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Embedding
Rust

Embedding in Rust

SurrealDB is designed to be run in many different ways, and environments. Due to the separation of the storage and API layers, SurrealDB can be run in embedded mode, from within a number of different language environments. In Rust, SurrealDB can be run as an in-memory database, it can persist data using a file-based storage engine, or on a distributed cluster.

Install the SDK

First, create a new project using cargo new and add the SurrealDB crate to your dependencies, enabling the key-value store you need:

# For an in memory database
cargo add surrealdb --features kv-mem

# For a RocksDB file
cargo add surrealdb --features kv-rocksdb

# For a TiKV cluster (TiKV and other dependencies must be installed)
cargo add surrealdb --features kv-tikv

You will need to add the following additional dependencies:

cargo add serde --features derive
cargo add tokio --features macros,rt-multi-thread


Connect to SurrealDB

Open src/main.rs and replace everything in there with the following code to try out some basic operations using the SurrealDB SDK with an embedded database. Look at integrations to connect to a database.

use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
use surrealdb::RecordId;
use surrealdb::Surreal;

// For an in memory database
use surrealdb::engine::local::Mem;

// For a RocksDB file
// use surrealdb::engine::local::RocksDb;

#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
struct Name<'a> {
    first: &'a str,
    last: &'a str,
}

#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
struct Person<'a> {
    title: &'a str,
    name: Name<'a>,
    marketing: bool,
}

#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
struct Responsibility {
    marketing: bool,
}

#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
struct Record {
    #[allow(dead_code)]
    id: RecordId,
}

#[tokio::main]
async fn main() -> surrealdb::Result<()> {
    // Create database connection in memory
    let db = Surreal::new::<Mem>(()).await?;
    
    // Create database connection using RocksDB
    // let db = Surreal::new::<RocksDb>("path/to/database-folder").await?;

    // Select a specific namespace / database
    db.use_ns("test").use_db("test").await?;

    // Create a new person with a random id
    let created: Option<Record> = db
        .create("person")
        .content(Person {
            title: "Founder & CEO",
            name: Name {
                first: "Tobie",
                last: "Morgan Hitchcock",
            },
            marketing: true,
        })
        .await?;
    dbg!(created);

    // Update a person record with a specific id
    let updated: Option<Record> = db
        .update(("person", "jaime"))
        .merge(Responsibility { marketing: true })
        .await?;
    dbg!(updated);

    // Select all people records
    let people: Vec<Record> = db.select("person").await?;
    dbg!(people);

    // Perform a custom advanced query
    let groups = db
        .query("SELECT marketing, count() FROM type::table($table) GROUP BY marketing")
        .bind(("table", "person"))
        .await?;
    dbg!(groups);

    Ok(())
}

Run your program from the command line with:

cargo run


SDK methods

The Rust SDK comes with a number of built-in functions.

FunctionDescription
Surreal::init()Initialises a static database engine
db.connect(endpoint)Connects to a specific database endpoint, saving the connection on the static client
{"Surreal::new::(endpoint)"}Connects to a local or remote database endpoint
db.use_ns(namespace).use_db(database)Switch to a specific namespace and database
db.signup(credentials)Signs up a user using a specific record access method
db.signin(credentials)Signs this connection in using a specific access method or system user
db.invalidate()Invalidates the authentication for the current connection
db.authenticate(token)Authenticates the current connection with a JSON Web Token
db.set(key, val)Assigns a value as a parameter for this connection
db.query(sql)Runs a set of SurrealQL statements against the database
db.select(resource)Selects all records in a table, or a specific record
db.create(resource).content(data)Creates a record in the database
db.update(resource).content(data)Updates all records in a table, or a specific record
db.update(resource).merge(data)Modifies all records in a table, or a specific record
db.update(resource).patch(data)Applies JSON Patch changes to all records in a table, or a specific record
db.delete(resource)Deletes all records, or a specific record


.init()

The DB static singleton ensures that a single database instance is available across very large or complicated applications. With the singleton, only one connection to the database is instantiated, and the database connection does not have to be shared across components or controllers.

