Convex Functions

Convex Functions

Master Convex functions including queries, mutations, actions, and HTTP endpoints with proper validation, error handling, and runtime considerations.

Code Quality

All examples in this skill comply with @convex-dev/eslint-plugin rules:

• Object syntax with handler property
• Argument validators on all functions
• Explicit table names in database operations

See the Code Quality section in convex-best-practices for linting setup.

Documentation Sources

Before implementing, do not assume; fetch the latest documentation:

• Primary: https://docs.convex.dev/functions
• Query Functions: https://docs.convex.dev/functions/query-functions
• Mutation Functions: https://docs.convex.dev/functions/mutation-functions
• Actions: https://docs.convex.dev/functions/actions
• HTTP Actions: https://docs.convex.dev/functions/http-actions
• For broader context: https://docs.convex.dev/llms.txt

Instructions

Function Types Overview

Queries

Queries are reactive, cached, and read-only:

typescriptCopy code
import { query } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

export const getUser = query({
  args: { userId: v.id("users") },
  returns: v.union(
    v.object({
      _id: v.id("users"),
      _creationTime: v.number(),
      name: v.string(),
      email: v.string(),
    }),
    v.null(),
  ),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    return await ctx.db.get("users", args.userId);
  },
});

// Query with index
export const listUserTasks = query({
  args: { userId: v.id("users") },
  returns: v.array(
    v.object({
      _id: v.id("tasks"),
      _creationTime: v.number(),
      title: v.string(),
      completed: v.boolean(),
    }),
  ),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    return await ctx.db
      .query("tasks")
      .withIndex("by_user", (q) => q.eq("userId", args.userId))
      .order("desc")
      .collect();
  },
});

Mutations

Mutations modify the database and are transactional:

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import { mutation } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";
import { ConvexError } from "convex/values";

export const createTask = mutation({
  args: {
    title: v.string(),
    userId: v.id("users"),
  },
  returns: v.id("tasks"),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Validate user exists
    const user = await ctx.db.get("users", args.userId);
    if (!user) {
      throw new ConvexError("User not found");
    }

    return await ctx.db.insert("tasks", {
      title: args.title,
      userId: args.userId,
      completed: false,
      createdAt: Date.now(),
    });
  },
});

export const deleteTask = mutation({
  args: { taskId: v.id("tasks") },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    await ctx.db.delete("tasks", args.taskId);
    return null;
  },
});

Actions

Actions can call external APIs but have no direct database access:

typescriptCopy code
"use node";

import { action } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";
import { api, internal } from "./_generated/api";

export const sendEmail = action({
  args: {
    to: v.string(),
    subject: v.string(),
    body: v.string(),
  },
  returns: v.object({ success: v.boolean() }),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Call external API
    const response = await fetch("https://api.email.com/send", {
      method: "POST",
      headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
      body: JSON.stringify(args),
    });

    return { success: response.ok };
  },
});

// Action calling queries and mutations
export const processOrder = action({
  args: { orderId: v.id("orders") },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Read data via query
    const order = await ctx.runQuery(api.orders.get, { orderId: args.orderId });

    if (!order) {
      throw new Error("Order not found");
    }

    // Call external payment API
    const paymentResult = await processPayment(order);

    // Update database via mutation
    await ctx.runMutation(internal.orders.updateStatus, {
      orderId: args.orderId,
      status: paymentResult.success ? "paid" : "failed",
    });

    return null;
  },
});

HTTP Actions

HTTP actions handle webhooks and external requests:

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// convex/http.ts
import { httpRouter } from "convex/server";
import { httpAction } from "./_generated/server";
import { api, internal } from "./_generated/api";

const http = httpRouter();

// Webhook endpoint
http.route({
  path: "/webhooks/stripe",
  method: "POST",
  handler: httpAction(async (ctx, request) => {
    const signature = request.headers.get("stripe-signature");
    const body = await request.text();

    // Verify webhook signature
    if (!verifyStripeSignature(body, signature)) {
      return new Response("Invalid signature", { status: 401 });
    }

    const event = JSON.parse(body);

    // Process webhook
    await ctx.runMutation(internal.payments.handleWebhook, {
      eventType: event.type,
      data: event.data,
    });

    return new Response("OK", { status: 200 });
  }),
});

// API endpoint
http.route({
  path: "/api/users/:userId",
  method: "GET",
  handler: httpAction(async (ctx, request) => {
    const url = new URL(request.url);
    const userId = url.pathname.split("/").pop();

    const user = await ctx.runQuery(api.users.get, {
      userId: userId as Id<"users">,
    });

    if (!user) {
      return new Response("Not found", { status: 404 });
    }

    return Response.json(user);
  }),
});

export default http;

