Develop Appwrite Functions

Appwrite Functions offer a familiar interface if you've developed REST endpoints. Each function is handled following a request and response pattern.

Lifecycle

There is a clear lifecycle for all Appwrite Functions, from beginning to end. Here's everything that happens during a function execution.

1. The function is invoked.

2. The active deployment's executor will handle the request.

3. The Executor passes in request information like headers, body or path through the context.req object of your exported function.

4. The runtime executes the code you defined, you can log through the context.log() or context.error() methods.

5. Function terminates when you return results using return context.res.text(), return context.res.json() or similar.

Locally developed functions follow the same lifecycle on your local machine.

Entrypoint

You'll find all of these steps in a simple function like this. Notice the exported entry point that the executor will call.

import { Client } from 'node-appwrite';

// This is your Appwrite function
// It's executed each time we get a request
export default async ({ req, res, log, error }) => {
  // Why not try the Appwrite SDK?
  //
  // Set project and set API key
  // const client = new Client()
  //    .setProject(process.env.APPWRITE_FUNCTION_PROJECT_ID)
  //    .setKey(req.headers['x-appwrite-key']);

  // You can log messages to the console
  log('Hello, Logs!');

  // If something goes wrong, log an error
  error('Hello, Errors!');

  // The `req` object contains the request data
  if (req.method === 'GET') {
    // Send a response with the res object helpers
    // `res.text()` dispatches a string back to the client
    return res.text('Hello, World!');
  }

  // `res.json()` is a handy helper for sending JSON
  return res.json({
    motto: 'Build like a team of hundreds_',
    learn: 'https://appwrite.io/docs',
    connect: 'https://appwrite.io/discord',
    getInspired: 'https://builtwith.appwrite.io',
  });
};

If you prefer to learn through more examples like this, explore the examples page.

Context object

Context is an object passed into every function to handle communication to both the end users, and logging to the Appwrite Console. All input, output, and logging must be handled through the context object passed in.

You'll find these properties in the context object.

Destructuring assignment

Some languages, namely JavaScript, support destructuring. You'll see us use destructuring in examples, which has the following syntax.

Learn more about destructuring assignment.

// before destructuring
export default async function (context) {
    context.log("This is a log!");
    return context.res.text("This is a response!");
}

// after destructuring
export default async function ({ req, res, log, error }) {
    log("This is a log!");
    return res.text("This is a response!");
}

Request

If you pass data into an Appwrite Function, it'll be found in the request object. This includes all invocation inputs from Appwrite SDKs, HTTP calls, Appwrite events, or browsers visiting the configured domain. Explore the request object with the following function, which logs all request params to the Appwrite Console.

Request types

export default async ({ req, res, log }) => {
    log(req.bodyText);                    // Raw request body, contains request data
    log(JSON.stringify(req.bodyJson));    // Object from parsed JSON request body, otherwise string
    log(JSON.stringify(req.headers));     // String key-value pairs of all request headers, keys are lowercase
    log(req.scheme);                      // Value of the x-forwarded-proto header, usually http or https
    log(req.method);                      // Request method, such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, etc.
    log(req.url);                         // Full URL, for example: http://awesome.appwrite.io:8000/v1/hooks?limit=12&offset=50
    log(req.host);                        // Hostname from the host header, such as awesome.appwrite.io
    log(req.port);                        // Port from the host header, for example 8000
    log(req.path);                        // Path part of URL, for example /v1/hooks
    log(req.queryString);                 // Raw query params string. For example "limit=12&offset=50"
    log(JSON.stringify(req.query));       // Parsed query params. For example, req.query.limit

    return res.text("All the request parameters are logged to the Appwrite Console.");
};

Headers

Appwrite Functions will always receive a set of headers that provide meta data about the function execution. These are provided alongside any custom headers sent to the function.

Response

Use the response object to send a response to the function caller. This could be a user, client app, or an integration. The response information will not be logged to the Appwrite Console. There are several possible ways to send a response, explore them in the following Appwrite Function.

Response types

const fs = require('fs');

export default async ({ req, res, log }) => {

    switch (req.query.type) {
        case 'empty': 
            return res.empty();
        case 'json':
            return res.json({"type": "This is a JSON response"});
        case 'binary':
            const bytes = await fs.readFile('file.png');
            return res.binary(bytes);
        case 'redirect':
            return res.redirect("https://appwrite.io", 301);
        case 'html':
            return res.text(
                "<h1>This is an HTML response</h1>", 200, {
                    "content-type": "text/html"
                });
        default:
            return res.text("This is a text response");
    }
}

To get the different response types, set one of the following query parameters in the generated domain of your function.

