 @@ class Database:
             # QueryInterrupted - so we catch that too:
             except (QueryInterrupted, sqlite3.OperationalError, sqlite3.DatabaseError):
                 counts[table] = None
-        if not self.is_mutable:
+
+        # Only cache if we counted all tables
+        if tables is None and not self.is_mutable:
             self._cached_table_counts = counts
+
         return counts
 
     @property

datasette/default_permissions.py

@@ -263,6 +263,9 @@ async def _config_permission_rules(datasette, actor, action) -> list[PluginSQL]:
                 )
 
         for query_name, query_config in (db_config.get("queries") or {}).items():
+            # query_config can be a string (just SQL) or a dict
+            if isinstance(query_config, str):
+                continue
             query_perm = (query_config.get("permissions") or {}).get(action)
             add_row(
                 db_name,
@@ -325,7 +328,6 @@ async def _config_permission_rules(datasette, actor, action) -> list[PluginSQL]:
         params[f"{key}_reason"] = reason
 
     sql = "\nUNION ALL\n".join(parts)
-    print(sql, params)
     return [PluginSQL(source="config_permissions", sql=sql, params=params)]
 
 

datasette/static/navigation-search.js

@@ -0,0 +1,401 @@
+class NavigationSearch extends HTMLElement {
+    constructor() {
+        super();
+        this.attachShadow({ mode: 'open' });
+        this.selectedIndex = -1;
+        this.matches = [];
+        this.debounceTimer = null;
+        
+        this.render();
+        this.setupEventListeners();
+    }
+
+    render() {
+        this.shadowRoot.innerHTML = `
+            <style>
+                :host {
+                    display: contents;
+                }
+
+                dialog {
+                    border: none;
+                    border-radius: 0.75rem;
+                    padding: 0;
+                    max-width: 90vw;
+                    width: 600px;
+                    max-height: 80vh;
+                    box-shadow: 0 20px 25px -5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1), 0 10px 10px -5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);
+                    animation: slideIn 0.2s ease-out;
+                }
+
+                dialog::backdrop {
+                    background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+                    backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
+                    animation: fadeIn 0.2s ease-out;
+                }
+
+                @keyframes slideIn {
+                    from {
+                        opacity: 0;
+                        transform: translateY(-20px) scale(0.95);
+                    }
+                    to {
+                        opacity: 1;
+                        transform: translateY(0) scale(1);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                @keyframes fadeIn {
+                    from { opacity: 0; }
+                    to { opacity: 1; }
+                }
+
+                .search-container {
+                    display: flex;
+                    flex-direction: column;
+                    height: 100%;
+                }
+
+                .search-input-wrapper {
+                    padding: 1.25rem;
+                    border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e7eb;
+                }
+
+                .search-input {
+                    width: 100%;
+                    padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+                    font-size: 1rem;
+                    border: 2px solid #e5e7eb;
+                    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+                    outline: none;
+                    transition: border-color 0.2s;
+                    box-sizing: border-box;
+                }
+
+                .search-input:focus {
+                    border-color: #2563eb;
+                }
+
+                .results-container {
+                    overflow-y: auto;
+                    height: calc(80vh - 180px);
+                    padding: 0.5rem;
+                }
+
+                .result-item {
+                    padding: 0.875rem 1rem;
+                    cursor: pointer;
+                    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+                    transition: background-color 0.15s;
+                    display: flex;
+                    align-items: center;
+                    gap: 0.75rem;
+                }
+
+                .result-item:hover {
+                    background-color: #f3f4f6;
+                }
+
+                .result-item.selected {
+                    background-color: #dbeafe;
+                }
+
+                .result-name {
+                    font-weight: 500;
+                    color: #111827;
+                }
+
+                .result-url {
+                    font-size: 0.875rem;
