--- title: "Release 2.5 | SurrealDB" description: "Features: Added DEFER keyword for background index building and maintenance (Experimental) Added an authlimit on defined APIs, functions, fields and events,…" url: https://surrealdb.com/releases/2.5 --- # SurrealDB 2.5 [Latest patch: 2.5.0](https://surrealdb.com/releases/2.5#release-2-5-0) [All releases](https://surrealdb.com/releases) **Patches.** 1 patch release on the 2.5 line. **Latest.** 2.5.0, released Jan 22, 2026. **Stable.** Ready for production, with every patch's notes below. 1. ![Babcock](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/babcock.lo4rnVg1.svg) 2. ![ING](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/ing.X3I6S3_V.svg) 3. ![British Airways](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/british-airways.KEsZiwV-.svg) 4. ![Nvidia](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/nvidia.DaIEuMil.svg) 5. ![Apple](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/apple.D5pq4flY.svg) 6. ![SpaceX](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/spacex.CQJEk-IL.svg) 7. ![Samsung](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/samsung.CH-vQgnb.svg) 8. ![adidas](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/adidas.DdTC5qhk.svg) 9. ![Tencent](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/tencent.paQmLxyy.svg) 10. ![Alibaba](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/alibaba.B16idgfM.svg) 11. ![PolyAI](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/poly-ai.c3w_fAg6.svg) 12. ![Later](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/later.Ds736jFO.svg) 13. ![Verizon](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/verizon.BI7CajdX.svg) 14. ![Liberty Mutual](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/liberty-mutual.B7qOU1pd.svg) 15. ![Walmart](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/walmart.BjDg_Sr8.svg) 16. ![Carrier](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/carrier.D21gC6NX.svg) 17. ![Saks Fifth Avenue](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/saks-fifth-avenue.COIDpLSb.svg) 18. ![San Francisco Compute Company](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/sfcc.B7jlImq4.svg) 19. ![Shield AI](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/shield-ai.pINZ0KJr.svg) 20. ![Wix](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/wix.DvHhmoBi.svg) Back to top [Version 2.5.0](https://surrealdb.com/releases/2.5#release-2-5-0) [Home](https://surrealdb.com/) [Releases](https://surrealdb.com/releases) 2.5 Features: Added DEFER keyword for background index building and maintenance (Experimental) Added an authlimit on defined APIs, functions, fields and events,… [Newer release line available: 2.6 →](https://surrealdb.com/releases/2.6) Released Jan 22, 2026 ## 2.5.0 Features: - [Added `DEFER` keyword for background index building and maintenance (Experimental)](https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb/pull/6782) - [Added an `auth_limit` on defined APIs, functions, fields and events, that limits execution to the permissions of the creating user instead of the invoking user.](https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb/pull/6785) Security Advisories: - [Confused Deputy Privilege Escalation through Future Fields and Functions](https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb/security/advisories/GHSA-3v2x-9xcv-2v2v) Note: Storable closures in future fields and functions are now disabled by default for security reasons. To enable the previous behaviour, set the `SURREAL_CAPS_ALLOW_INSECURE_STORABLE_CLOSURES` environment variable. This change addresses the security vulnerability described in [Advisory](https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb/security/advisories/GHSA-3v2x-9xcv-2v2v). Upgrade or install ## Get SurrealDB v2.5.0 Pick how you want to install or upgrade. SurrealDB Studio can update connected instances in place, or choose a platform below to copy a CLI command for v2.5.0. SurrealDB Cloud macOS Linux Windows Docker Already installed You can upgrade your SurrealDB Cloud instance to v2.5.0 effortlessly through SurrealDB Studio. 1. Open the [SurrealDB Studio](https://studio.surrealdb.com/current/instances) 2. Select your organisation and instance 3. On the dashboard, click on the "Upgrade" button 4. Your instance will be updated and restarted automatically [Full install guide](https://surrealdb.com/surrealdb/install) Newer release line ### [2.6](https://surrealdb.com/releases/2.6) Updated Mar 24, 2026 Older release line ### [2.4](https://surrealdb.com/releases/2.4) Updated Jan 8, 2026 [All releases](https://surrealdb.com/releases) GET STARTED ## Start building with SurrealDB. One data layer for AI, from object storage to agent memory. [Start free with SurrealDB](https://studio.surrealdb.com/current/instances/deploy) [Learn more](https://surrealdb.com/docs/what-is-surrealdb) ![ISO 27001](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/iso.BzQy4FFy.svg) ![AICPA SOC 2 Type 2](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/aicpa-soc.CE_YjqhK.svg) ![Cyber Essentials](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/cyber-essentials.CtbmbYfL.svg) ![GDPR](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/gdpr.IadR7loS.svg) ![Cyber Essentials Plus](https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/cyber-essentials-plus.Cl5P05xe.svg) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://surrealdb.com"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Releases","item":"https://surrealdb.com/releases"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"2.5","item":"https://surrealdb.com/releases/2.5"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","headline":"SurrealDB 2.5 release notes","description":"Features: Added DEFER keyword for background index building and maintenance (Experimental) Added an authlimit on defined APIs, functions, fields and events,…","datePublished":"2026-01-22T00:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-01-22T00:00:00.000Z","url":"https://surrealdb.com/releases/2.5","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://surrealdb.com/releases/2.5"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"SurrealDB","url":"https://surrealdb.com"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"SurrealDB","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/logo.BG7_TG2b.svg"}},"about":{"@type":"SoftwareApplication","name":"SurrealDB","applicationCategory":"DeveloperApplication","operatingSystem":"Linux, macOS, Windows","softwareVersion":"2.5"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://surrealdb.com/#organization","name":"SurrealDB","url":"https://surrealdb.com","logo":"https://surrealdb.com/assets/static/logo.BG7_TG2b.svg","description":"SurrealDB is the context and memory layer for AI agents. 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