graphql-engine/docs/graphql/manual/schema/computed-fields.rst

.. meta::
   :description: Use computed fields in Hasura
   :keywords: hasura, docs, schema, computed field

.. _computed_fields:

Computed fields
===============

.. contents:: Table of contents
  :backlinks: none
  :depth: 2
  :local:

What are computed fields?
-------------------------

Computed fields are virtual values or objects that are dynamically computed and can be queried along with a table's
columns. Computed fields are computed when requested for via SQL functions using other columns of the table and other
custom inputs if needed.

.. note::

  Computed fields are only exposed over the GraphQL API and the database schema is not modified on addition of a
  computed field.

Supported SQL functions
***********************

Only functions which satisfy the following constraints can be added as a computed field to a table.
(*terminology from* `Postgres docs <https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/sql-createfunction.html>`__):

- **Function behaviour**: ONLY ``STABLE`` or ``IMMUTABLE``
- **Argument modes**: ONLY ``IN``
- **Table Argument**: One input argument with a table row type
- **Return type**: Either ``SETOF <table-name>`` or ``BASE`` type

.. note::

  Functions used as computed fields can also accept other arguments other than the mandatory table row argument.
  Values for these extra arguments can be passed as arguments to the computed field in the GraphQL API.

Computed field types
--------------------

Based on the SQL function's return type, we can define two types of computed fields:

1. Scalar computed fields
*************************

Computed fields whose associated SQL function returns a
`base type <https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/extend-type-system.html#id-1.8.3.5.9>`__ like *Integer*,
*Boolean*, *Geography* etc. are scalar computed fields.

**Example:**

The ``author`` table has two ``text`` columns: ``first_name`` and ``last_name``.

Define an SQL function called ``author_full_name``:

.. code-block:: plpgsql

  CREATE FUNCTION author_full_name(author_row author)
  RETURNS TEXT AS $$
    SELECT author_row.first_name || ' ' || author_row.last_name
  $$ LANGUAGE sql STABLE;

:ref:`Add a computed field <add-computed-field>` called ``full_name`` to the ``author`` table using the SQL function above.

Query data from the ``author`` table:

.. graphiql::
  :view_only:
  :query:
    query {
      author {
        id
        first_name
        last_name
        full_name
      }
    }
  :response:
    {
      "data": {
        "author": [
          {
            "id": 1,
            "first_name": "Chris",
            "last_name": "Raichael",
            "full_name": "Chris Raichael"
          }
        ]
      }
    }

2. Table computed fields
************************

Computed fields whose associated SQL function returns ``SETOF <table-name>`` are table computed fields.
The return table must be tracked to define such a computed field.

**Example:**

In a simple ``author <-> article`` schema, we can define a :ref:`relationship <relationships>` on the ``author``
table to fetch authors along with their articles.

We can make use of computed fields to fetch the author's articles with a search parameter.

Define an SQL function called ``filter_author_articles``:

.. code-block:: plpgsql

   CREATE FUNCTION filter_author_articles(author_row author, search text)
   RETURNS SETOF article AS $$
     SELECT *
     FROM article
     WHERE
       ( title ilike ('%' || search || '%')
         OR content ilike ('%' || search || '%')
       ) AND author_id = author_row.id
   $$ LANGUAGE sql STABLE;

:ref:`Add a computed field <add-computed-field>` called ``filtered_articles`` to the ``author`` table using the SQL function above.

Query data from the ``author`` table:

.. graphiql::
  :view_only:
  :query:
    query {
      author {
        id
        first_name
        last_name
        filtered_articles(args: {search: "Hasura"}){
          id
          title
          content
        }
      }
    }
  :response:
    {
      "data": {
        "author": [
          {
            "id": 1,
            "first_name": "Chris",
            "last_name": "Raichael",
            "filtered_articles": [
              {
                "id": 1,
                "title": "Computed fields in Hasura",
                "content": "lorem ipsum dolor sit amet"
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      }
    }

.. _add-computed-field:

Adding a computed field to a table
----------------------------------

.. rst-class:: api_tabs
.. tabs::

  .. tab:: Console

     Head to the ``Modify`` tab of the table and click on the ``Add`` button in the ``Computed fields``
     section:

     .. thumbnail:: ../../../img/graphql/manual/schema/computed-field-create.png

     .. admonition:: Supported from

       Console support is available in ``v1.1.0`` and above

  .. tab:: API

     A computed field can be added to a table using the :ref:`add_computed_field <api_computed_field>`
     metadata API

Computed fields permissions
---------------------------

:ref:`Access control <authorization>` to computed fields depends on the type of computed field.

- For **scalar computed fields**, permissions are managed similar to the :ref:`columns permissions <col-level-permissions>`
  of the table.

- For **table computed fields**, the permissions set on the return table are respected.


Computed fields vs. Postgres generated columns
----------------------------------------------

Postgres, from version ``12``, is introducing `Generated Columns <https://www.postgresql.org/docs/12/ddl-generated-columns.html>`__.
The value of generated columns is also computed from other columns of a table. Postgres' generated columns
come with their own limitations. Hasura's computed fields are defined via an SQL function, which allows users
to define any complex business logic in a function. Generated columns will go together with computed fields where
Hasura treats generated columns as normal Postgres columns.