+                    color: #6b7280;
+                }
+
+                .no-results {
+                    padding: 2rem;
+                    text-align: center;
+                    color: #6b7280;
+                }
+
+                .hint-text {
+                    padding: 0.75rem 1.25rem;
+                    font-size: 0.875rem;
+                    color: #6b7280;
+                    border-top: 1px solid #e5e7eb;
+                    display: flex;
+                    gap: 1rem;
+                    flex-wrap: wrap;
+                }
+
+                .hint-text kbd {
+                    background: #f3f4f6;
+                    padding: 0.125rem 0.375rem;
+                    border-radius: 0.25rem;
+                    font-size: 0.75rem;
+                    border: 1px solid #d1d5db;
+                    font-family: monospace;
+                }
+
+                /* Mobile optimizations */
+                @media (max-width: 640px) {
+                    dialog {
+                        width: 95vw;
+                        max-height: 85vh;
+                        border-radius: 0.5rem;
+                    }
+
+                    .search-input-wrapper {
+                        padding: 1rem;
+                    }
+
+                    .search-input {
+                        font-size: 16px; /* Prevents zoom on iOS */
+                    }
+
+                    .result-item {
+                        padding: 1rem 0.75rem;
+                    }
+
+                    .hint-text {
+                        font-size: 0.8rem;
+                        padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
+                    }
+                }
+            </style>
+
+            <dialog>
+                <div class="search-container">
+                    <div class="search-input-wrapper">
+                        <input 
+                            type="text" 
+                            class="search-input" 
+                            placeholder="Search..."
+                            aria-label="Search navigation"
+                            autocomplete="off"
+                            spellcheck="false"
+                        >
+                    </div>
+                    <div class="results-container" role="listbox"></div>
+                    <div class="hint-text">
+                        <span><kbd>↑</kbd> <kbd>↓</kbd> Navigate</span>
+                        <span><kbd>Enter</kbd> Select</span>
+                        <span><kbd>Esc</kbd> Close</span>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </dialog>
+        `;
+    }
+
+    setupEventListeners() {
+        const dialog = this.shadowRoot.querySelector('dialog');
+        const input = this.shadowRoot.querySelector('.search-input');
+        const resultsContainer = this.shadowRoot.querySelector('.results-container');
+
+        // Global keyboard listener for "/"
+        document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
+            if (e.key === '/' && !this.isInputFocused() && !dialog.open) {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                this.openMenu();
+            }
+        });
+
+        // Input event
+        input.addEventListener('input', (e) => {
+            this.handleSearch(e.target.value);
+        });
+
+        // Keyboard navigation
+        input.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
+            if (e.key === 'ArrowDown') {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                this.moveSelection(1);
+            } else if (e.key === 'ArrowUp') {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                this.moveSelection(-1);
+            } else if (e.key === 'Enter') {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                this.selectCurrentItem();
+            } else if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+                this.closeMenu();
+            }
+        });
+
+        // Click on result item
+        resultsContainer.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+            const item = e.target.closest('.result-item');
+            if (item) {
+                const index = parseInt(item.dataset.index);
+                this.selectItem(index);
+            }
+        });
+
+        // Close on backdrop click
+        dialog.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+            if (e.target === dialog) {
+                this.closeMenu();
+            }
+        });
+
+        // Initial load
+        this.loadInitialData();
+    }
+
+    isInputFocused() {
+        const activeElement = document.activeElement;
+        return activeElement && (
+            activeElement.tagName === 'INPUT' ||
+            activeElement.tagName === 'TEXTAREA' ||
+            activeElement.isContentEditable
+        );
+    }
+
+    loadInitialData() {
+        const itemsAttr = this.getAttribute('items');