Method Syntax

Surreal::init()

Example usage

static DB: LazyLock<Surreal<Client>> = LazyLock::new(Surreal::init);

#[tokio::main]
async fn main() -> surrealdb::Result<()> {
    // Connect to the database
    DB.connect::<Wss>("cloud.surrealdb.com").await?;
    // Select a namespace + database
    DB.use_ns("test").use_db("test").await?;
    // Create or update a specific record
    let tobie: Option<Record> = DB
        .update(("person", "tobie"))
        .content(Person { name: "Tobie" })
        .await?;
    Ok(())
}


.connect()

Connects to a local or remote database endpoint.

Method Syntax

db.connect(endpoint)

Arguments

ArgumentDescription
endpoint The database endpoint to connect to.

Example usage

// Connect to a local endpoint
DB.connect::<Ws>("127.0.0.1:8000").await?;
// Connect to a remote endpoint
DB.connect::<Wss>("cloud.surrealdb.com").await?;


.new()

Connects to a local or remote database endpoint.

Method Syntax

Surreal::new::<T>(endpoint)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
endpoint The database endpoint to connect to.

Example usage

let db = Surreal::new::<Ws>("127.0.0.1:8000").await?;


.use_ns() and .use_db()

Switch to a specific namespace and database.

Method Syntax

db.use_ns(ns).use_db(db)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
ns Switches to a specific namespace.
db Switches to a specific database.

Example usage

db.use_ns("test").use_db("test").await?;


.signup()

Signs up using a specific record access method.

Method Syntax

db.signup(credentials)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
credentials Variables used in a signup query.

Example usage

use serde::Serialize;
use surrealdb::opt::auth::Scope;

#[derive(Serialize)]
struct Credentials<'a> {
    email: &'a str,
    pass: &'a str,
}

let jwt = db.signup(Scope {
    namespace: "test",
    database: "test",
    access: "user",
    params: Credentials {
        email: "info@surrealdb.com",
        pass: "123456",
    },
}).await?;

// ⚠️: It is important to note that the token should be handled securely and protected from unauthorized access.
let token = jwt.as_insecure_token();


.signin()

Signs in using a specific access method or system user.

Method Syntax

db.signin(credentials)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
credentials Variables used in a signin query.

Example usage

use serde::Serialize;
use surrealdb::opt::auth::Scope;

#[derive(Serialize)]
struct Credentials<'a> {
    email: &'a str,
    pass: &'a str,
}

let jwt = db.signin(Scope {
    namespace: "test",
    database: "test",
    access: "user",
    params: Credentials {
        email: "info@surrealdb.com",
        pass: "123456",
    },
}).await?;

// ⚠️: It is important to note that the token should be handled securely and protected from unauthorized access.
let token = jwt.as_insecure_token();


.invalidate()

Invalidates the authentication for the current connection.

Method Syntax

db.invalidate(credentials)

Example usage

db.invalidate().await?;


.authenticate()

Authenticates the current connection with a JWT token.

Method Syntax

db.authenticate(token)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
token The JWT authentication token.

Example usage

db.authenticate(jwt).await?;


.set()

Assigns a value as a parameter for this connection.

Method Syntax

db.set(key, val)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
key Specifies the name of the variable.
val Assigns the value to the variable name.

Example usage

// Assign the variable on the connection
db.set("name", Name {
    first: "Tobie",
    last: "Morgan Hitchcock",
}).await?;
// Use the variable in a subsequent query
db.query("CREATE person SET name = $name").await?;
// Use the variable in a subsequent query
db.query("SELECT * FROM person WHERE name.first = $name.first").await?;


.query()

Runs a set of SurrealQL statements against the database.

Method Syntax

db.query(sql).bind(vars)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
sql Specifies the SurrealQL statements.
vars Assigns variables which can be used in the query.