Logging

To protect user privacy, the request and response objects are not logged to the Appwrite Console by default.

We support the spread operator across most of the languages, meaning you can write code that is more concise and flexible.

This means, to see logs or debug function executions you need to use the log() and error() methods. These logs are only visible to developers with access to the Appwrite Console.

Here's an example of using logs and errors.

export default async ({ req, res, log, error }) => {
    const message = "This is a log, use for logging information to console";
    log("Message: ", message);
    log(`This function was called with ${req.method} method`);
    const errorMessage = "This is an error, use for logging errors to console"
    error("Error: ", errorMessage);

    return res.text("Check the Appwrite Console to see logs and errors!");
};

You can access these logs through the following steps.

1. In Appwrite Console, navigate to Functions.

2. Click to open a function you wish to inspect.

3. Under the Executions tab, click on an execution.

4. In the Response section, you'll be able to view logs under the Logs and Errors tabs.

Accessing environment variables

If you need to pass constants or secrets to Appwrite Functions, you can use environment variables.

You can access the environment variables through the systems library of each language.

export default async ({ req, res, log }) => {
    return res.text(process.env.MY_VAR);
}

Dependencies

To install your dependencies before your function is built, you should add the relevant install command to the top your function's Build setting > Commands. You can find this setting under Functions > your function > Settings > Configuration > Build settings.

Make sure to include dependency files like package.json, composer.json, requirements.txt, etc. in your function's configured root directory. Do not include the dependency folders like node_modules, vendor, etc. in your function's root directory. The dependencies installed for your local OS may not work in the executor environments

Your function's dependencies should be managed by the package manager of each language. By default, we include the following package managers in each runtime.

	Language	Package Manager	Commands
	Node.js	NPM	npm install
	PHP	Composer	composer install
	Python	pip	pip install -r requirements.txt
	Ruby	Bundler	bundle install
	Deno	deno	deno cache <ENTRYPOINT_FILE>
	Go	Go Modules	N/A
	Dart	pub	pub get
	Swift	Swift Package Manager	swift package resolve
	.NET	NuGet	dotnet restore
	Bun	bun	bun install
	Kotlin	Gradle	N/A
	Java	Gradle	N/A
	C++	None	N/A

Using Appwrite in a function

Appwrite can be used in your functions by adding the relevant SDK to your function's dependencies. Authenticating with Appwrite is done via a dynamic API key or a JWT token.

Dynamic API key

Dynamic API keys are the same as API keys but are automatically generated. They are generated in your functions per execution. However, you can only use dynamic API keys inside Appwrite functions.

During the build process, dynamic API keys are automatically provided as the environment variable APPWRITE_FUNCTION_API_KEY. This environment variable doesn't need to be initialized.

During execution, dynamic API keys are automatically provided in the x-appwrite-key header.

Dynamic API keys grant access and operate without sessions. They allow your function to act as an admin-type role instead of acting on behalf of a user. Update the function settings to configure the scopes of the function.

1. In Appwrite Console, navigate to Functions.

2. Click to open a function you wish to configure.

3. Under the Settings tab, navigate to Scopes.

4. Select the scopes you want to grant the dynamic key.

5. It is best practice to allow only necessary permissions.

import { Client, Databases, ID } from 'node-appwrite';

export default async ({ req, res, log, error }) => {
    // Set project and set API key
    const client = new Client()
       .setProject(process.env.APPWRITE_FUNCTION_PROJECT_ID)
       .setKey(req.headers['x-appwrite-key']);

    const databases = new Databases(client);

    try {
        await databases.createDocument(
            '<DATABASE_ID>',
            '<COLLECTION_ID>',
            ID.unique(),
            {}
        )
    } catch (e) {
        error("Failed to create document: " + e.message)
        return res.text("Failed to create document")
    }

    return res.text("Document created")
}

Using with JWT

JWTs allow you to act on behalf of an user in your Appwrite Function. When using JWTs, you will be able to access and change only the resources with the same permissions as the user account that signed the JWT. This preserves the permissions you configured on each resource.