+        if (itemsAttr) {
+            try {
+                this.allItems = JSON.parse(itemsAttr);
+                this.matches = this.allItems;
+            } catch (e) {
+                console.error('Failed to parse items attribute:', e);
+                this.allItems = [];
+                this.matches = [];
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    handleSearch(query) {
+        clearTimeout(this.debounceTimer);
+        
+        this.debounceTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+            const url = this.getAttribute('url');
+            
+            if (url) {
+                // Fetch from API
+                this.fetchResults(url, query);
+            } else {
+                // Filter local items
+                this.filterLocalItems(query);
+            }
+        }, 200);
+    }
+
+    async fetchResults(url, query) {
+        try {
+            const searchUrl = `${url}?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`;
+            const response = await fetch(searchUrl);
+            const data = await response.json();
+            this.matches = data.matches || [];
+            this.selectedIndex = this.matches.length > 0 ? 0 : -1;
+            this.renderResults();
+        } catch (e) {
+            console.error('Failed to fetch search results:', e);
+            this.matches = [];
+            this.renderResults();
+        }
+    }
+
+    filterLocalItems(query) {
+        if (!query.trim()) {
+            this.matches = [];
+        } else {
+            const lowerQuery = query.toLowerCase();
+            this.matches = (this.allItems || []).filter(item =>
+                item.name.toLowerCase().includes(lowerQuery) ||
+                item.url.toLowerCase().includes(lowerQuery)
+            );
+        }
+        this.selectedIndex = this.matches.length > 0 ? 0 : -1;
+        this.renderResults();
+    }
+
+    renderResults() {
+        const container = this.shadowRoot.querySelector('.results-container');
+        const input = this.shadowRoot.querySelector('.search-input');
+        
+        if (this.matches.length === 0) {
+            const message = input.value.trim() ? 'No results found' : 'Start typing to search...';
+            container.innerHTML = `<div class="no-results">${message}</div>`;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        container.innerHTML = this.matches.map((match, index) => `
+            <div 
+                class="result-item ${index === this.selectedIndex ? 'selected' : ''}" 
+                data-index="${index}"
+                role="option"
+                aria-selected="${index === this.selectedIndex}"
+            >
+                <div>
+                    <div class="result-name">${this.escapeHtml(match.name)}</div>
+                    <div class="result-url">${this.escapeHtml(match.url)}</div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        `).join('');
+
+        // Scroll selected item into view
+        if (this.selectedIndex >= 0) {
+            const selectedItem = container.children[this.selectedIndex];
+            if (selectedItem) {
+                selectedItem.scrollIntoView({ block: 'nearest' });
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    moveSelection(direction) {
+        const newIndex = this.selectedIndex + direction;
+        if (newIndex >= 0 && newIndex < this.matches.length) {
+            this.selectedIndex = newIndex;
+            this.renderResults();
+        }
+    }
+
+    selectCurrentItem() {
+        if (this.selectedIndex >= 0 && this.selectedIndex < this.matches.length) {
+            this.selectItem(this.selectedIndex);
+        }
+    }
+
+    selectItem(index) {
+        const match = this.matches[index];
+        if (match) {
+            // Dispatch custom event
+            this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('select', {
+                detail: match,
+                bubbles: true,
+                composed: true
+            }));
+            
+            // Navigate to URL
+            window.location.href = match.url;
+            
+            this.closeMenu();
+        }
+    }
+
+    openMenu() {
+        const dialog = this.shadowRoot.querySelector('dialog');
+        const input = this.shadowRoot.querySelector('.search-input');
+        
+        dialog.showModal();
+        input.value = '';
+        input.focus();
+        
+        // Reset state - start with no items shown
+        this.matches = [];
+        this.selectedIndex = -1;
+        this.renderResults();
+    }
+
+    closeMenu() {
+        const dialog = this.shadowRoot.querySelector('dialog');
+        dialog.close();
+    }
+
+    escapeHtml(text) {
+        const div = document.createElement('div');
+        div.textContent = text;
+        return div.innerHTML;
+    }
+}
+
+// Register the custom element
+customElements.define('navigation-search', NavigationSearch);

