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Embedding

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.

SurrealDB is designed to be run in many different ways and in many 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.

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

You will need to add the following additional dependencies:

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


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::types::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("main").use_db("main").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


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

Function

Description

Surreal::init()

Initialises a static database engine

db.connect(endpoint)

Connects to a specific database endpoint, saving the connection on the static client

{"Surreal::

(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


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()
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("main").use_db("main").await?;
    // Create or update a specific record
    let tobie: Option<Record> = DB
        .update(("person", "tobie"))
        .content(Person { name: "Tobie" })
        .await?;
    Ok(())
}


Connects to a local or remote database endpoint.

Method Syntax
db.connect(endpoint)

Argument

Description

endpoint

The database endpoint to connect to.

// 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?;


Connects to a local or remote database endpoint.

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

Arguments

Description

endpoint

The database endpoint to connect to.

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


Switch to a specific namespace and database.

Method Syntax
db.use_ns(ns).use_db(db)

Arguments

Description

ns

Switches to a specific namespace.

db

Switches to a specific database.

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


Signs up using a specific record access method.

Method Syntax
db.signup(credentials)

Arguments

Description

credentials

Variables used in a signup query.

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: "main",
    database: "main",
    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();


Signs in using a specific access method or system user.

Method Syntax
db.signin(credentials)

Arguments

Description

credentials

Variables used in a signin query.

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: "main",
    database: "main",
    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();


Invalidates the authentication for the current connection.

Method Syntax
db.invalidate(credentials)
db.invalidate().await?;


Authenticates the current connection with a JWT token.

Method Syntax
db.authenticate(token)

Arguments

Description

token

The JWT authentication token.

db.authenticate(jwt).await?;


Assigns a value as a parameter for this connection.

Method Syntax
db.set(key, val)

Arguments

Description

key

Specifies the name of the variable.

val

Assigns the value to the variable name.

// 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?;


Runs a set of SurrealQL statements against the database.

Method Syntax
db.query(sql).bind(vars)

Arguments

Description

sql

Specifies the SurrealQL statements.

vars

Assigns variables which can be used in the query.

// 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)?;


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

Method Syntax
db.select(resource)

Arguments

Description

resource

The table name or a record ID to select.

// 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?;

This function will run the following query in the database:

SELECT * FROM $resource;


Creates a record in the database.

Method Syntax
db.create(resource).content(data)

Arguments

Description

resource

The table name or the specific record ID to create.

data

The document / record data to insert.

// 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?;

This function will run the following query in the database:

CREATE $resource CONTENT $data;


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

Method Syntax
db.update(resource).content(data)
Note

This function replaces the current document / record data with the specified data.

Arguments

Description

resource

The table name or the specific record ID to create.

data

The document / record data to insert.

// 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?;

This function will run the following query in the database:

UPDATE $resource CONTENT $data;


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

Method Syntax
db.update(resource).merge(data)
Note

This function merges the current document / record data with the specified data.

Arguments

Description

resource

The table name or the specific record ID to create.

data

The document / record data to insert.

// 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?;

This function will run the following query in the database:

UPDATE $resource MERGE $data;


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

Method Syntax
db.update(resource).patch(data)
Note

This function patches the current document / record data with the specified JSON Patch data.

Arguments

Description

resource

The table name or the specific record ID to modify.

data

The JSON Patch data with which to modify the records.

// 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?;

This function will run the following query in the database:

UPDATE $resource PATCH $data;


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

Method Syntax
db.delete(resource)

Arguments

Description

resource

The table name or a record ID to select.

// 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?;

This function will run the following query in the database:

DELETE FROM $resource RETURN BEFORE;

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