diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index f4c6612..81ce186 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "ratatui",
  "rusqlite",
  "shellexpand",
+ "sqlparser",
  "tempfile",
 ]
 
@@ -1314,6 +1315,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "sqlparser"
+version = "0.63.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "3679862809bd1f92e563cf6fd820e28f39135303668001c10331d5027183e8b4"
+dependencies = [
+ "log",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "static_assertions"
 version = "1.1.0"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 8739649..d92245e 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ postgres-native-tls = "0.5"
 native-tls = "0.2"
 rusqlite = { version = "0.40", default-features = false, features = ["bundled"] }
 shellexpand = { version = "3.1", features = ["path"] }
+sqlparser = { version = "0.63", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 tempfile = "3"
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index e69de29..1b8c858 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+- [ ] pressing `i` on a configured database connection should bring up a floating window with details/info on that connection.
+- [ ] show a `*` to the right of the connected db in the sidebar.
+- [ ] use the proper ending character in the family of `├` instead of that character all the way down.
+- [ ] remove this top-most line above the panels on the right-hand side: `dbdash │ SQLite │ READ ONLY`.
+- [ ] highlight the current cell isntead of just the current row in the results pane.
+- [ ] put the help text inside it's own pane so it fits the design more cleanly.
+- [ ] adopt the vamp top and bottom bars for modal and other info display.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index acd3369..fad562d 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use crate::{
     Result,
     connection::Input,
     db::{Column, Database, PAGE_SIZE, Page, QueryResult, Relation},
-    error_text,
+    error_text, sql,
 };
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ pub struct App {
     column_offset: usize,
     show_schema: bool,
     query: Input,
+    query_highlights: sql::Highlights,
     query_result: Option<QueryResult>,
     error: Option<String>,
 }
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ impl App {
             column_offset: 0,
             show_schema: false,
             query: Input::default(),
+            query_highlights: Vec::new(),
             query_result: None,
             error: None,
         };
@@ -104,16 +106,27 @@ impl App {
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn handle_query_key(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) {
+        let previous_len = self.query.value.len();
         match key.code {
             KeyCode::F(5) => self.execute_query(),
             KeyCode::Enter if key.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL) => self.execute_query(),
             KeyCode::Enter => self.query.paste_multiline("\n"),
             _ => self.query.edit(key),
         }
+        self.highlight_query(previous_len);
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn paste_query(&mut self, text: &str) {
+        let previous_len = self.query.value.len();
         self.query.paste_multiline(text);
+        self.highlight_query(previous_len);
+    }
+
+    fn highlight_query(&mut self, previous_len: usize) {
+        // Editing inserts or removes bytes; cursor movement does not invalidate syntax.
+        if self.query.value.len() != previous_len {
+            self.query_highlights = sql::highlight(&self.query.value, self.db.name() == "SQLite");
+        }
     }
 
     fn execute_query(&mut self) {
@@ -232,6 +245,7 @@ impl App {
             " Query · F5 execute ",
             false,
             focus == Focus::Query,
+            Some(sql::text(&self.query.value, &self.query_highlights)),
         );
         let title = if self.query_result.is_some() {
             " Results "
@@ -432,6 +446,36 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(moved_index(Some(1), 3, isize::MAX), Some(2));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn query_colors_survive_editing_and_scrolling() -> crate::Result<()> {
+        use super::{App, Focus};
+        use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
+        use ratatui::{Terminal, backend::TestBackend, style::Color};
+        let file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
+        let mut app = App::new(crate::db::Database::open_sqlite(file.path())?)?;
+        let mut terminal = Terminal::new(TestBackend::new(60, 14))?;
+        app.paste_query("SELECT '界', 42;\n-- comment");
+        terminal.draw(|frame| app.draw(frame, frame.area(), Focus::Query))?;
+        let buffer = terminal.backend().buffer();
+        assert_eq!(buffer[(1, 2)].fg, Color::Cyan);
+        assert_eq!(buffer[(8, 2)].fg, Color::Green);
+        assert_eq!(buffer[(1, 3)].fg, Color::DarkGray);
+        app.handle_query_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('u'), KeyModifiers::CONTROL));
+        app.handle_query_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('\''), KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        app.paste_query("unfinished\nstring");
+        terminal.draw(|frame| app.draw(frame, frame.area(), Focus::Query))?;
+        assert_eq!(terminal.backend().buffer()[(1, 3)].fg, Color::Green);
+        app.handle_query_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('u'), KeyModifiers::CONTROL));
+        app.paste_query(&format!("{}--{}", "-- line\n".repeat(12), "x".repeat(90)));
+        terminal.draw(|frame| app.draw(frame, frame.area(), Focus::Query))?;
+        let cursor = terminal.get_cursor_position()?;
+        let buffer = terminal.backend().buffer();
+        assert_eq!(cursor.x, 58);
+        assert_eq!(buffer[(cursor.x - 1, cursor.y)].symbol(), "x");
+        assert_eq!(buffer[(1, cursor.y)].fg, Color::DarkGray);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn queries_replace_rows_and_preserve_results_on_error() -> crate::Result<()> {
         use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
diff --git a/src/connection.rs b/src/connection.rs
index 4621cf2..585fd8a 100644
--- a/src/connection.rs
+++ b/src/connection.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
-use std::{
-    borrow::Cow,
-    path::{Path, PathBuf},
-};
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use crossterm::event::{self, Event, KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyEventKind, KeyModifiers};
 use postgres::{Config, config::SslMode};
@@ -9,7 +6,7 @@ use ratatui::{
     DefaultTerminal, Frame,
     layout::{Constraint, Layout, Rect},
     style::{Color, Style},
-    text::Line,
+    text::{Line, Text},
     widgets::{Block, Clear, List, ListItem, ListState, Paragraph, Wrap},
 };
 