datasette/templates/base.html

@@ -72,5 +72,7 @@
 {% endfor %}
 
 {% if select_templates %}<!-- Templates considered: {{ select_templates|join(", ") }} -->{% endif %}
+<script src="{{ urls.static('navigation-search.js') }}" defer></script>
+<navigation-search url="/-/tables"></navigation-search>
 </body>
 </html>

datasette/views/database.py

@@ -273,34 +273,157 @@ class QueryContext:
 async def get_tables(datasette, request, db):
     tables = []
     database = db.name
-    table_counts = await db.table_counts(100)
     hidden_table_names = set(await db.hidden_table_names())
     all_foreign_keys = await db.get_all_foreign_keys()
 
-    for table in table_counts:
-        table_visible, table_private = await datasette.check_visibility(
-            request.actor,
-            permissions=[
-                ("view-table", (database, table)),
-                ("view-database", database),
-                "view-instance",
-            ],
+    # Use the new SQL-based permission system to check all tables at once
+    from datasette.utils.permissions import resolve_permissions_from_catalog, PluginSQL
+    from datasette.plugins import pm
+    from datasette.utils import await_me_maybe
+
+    # Get all table names from catalog (cheap operation, no scanning)
+    internal_db = datasette.get_internal_database()
+    table_names_result = await internal_db.execute(
+        "SELECT table_name FROM catalog_tables WHERE database_name = ?", [database]
+    )
+    table_names = [row["table_name"] for row in table_names_result.rows]
+
+    if table_names:
+        # Use catalog_tables for candidate SQL to query all tables in this database at once
+        candidate_sql = "SELECT :database AS parent, table_name AS child FROM catalog_tables WHERE database_name = :database"
+        candidate_params = {"database": database}
+
+        # Get plugin SQL blocks for view-table permission
+        plugins = []
+        for block in pm.hook.permission_resources_sql(
+            datasette=datasette,
+            actor=request.actor,
+            action="view-table",
+        ):
+            block = await await_me_maybe(block)
+            if block is None:
+                continue
+            if isinstance(block, (list, tuple)):
+                candidates = block
+            else:
+                candidates = [block]
+            for candidate in candidates:
+                if candidate is None:
+                    continue
+                if not isinstance(candidate, PluginSQL):
+                    continue
+                plugins.append(candidate)
+
+        # Resolve permissions for all tables at once
+        if isinstance(request.actor, dict):
+            actor_id = request.actor.get("id")
+        elif request.actor:
+            actor_id = request.actor
+        else:
+            actor_id = None
+        internal_db = datasette.get_internal_database()
+        permission_results = await resolve_permissions_from_catalog(
+            internal_db,
+            actor=str(actor_id) if actor_id is not None else "",
+            plugins=plugins,
+            action="view-table",
+            candidate_sql=candidate_sql,
+            candidate_params=candidate_params,
+            implicit_deny=True,
         )
-        if not table_visible:
-            continue
+
+        # Create a lookup dict for allowed tables and their privacy status
+        allowed_tables = {}
+        for result in permission_results:
+            table_name = result["child"]
+            if result["allow"] == 1:
+                allowed_tables[table_name] = result
+
+        # Check which tables are visible to anonymous users (for determining "private" status)
+        # A table is visible to anonymous users if BOTH view-database AND view-table pass
+        anon_allowed_tables = set()
+        if request.actor:
+            # Check if anonymous users can view the database
+            anon_can_view_database = await datasette.permission_allowed(
+                None, "view-database", database
+            )
+
+            # Generate new plugin SQL blocks for anonymous user to check table permissions
+            anon_plugins = []
+            for block in pm.hook.permission_resources_sql(
+                datasette=datasette,
+                actor="",
+                action="view-table",
+            ):
+                block = await await_me_maybe(block)
+                if block is None:
+                    continue
+                if isinstance(block, (list, tuple)):
+                    candidates = block
+                else:
+                    candidates = [block]
+                for candidate in candidates:
+                    if candidate is None:
+                        continue
+                    if not isinstance(candidate, PluginSQL):
+                        continue
+                    anon_plugins.append(candidate)
+
+            anon_permission_results = await resolve_permissions_from_catalog(
+                internal_db,
+                actor="",
+                plugins=anon_plugins,
+                action="view-table",
+                candidate_sql=candidate_sql,
+                candidate_params=candidate_params,
+                implicit_deny=True,
+            )
+
+            # A table is not private if anonymous users can view it
+            # This requires passing BOTH view-table AND view-database checks
+            # UNLESS the table has an explicit allow block that overrides database restrictions
+            # We approximate this by checking if the permission result has a specific "config allow" reason
+            # which indicates an explicit table-level allow block
+            for result in anon_permission_results:
+                if result["allow"] == 1:
+                    # Check if this is from an explicit table-level allow block
+                    # or if the anonymous user can also view the database
+                    reason = result.get("reason", "")
+                    has_explicit_table_allow = (
+                        "config allow allow for view-table" in reason
+                    )
+                    if has_explicit_table_allow or anon_can_view_database:
+                        anon_allowed_tables.add(result["child"])
+    else:
+        allowed_tables = {}
+        anon_allowed_tables = set()
+
+    # Build the tables list for allowed tables only
+    # Only get table counts for the tables we're actually going to display
+    allowed_table_names = list(allowed_tables.keys())
+
+    # Get counts only for allowed tables (uses caching mechanism)
+    if allowed_table_names:
+        table_counts = await db.table_counts(limit=10, tables=allowed_table_names)
+    else:
+        table_counts = {}
+
+    for table in allowed_table_names:
+        # Determine if table is private (not visible to anonymous users)
+        table_private = bool(request.actor and table not in anon_allowed_tables)
+
         table_columns = await db.table_columns(table)
-        tables.append(
-            {
-                "name": table,
-                "columns": table_columns,
-                "primary_keys": await db.primary_keys(table),
-                "count": table_counts[table],
-                "hidden": table in hidden_table_names,
-                "fts_table": await db.fts_table(table),
-                "foreign_keys": all_foreign_keys[table],
-                "private": table_private,
-            }
-        )
+        table_dict = {
+            "name": table,
+            "columns": table_columns,
+            "primary_keys": await db.primary_keys(table),
+            "count": table_counts.get(table),
+            "hidden": table in hidden_table_names,
+            "fts_table": await db.fts_table(table),
+            "foreign_keys": all_foreign_keys.get(table, {}),
+            "private": table_private,
+        }
+        tables.append(table_dict)
     tables.sort(key=lambda t: (t["hidden"], t["name"]))
     return tables
 

