/convex-schema-validator

name: convex-schema-validator
displayName: Convex Schema Validator
description: Defining and validating database schemas with proper typing, index configuration, optional fields, unions, and migration strategies for schema changes
version: 1.0.0
author: Convex
tags: [convex, schema, validation, typescript, indexes, migrations]

Convex Schema Validator

Define and validate database schemas in Convex with proper typing, index configuration, optional fields, unions, and strategies for schema migrations.

Documentation Sources

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

• Primary: https://docs.convex.dev/database/schemas
• Indexes: https://docs.convex.dev/database/indexes
• Data Types: https://docs.convex.dev/database/types
• For broader context: https://docs.convex.dev/llms.txt

Instructions

Basic Schema Definition

// convex/schema.ts
import { defineSchema, defineTable } from "convex/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

export default defineSchema({
  users: defineTable({
    name: v.string(),
    email: v.string(),
    avatarUrl: v.optional(v.string()),
    createdAt: v.number(),
  }),
  
  tasks: defineTable({
    title: v.string(),
    description: v.optional(v.string()),
    completed: v.boolean(),
    userId: v.id("users"),
    priority: v.union(
      v.literal("low"),
      v.literal("medium"),
      v.literal("high")
    ),
  }),
});

Validator Types

| Validator | TypeScript Type | Example | |-----------|----------------|---------| | `v.string()` | `string` | `"hello"` | | `v.number()` | `number` | `42`, `3.14` | | `v.boolean()` | `boolean` | `true`, `false` | | `v.null()` | `null` | `null` | | `v.int64()` | `bigint` | `9007199254740993n` | | `v.bytes()` | `ArrayBuffer` | Binary data | | `v.id("table")` | `Id<"table">` | Document reference | | `v.array(v)` | `T[]` | `[1, 2, 3]` | | `v.object({})` | `{ ... }` | `{ name: "..." }` | | `v.optional(v)` | `T \| undefined` | Optional field | | `v.union(...)` | `T1 \| T2` | Multiple types | | `v.literal(x)` | `"x"` | Exact value | | `v.any()` | `any` | Any value | | `v.record(k, v)` | `Record<K, V>` | Dynamic keys |

Index Configuration

export default defineSchema({
  messages: defineTable({
    channelId: v.id("channels"),
    authorId: v.id("users"),
    content: v.string(),
    sentAt: v.number(),
  })
    // Single field index
    .index("by_channel", ["channelId"])
    // Compound index
    .index("by_channel_and_author", ["channelId", "authorId"])
    // Index for sorting
    .index("by_channel_and_time", ["channelId", "sentAt"]),
    
  // Full-text search index
  articles: defineTable({
    title: v.string(),
    body: v.string(),
    category: v.string(),
  })
    .searchIndex("search_content", {
      searchField: "body",
      filterFields: ["category"],
    }),
});

Complex Types

export default defineSchema({
  // Nested objects
  profiles: defineTable({
    userId: v.id("users"),
    settings: v.object({
      theme: v.union(v.literal("light"), v.literal("dark")),
      notifications: v.object({
        email: v.boolean(),
        push: v.boolean(),
      }),
    }),
  }),

  // Arrays of objects
  orders: defineTable({
    customerId: v.id("users"),
    items: v.array(v.object({
      productId: v.id("products"),
      quantity: v.number(),
      price: v.number(),
    })),
    status: v.union(
      v.literal("pending"),
      v.literal("processing"),
      v.literal("shipped"),
      v.literal("delivered")
    ),
  }),

  // Record type for dynamic keys
  analytics: defineTable({
    date: v.string(),
    metrics: v.record(v.string(), v.number()),
  }),
});

Discriminated Unions

export default defineSchema({
  events: defineTable(
    v.union(
      v.object({
        type: v.literal("user_signup"),
        userId: v.id("users"),
        email: v.string(),
      }),
      v.object({
        type: v.literal("purchase"),
        userId: v.id("users"),
        orderId: v.id("orders"),
        amount: v.number(),
      }),
      v.object({
        type: v.literal("page_view"),
        sessionId: v.string(),
        path: v.string(),
      })
    )
  ).index("by_type", ["type"]),
});

Optional vs Nullable Fields

export default defineSchema({
  items: defineTable({
    // Optional: field may not exist
    description: v.optional(v.string()),
    
    // Nullable: field exists but can be null
    deletedAt: v.union(v.number(), v.null()),
    
    // Optional and nullable
    notes: v.optional(v.union(v.string(), v.null())),
  }),
});

Index Naming Convention

Always include all indexed fields in the index name:

export default defineSchema({
  posts: defineTable({
    authorId: v.id("users"),
    categoryId: v.id("categories"),
    publishedAt: v.number(),
    status: v.string(),
  })
    // Good: descriptive names
    .index("by_author", ["authorId"])
    .index("by_author_and_category", ["authorId", "categoryId"])
    .index("by_category_and_status", ["categoryId", "status"])
    .index("by_status_and_published", ["status", "publishedAt"]),
});

Schema Migration Strategies

Adding New Fields

// Before
users: defineTable({
  name: v.string(),
  email: v.string(),
})

// After - add as optional first
users: defineTable({
  name: v.string(),
  email: v.string(),
  avatarUrl: v.optional(v.string()), // New optional field
})

Backfilling Data

// convex/migrations.ts
import { internalMutation } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

export const backfillAvatars = internalMutation({
  args: {},
  returns: v.number(),
  handler: async (ctx) => {
    const users = await ctx.db
      .query("users")
      .filter((q) => q.eq(q.field("avatarUrl"), undefined))
      .take(100);

    for (const user of users) {
      await ctx.db.patch(user._id, {
        avatarUrl: `https://api.di