Example usage

// Run some queries
let sql = "
    CREATE person;
    SELECT * FROM type::table($table);
";
let mut result = db
    .query(sql)
    .bind(("table", "person"))
    .await?;
// Get the first result from the first query
let created: Option<Person> = result.take(0)?;
// Get all of the results from the second query
let people: Vec<Person> = result.take(1)?;


.select()

Selects all records in a table, or a specific record, from the database.

Method Syntax

db.select(resource)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
resource The table name or a record ID to select.

Example usage

// Select all records from a table
let people: Vec<Person> = db.select("person").await?;
// Select a specific record from a table
let person: Option<Person> = db.select(("person", "h5wxrf2ewk8xjxosxtyc")).await?;

Translated query

This function will run the following query in the database:

SELECT * FROM $resource;


.create()

Creates a record in the database.

Method Syntax

db.create(resource).content(data)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
resource The table name or the specific record ID to create.
data The document / record data to insert.

Example usage

// Create a record with a random ID
let person: Option<Person> = db.create("person").await?;
// Create a record with a specific ID
let record: Record = db
    .create(("person", "tobie"))
    .content(Person {
        name: "Tobie",
        settings: {
            active: true,
            marketing: true,
       },
    }).await?;

Translated query

This function will run the following query in the database:

CREATE $resource CONTENT $data;


.update().content()

Updates all records in a table, or a specific record, in the database.

Method Syntax

db.update(resource).content(data)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
resource The table name or the specific record ID to create.
data The document / record data to insert.

Example usage

// Update all records in a table
let people: Vec<Person> = db.update("person").await?;
// Update a record with a specific ID
let person: Option<Person> = db
    .update(("person", "tobie"))
    .content(Person {
        name: "Tobie",
        settings: {
            active: true,
            marketing: true,
        },
    }).await?;

Translated query

This function will run the following query in the database:

UPDATE $resource CONTENT $data;


.update().merge()

Modifies all records in a table, or a specific record, in the database.

Method Syntax

db.update(resource).merge(data)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
resource The table name or the specific record ID to create.
data The document / record data to insert.

Example usage

// Update all records in a table
let people: Vec<Person> = db.update("person")
    .merge(Document {
        updated_at: Datetime::default(),
    })
    .await?;
// Update a record with a specific ID
let person: Option<Person> = db.update(("person", "tobie"))
    .merge(Document {
        updated_at: Datetime::default(),
        settings: Settings {
            active: true,
        },
    })
    .await?;

Translated query

This function will run the following query in the database:

UPDATE $resource MERGE $data;


.update().patch()

Applies JSON Patch changes to all records, or a specific record, in the database.

Method Syntax

db.update(resource).patch(data)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
resource The table name or the specific record ID to modify.
data The JSON Patch data with which to modify the records.

Example usage

// Update all records in a table
let people: Vec<Person> = db.update("person")
    .patch(PatchOp::replace("/created_at", Datetime::default()))
    .await?;

// Update a record with a specific ID
let person: Option<Person> = db.update(("person", "tobie"))
    .patch(PatchOp::replace("/settings/active", false))
    .patch(PatchOp::add("/tags", &["developer", "engineer"]))
    .patch(PatchOp::remove("/temp"))
    .await?;

Translated query

This function will run the following query in the database:

UPDATE $resource PATCH $data;


.delete()

Deletes all records in a table, or a specific record, from the database.

Method Syntax

db.delete(resource)

Arguments

ArgumentsDescription
resource The table name or a record ID to select.

Example usage

// Delete all records from a table
let people: Vec<Person> = db.delete("person").await?;
// Delete a specific record from a table
let person: Option<Person> = db.delete(("person", "h5wxrf2ewk8xjxosxtyc")).await?;

Translated query

This function will run the following query in the database:

DELETE FROM $resource RETURN BEFORE;
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