If the Appwrite Function is invoked by an authenticated user, the x-appwrite-user-jwt header is automatically passed in.

import { Client, Databases, ID } from 'node-appwrite';

export default async ({ req, res, log }) => {
    const client = new Client()
        .setProject(process.env.APPWRITE_FUNCTION_PROJECT_ID)

    if (req.headers['x-appwrite-user-jwt']) {
        client.setJWT(req.headers['x-appwrite-user-jwt'])
    } else {
        return res.text("Access denied: This function requires authentication. Please sign in to continue.");
    }

    const databases = new Databases(client);

    try {
        await databases.createDocument(
            '<DATABASE_ID>',
            '<COLLECTION_ID>',
            ID.unique(),
            {}
        )
    } catch (e) {
        log("Failed to create document: " + e.message)
        return res.text("Failed to create document")
    }

    return res.text("Document created")
}

Code structure

As your functions grow, you may find yourself needing to split your code into multiple files. This helps you keep your codebase maintainable and easy to read. Here's how you can accomplish code splitting.

// src/utils.js
export function add(a, b) {
    return a + b;
}

// src/main.js
import { add } from './utils.js';

export default function ({ res }) {
    return res.text(add(1, 2));
}

<?php
// src/utils.php
function add($a, $b) {
    return $a + $b;
}

<?php
// src/main.php
require_once(__DIR__ . '/utils.php');

return function ($context) {
    return $context->res->text(add(1, 2));
};

# src/utils.py
def add(a, b):
    return a + b

# src/main.py
from .utils import add

def main(context):
    return context.res.text(add(1, 2))

# lib/utils.rb
def add(a, b)
    return a + b
end

# lib/main.rb
require_relative 'utils'

def main(context)
    return context.res.text(add(1, 2))
end

// src/utils.ts
export function add(a: number, b: number): number {
    return a + b;
}

// src/main.ts
import { add } from './utils.ts';

export default function ({res}: {res: any}) {
    return res.text(add(1, 2));
}

// src/utils/go.mod
module example.com/utils

go 1.23.0

// src/utils/utils.go
package utils

func Add(a int, b int) int {
	return a + b
}

// src/main/go.mod
module example.com/main

go 1.23.0

replace example.com/utils => ../utils // Run go mod edit -replace example.com/go=../go

require example.com/utils v0.0.0-00010101000000-000000000000 // Run go mod tidy

// src/main/main.go
package main

import "example.com/utils"

func main() {
	// Get a greeting message and print it.
	message := utils.Add(5, 4)
	print(message)
}

// lib/utils.dart
int add(int a, int b) {
    return a + b;
}

// lib/main.dart
import 'dart:async';

import 'package:package_name/utils.dart';

Future<dynamic> main(final context) async {
    return context.res.text(add(1, 2));
}

// Sources/utils.swift
func add(_ a: Int, _ b: Int) -> Int {
    return a + b
}

// Sources/index.swift
import Foundation

func main(context: RuntimeContext) async throws -> RuntimeOutput {
    return context.res.text(add(1, 2))
}

// src/Utils.cs
namespace DotNetRuntime
{
    public static class Utils
    {
        public static int Add(int a, int b)
        {
            return a + b;
        }
    }
}

// src/Index.cs
namespace DotNetRuntime
{
    public class Handler {
        public async Task<RuntimeOutput> Main(RuntimeContext Context)
        {
            return Context.Res.Text(Utils.Add(1, 2));
        }
    }
}

// src/Utils.kt
package io.openruntimes.kotlin.src

object Utils {
    fun add(a: Int, b: Int): Int {
        return a + b
    }
}

// src/Main.kt
package io.openruntimes.kotlin.src

import io.openruntimes.kotlin.RuntimeContext
import io.openruntimes.kotlin.RuntimeOutput
import io.openruntimes.kotlin.Utils

class Main {
    fun main(context: RuntimeContext): RuntimeOutput {
        return context.res.text(Utils.add(1, 2))
    }
}

// src/Utils.java
package io.openruntimes.java.src;

class Utils {
    public static int add(int a, int b) {
        return a + b;
    }
}

package io.openruntimes.java.src;

import io.openruntimes.java.RuntimeContext;
import io.openruntimes.java.RuntimeOutput;
import io.openruntimes.java.Utils;

public class Main {
    public RuntimeOutput main(RuntimeContext context) throws Exception {
        return context.res.text(Utils.add(1, 2));
    }
}