diff --git a/src/datachain/lib/dc.py b/src/datachain/lib/dc.py
index 4491dbe4..5e04c349 100644
--- a/src/datachain/lib/dc.py
+++ b/src/datachain/lib/dc.py
@@ -642,6 +642,59 @@ def jmespath_to_name(s: str):
         }
         return chain.gen(**signal_dict)  # type: ignore[misc, arg-type]
 
+    def explode(
+        self,
+        col: str,
+        model_name: Optional[str] = None,
+        object_name: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> "DataChain":
+        """Explodes a column containing JSON objects (dict or str DataChain type) into
+           individual columns based on the schema of the JSON. Schema is inferred from
+           the first row of the column.
+
+        Args:
+            col: the name of the column containing JSON to be exploded.
+            model_name: optional generated model name.  By default generates the name
+                automatically.
+            object_name: optional generated object column name. By default generates the
+                name automatically.
+
+        Returns:
+            DataChain: A new DataChain instance with the new set of columns.
+        """
+        import json
+
+        import pyarrow as pa
+
+        from datachain.lib.arrow import schema_to_output
+
+        json_value = next(self.limit(1).collect(col))
+        json_dict = (
+            json.loads(json_value) if isinstance(json_value, str) else json_value
+        )
+
+        if not isinstance(json_dict, dict):
+            raise TypeError(f"Column {col} should be a string or dict type with JSON")
+
+        schema = pa.Table.from_pylist([json_dict]).schema
+        output = schema_to_output(schema, None)
+
+        if not model_name:
+            model_name = f"{col.title()}ExplodedModel"
+
+        model = dict_to_data_model(model_name, output)
+
+        def json_to_model(json_value: Union[str, dict]):
+            json_dict = (
+                json.loads(json_value) if isinstance(json_value, str) else json_value
+            )
+            return model.model_validate(json_dict)
+
+        if not object_name:
+            object_name = f"{col}_expl"
+
+        return self.map(json_to_model, params=col, output={object_name: model})
+
     @classmethod
     def datasets(
         cls,
diff --git a/tests/unit/lib/test_datachain.py b/tests/unit/lib/test_datachain.py
index ecae75dd..f07d69dc 100644
--- a/tests/unit/lib/test_datachain.py
+++ b/tests/unit/lib/test_datachain.py
@@ -1313,6 +1313,48 @@ def test_to_csv_features_nested(tmp_dir, test_session):
     ]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("column_type", (str, dict))
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("object_name", (None, "test_object_name"))
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("model_name", (None, "TestModelNameExploded"))
+def test_explode(tmp_dir, test_session, column_type, object_name, model_name):
+    df = pd.DataFrame(DF_DATA)
+    path = tmp_dir / "test.json"
+    df.to_json(path, orient="records", lines=True)
+
+    dc = (
+        DataChain.from_storage(path.as_uri(), session=test_session)
+        .gen(
+            content=lambda file: (ln for ln in file.read_text().split("\n") if ln),
+            output=column_type,
+        )
+        .explode("content", object_name=object_name, model_name=model_name)
+    )
+
+    object_name = object_name or "content_expl"
+    model_name = model_name or "ContentExplodedModel"
+
+    assert set(
+        dc.collect(
+            f"{object_name}.first_name", f"{object_name}.age", f"{object_name}.city"
+        )
+    ) == {
+        ("Alice", 25, "New York"),
+        ("Bob", 30, "Los Angeles"),
+        ("Charlie", 35, "Chicago"),
+        ("David", 40, "Houston"),
+        ("Eva", 45, "Phoenix"),
+    }
+
+    assert next(dc.limit(1).collect(object_name)).__class__.__name__ == model_name
+
+
+def test_explode_raises_on_wrong_column_type(test_session):
+    dc = DataChain.from_values(f1=features, session=test_session)
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        dc.explode("f1.count")
+
+
 # These deprecation warnings occur in the datamodel-code-generator package.
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore::pydantic.warnings.PydanticDeprecatedSince20")
 def test_to_from_json(tmp_dir, test_session):