Executing queries | SurrealDB

The .query() family runs raw SurrealQL and is the foundation of the SDK — the CRUD builders compile to SurrealQL and dispatch through it. Queries can be supplied as a string with a JsonObject of bound parameters, or built with the surql DSL.

API references

Method	Description
`client.query(sql, vars)`	Runs SurrealQL and returns the raw result
`client.queryAs<T>(sql, vars)`	Runs SurrealQL and decodes the result to `T`
`client.queryResult(sql, vars)`	Runs SurrealQL and returns a `Result`
`client.let(key, value)`	Defines a session parameter
`client.unset(key)`	Removes a session parameter

Running a query

Pass SurrealQL and, optionally, a JsonObject of bound parameters. The result is returned as a JsonElement.

import kotlinx.serialization.json.buildJsonObject
import kotlinx.serialization.json.put

val result = client.query(
    "SELECT * FROM person WHERE age > \$min_age",
    buildJsonObject { put("min_age", 25) },
)

Note

Always bind variables with the vars argument rather than interpolating values into the query string. This avoids SurrealQL injection and lets the server cache query plans.

Decoding results

To decode a query result straight into your own types, use the inline [`.queryAs()`](/docs/reference/kotlin/api/core/surreal-client#query-as) helper with a [`@Serializable`](/docs/reference/kotlin/concepts/serialization) type.

import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable

@Serializable
data class Person(val name: String, val age: Int)

val people: List<Person> = client.queryAs(
    "SELECT * FROM person WHERE age > \$min_age",
    buildJsonObject { put("min_age", 25) },
)

You can also decode an arbitrary [`JsonElement`](/docs/reference/kotlin/concepts/value-types) yourself with [`.decode()`](/docs/reference/kotlin/api/core/surreal-client#decode).

Result variants

Every networked call has a ...Result companion that returns a Result instead of throwing, which is useful when you prefer to handle failures functionally.

val outcome = client.queryResult("SELECT * FROM person")
outcome
    .onSuccess { println("got $it") }
    .onFailure { println("query failed: ${it.message}") }

See Error handling for the exception hierarchy thrown by the non-Result variants.

Session parameters

Define parameters that persist for the session with .let(), and remove them with .unset(). These are referenced as $name in subsequent queries.

import kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonPrimitive

client.let("min_age", JsonPrimitive(18))
client.query("SELECT * FROM person WHERE age > \$min_age")
client.unset("min_age")

Building queries

The surql DSL builds a parameterised BoundQuery with automatic binding of values and record identifiers.

import com.surrealdb.kotlin.query.surql

val bound = surql("SELECT * FROM person WHERE age > \$min", "min" to 25)
val result = client.query(bound)

Learn more

SurrealClient API reference for complete method signatures
Query builder reference for the fluent builders and surql DSL
Data manipulation for CRUD with the builders
Serialization for working with @Serializable types