@@ -550,8 +547,14 @@ impl Form {
         if self.provider == 1 {
             let [path, description] =
                 Layout::vertical([Constraint::Length(3), Constraint::Min(1)]).areas(details);
-            self.path
-                .draw(frame, path, " Database file path ", false, self.focus == 1);
+            self.path.draw(
+                frame,
+                path,
+                " Database file path ",
+                false,
+                self.focus == 1,
+                None,
+            );
             frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new("Save an existing SQLite file path.\nFiles are never created or modified.\n\nSelect the saved database to connect.").wrap(Wrap { trim: false }), description);
         } else {
             let rows = Layout::vertical([
@@ -584,6 +587,7 @@ impl Form {
                     labels[index],
                     index == 4,
                     self.focus == index + 1 && (!self.reconnect || index == 4),
+                    None,
                 );
             }
             frame.render_widget(
@@ -753,11 +757,12 @@ impl Input {
         label: &str,
         secret: bool,
         focused: bool,
+        highlighted: Option<Text<'_>>,
     ) {
-        let text: Cow<'_, str> = if secret {
-            Cow::Owned("•".repeat(self.value.chars().count()))
+        let text = if secret {
+            Text::raw("•".repeat(self.value.chars().count()))
         } else {
-            Cow::Borrowed(&self.value)
+            highlighted.unwrap_or_else(|| Text::raw(&self.value))
         };
         let prefix = &self.value[..self.cursor];
         let row = u16::try_from(prefix.matches('\n').count()).unwrap_or(u16::MAX);
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 586870e..0e28e4f 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 mod app;
 mod connection;
 mod db;
+mod sql;
 
 use std::{error::Error, io::IsTerminal, path::Path, process::ExitCode};
 