Internal Functions

Use internal functions for sensitive operations:

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import {
  internalMutation,
  internalQuery,
  internalAction,
} from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

// Only callable from other Convex functions
export const _updateUserCredits = internalMutation({
  args: {
    userId: v.id("users"),
    amount: v.number(),
  },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const user = await ctx.db.get("users", args.userId);
    if (!user) return null;

    await ctx.db.patch("users", args.userId, {
      credits: (user.credits || 0) + args.amount,
    });
    return null;
  },
});

// Call internal function from action
export const purchaseCredits = action({
  args: { userId: v.id("users"), amount: v.number() },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Process payment externally
    await processPayment(args.amount);

    // Update credits via internal mutation
    await ctx.runMutation(internal.users._updateUserCredits, {
      userId: args.userId,
      amount: args.amount,
    });

    return null;
  },
});

Scheduling Functions

Schedule functions to run later:

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import { mutation, internalMutation } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";
import { internal } from "./_generated/api";

export const scheduleReminder = mutation({
  args: {
    userId: v.id("users"),
    message: v.string(),
    delayMs: v.number(),
  },
  returns: v.id("_scheduled_functions"),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    return await ctx.scheduler.runAfter(
      args.delayMs,
      internal.notifications.sendReminder,
      { userId: args.userId, message: args.message },
    );
  },
});

export const sendReminder = internalMutation({
  args: {
    userId: v.id("users"),
    message: v.string(),
  },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    await ctx.db.insert("notifications", {
      userId: args.userId,
      message: args.message,
      sentAt: Date.now(),
    });
    return null;
  },
});

Examples

Complete Function File

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// convex/messages.ts
import { query, mutation, internalMutation } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";
import { ConvexError } from "convex/values";
import { internal } from "./_generated/api";

const messageValidator = v.object({
  _id: v.id("messages"),
  _creationTime: v.number(),
  channelId: v.id("channels"),
  authorId: v.id("users"),
  content: v.string(),
  editedAt: v.optional(v.number()),
});

// Public query
export const list = query({
  args: {
    channelId: v.id("channels"),
    limit: v.optional(v.number()),
  },
  returns: v.array(messageValidator),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const limit = args.limit ?? 50;
    return await ctx.db
      .query("messages")
      .withIndex("by_channel", (q) => q.eq("channelId", args.channelId))
      .order("desc")
      .take(limit);
  },
});

// Public mutation
export const send = mutation({
  args: {
    channelId: v.id("channels"),
    authorId: v.id("users"),
    content: v.string(),
  },
  returns: v.id("messages"),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    if (args.content.trim().length === 0) {
      throw new ConvexError("Message cannot be empty");
    }

    const messageId = await ctx.db.insert("messages", {
      channelId: args.channelId,
      authorId: args.authorId,
      content: args.content.trim(),
    });

    // Schedule notification
    await ctx.scheduler.runAfter(0, internal.messages.notifySubscribers, {
      channelId: args.channelId,
      messageId,
    });

    return messageId;
  },
});

// Internal mutation
export const notifySubscribers = internalMutation({
  args: {
    channelId: v.id("channels"),
    messageId: v.id("messages"),
  },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Get channel subscribers and notify them
    const subscribers = await ctx.db
      .query("subscriptions")
      .withIndex("by_channel", (q) => q.eq("channelId", args.channelId))
      .collect();

    for (const sub of subscribers) {
      await ctx.db.insert("notifications", {
        userId: sub.userId,
        messageId: args.messageId,
        read: false,
      });
    }
    return null;
  },
});

Best Practices

• Never run npx convex deploy unless explicitly instructed
• Never run any git commands unless explicitly instructed
• Always define args and returns validators
• Use queries for read operations (they are cached and reactive)
• Use mutations for write operations (they are transactional)
• Use actions only when calling external APIs
• Use internal functions for sensitive operations
• Add "use node"; at the top of action files using Node.js APIs
• Handle errors with ConvexError for user-facing messages

Common Pitfalls

1. Using actions for database operations - Use queries/mutations instead
2. Calling external APIs from queries/mutations - Use actions
3. Forgetting to add "use node" - Required for Node.js APIs in actions
4. Missing return validators - Always specify returns
5. Not using internal functions for sensitive logic - Protect with internalMutation

References

• Convex Documentation: https://docs.convex.dev/
• Convex LLMs.txt: https://docs.convex.dev/llms.txt
• Functions Overview: https://docs.convex.dev/functions
• Query Functions: https://docs.convex.dev/functions/query-functions
• Mutation Functions: https://docs.convex.dev/functions/mutation-functions
• Actions: https://docs.convex.dev/functions/actions