datasette/views/special.py

@@ -776,6 +776,43 @@ class CreateTokenView(BaseView):
         return await self.render(["create_token.html"], request, context)
 
 
+class TablesSearchView(BaseView):
+    name = "tables_search"
+    has_json_alternate = False
+
+    async def get(self, request):
+        # Get the search query parameter
+        query = request.args.get("q", "").strip()
+
+        if not query:
+            return Response.json({"matches": []})
+
+        # Use the new get_allowed_tables() method with search
+        extra_sql = "table_name LIKE :search"
+        extra_params = {"search": f"%{query}%"}
+
+        allowed_tables = await self.ds.get_allowed_tables(
+            actor=request.actor, extra_sql=extra_sql, extra_params=extra_params
+        )
+
+        # Format the response
+        matches = []
+        for item in allowed_tables:
+            database = item["database"]
+            table = item["table"]
+            matches.append(
+                {
+                    "url": self.ds.urls.table(database, table),
+                    "name": f"{database}: {table}",
+                }
+            )
+
+        response = Response.json({"matches": matches})
+        if self.ds.cors:
+            add_cors_headers(response.headers)
+        return response
+
+
 class ApiExplorerView(BaseView):
     name = "api_explorer"
     has_json_alternate = False

docs/introspection.rst

@@ -198,3 +198,37 @@ Shows the currently authenticated actor. Useful for debugging Datasette authenti
 -----------
 
 The debug tool at ``/-/messages`` can be used to set flash messages to try out that feature. See :ref:`datasette_add_message` for details of this feature.
+
+.. _TablesSearchView:
+
+/-/tables.json
+--------------
+
+The ``/-/tables.json`` endpoint provides a JSON API for searching tables that the current user has permission to access.
+
+Pass a ``?q=`` query parameter with your search term to find matching tables. The search matches against table names using a case-insensitive substring match.
+
+This endpoint returns JSON only and respects the current user's permissions - only tables they are allowed to view will be included in the results.
+
+Example request:
+
+``/-/tables.json?q=users``
+
+Example response:
+
+.. code-block:: json
+
+    {
+        "matches": [
+            {
+                "url": "/mydb/users",
+                "name": "mydb: users"
+            },
+            {
+                "url": "/otherdb/users_archive",
+                "name": "otherdb: users_archive"
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+
+If no search query is provided, the endpoint returns an empty matches array.