@@ -45,6 +46,8 @@ Navigation:
   appears in the rows/schema border. Read errors appear above the query editor.
   In the query editor, type SQL directly; Enter inserts a newline. Arrow keys,
   Home/End, Backspace/Delete, Ctrl-U (clear), and multiline pasting are supported.
+  SQL syntax colors follow the connected database's PostgreSQL/SQLite dialect,
+  including quoted identifiers, literals, and multiline comments/strings as you type.
   F5 / Ctrl-Enter executes one SELECT/CTE on the current connection, showing up
   to 100 rows below. Results report truncation; use SQL LIMIT/OFFSET for more.
   Failed queries keep the previous results. Opening a relation restores browsing
diff --git a/src/sql.rs b/src/sql.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f48eac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sql.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+use ratatui::{
+    style::{Color, Modifier, Style},
+    text::{Line, Span, Text},
+};
+use sqlparser::{
+    dialect::{Dialect, PostgreSqlDialect, SQLiteDialect},
+    keywords::Keyword,
+    tokenizer::{Location, Token, Tokenizer, Whitespace},
+};
+
+// Contiguous token end offsets into the original UTF-8 query, not reconstructed SQL.
+pub(crate) type Highlights = Vec<(usize, Style)>;
+
+pub(crate) fn highlight(source: &str, sqlite: bool) -> Highlights {
+    let dialect: &dyn Dialect = if sqlite {
+        &SQLiteDialect {}
+    } else {
+        &PostgreSqlDialect {}
+    };
+    let mut tokens = Vec::new();
+    // An unfinished token is normal while typing; completed tokens remain available.
+    let _ = Tokenizer::new(dialect, source)
+        .with_unescape(false)
+        .tokenize_with_location_into_buf(&mut tokens);
+    let mut chars = source.char_indices();
+    let mut location = Location::new(1, 1);
+    let mut end = 0;
+    let mut highlights = Vec::with_capacity(tokens.len() + 1);
+    for token in tokens {
+        while location < token.span.end {
+            let Some((index, character)) = chars.next() else {
+                break;
+            };
+            end = index + character.len_utf8();
+            if character == '\n' {
+                location.line += 1;
+                location.column = 1;
+            } else {
+                location.column += 1;
+            }
+        }
+        let style = match token.token {
+            Token::Word(word) if word.quote_style.is_some() => Style::new().fg(Color::Yellow),
+            Token::Word(word) if word.keyword != Keyword::NoKeyword => {
+                Style::new().fg(Color::Cyan).add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD)
+            }
+            Token::Number(..) => Style::new().fg(Color::Magenta),
+            Token::SingleQuotedString(_)
+            | Token::DoubleQuotedString(_)
+            | Token::DollarQuotedString(_)
+            | Token::EscapedStringLiteral(_)
+            | Token::UnicodeStringLiteral(_)
+            | Token::NationalStringLiteral(_)
+            | Token::HexStringLiteral(_)
+            | Token::SingleQuotedByteStringLiteral(_) => Style::new().fg(Color::Green),
+            Token::Whitespace(
+                Whitespace::SingleLineComment { .. } | Whitespace::MultiLineComment(_),
+            ) => Style::new()
+                .fg(Color::DarkGray)
+                .add_modifier(Modifier::ITALIC),
+            Token::Placeholder(_) => Style::new().fg(Color::Yellow),
+            _ => Style::default(),
+        };
+        highlights.push((end, style));
+    }
+    if end < source.len() {
+        let tail = &source[end..];
+        let style = if tail.starts_with("/*") {
+            Style::new()
+                .fg(Color::DarkGray)
+                .add_modifier(Modifier::ITALIC)
+        } else if tail.starts_with(['"', '`', '[']) {
+            Style::new().fg(Color::Yellow)
+        } else {
+            Style::new().fg(Color::Green)
+        };
+        highlights.push((source.len(), style));
+    }
+    highlights
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn text<'a>(source: &'a str, highlights: &Highlights) -> Text<'a> {
+    let mut lines = vec![Line::default()];
+    let mut start = 0;
+    for &(end, style) in highlights {
+        for (index, part) in source[start..end].split('\n').enumerate() {
+            if index > 0 {
+                lines.push(Line::default());
+            }
+            if !part.is_empty() {
+                lines
+                    .last_mut()
+                    .unwrap()
+                    .spans
+                    .push(Span::styled(part, style));
+            }
+        }
+        start = end;
+    }
+    Text::from(lines)
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn colored(source: &str, sqlite: bool) -> Vec<(String, Option<Color>)> {
+        let highlights = highlight(source, sqlite);
+        let mut start = 0;
+        highlights
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|(end, style)| {
+                let part = (source[start..end].to_owned(), style.fg);
+                start = end;
+                part
+            })
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn sql_context_controls_colors_without_changing_source() {
+        for sqlite in [false, true] {
+            let source = "sElEcT \"select\", 'it''s -- not a comment', 1.2e-3, 界é FROM notes -- SELECT 99\n/* 'FROM'\n*/ WHERE id >= 2;\n";
+            let spans = colored(source, sqlite);
+            assert!(spans.contains(&("sElEcT".into(), Some(Color::Cyan))));
+            assert!(spans.contains(&("\"select\"".into(), Some(Color::Yellow))));
+            assert!(spans.contains(&("'it''s -- not a comment'".into(), Some(Color::Green))));
+            assert!(spans.contains(&("1.2e-3".into(), Some(Color::Magenta))));
+            assert!(spans.contains(&("界é".into(), None)));
+            assert!(
+                spans
+                    .iter()
+                    .any(|(part, color)| part.starts_with("-- SELECT")
+                        && *color == Some(Color::DarkGray))
+            );
+            assert!(spans.contains(&("/* 'FROM'\n*/".into(), Some(Color::DarkGray))));
+            let rendered = text(source, &highlight(source, sqlite));
+            let visible = rendered
+                .lines
+                .iter()
+                .map(ToString::to_string)
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                .join("\n");
+            assert_eq!(visible, source);
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn dialects_and_unfinished_tokens_remain_highlighted() {
+        for (source, sqlite, fragment, color) in [
+            (
+                "SELECT E'it\\'s', $tag$-- SELECT\n'word'$tag$",
+                false,
+                "$tag$-- SELECT\n'word'$tag$",
+                Color::Green,
+            ),
+            (
+                "SELECT /* outer /* nested */ still comment */ 1",
+                false,
+                "/* outer /* nested */ still comment */",
+                Color::DarkGray,
+            ),
+            (
+                "SELECT [select], `from`, X'00FF', $param",
+                true,
+                "[select]",
+                Color::Yellow,
+            ),
+            ("SELECT '界\nFROM", false, "'界\nFROM", Color::Green),
+            (
+                "SELECT $tag$unfinished\nFROM",
+                false,
+                "$tag$unfinished\nFROM",
+                Color::Green,
+            ),
+            (
+                "SELECT /* unfinished\nWHERE",
+                false,
+                "/* unfinished\nWHERE",
+                Color::DarkGray,
+            ),
+            (
+                "SELECT \"unfinished\nFROM",
+                false,
+                "\"unfinished\nFROM",
+                Color::Yellow,
+            ),
+            ("SELECT [unfinished", true, "[unfinished", Color::Yellow),
+        ] {
+            let spans = colored(source, sqlite);
+            assert!(
+                spans.contains(&(fragment.into(), Some(color))),
+                "{source}: {spans:?}"
+            );
+            assert_eq!(
+                spans
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|(part, _)| part.as_str())
+                    .collect::<String>(),
+                source
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}