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.dicebear.com/7.x/initials/svg?seed=${user.name}`,
      });
    }

    return users.length;
  },
});

Making Optional Fields Required

// Step 1: Backfill all null values
// Step 2: Update schema to required
users: defineTable({
  name: v.string(),
  email: v.string(),
  avatarUrl: v.string(), // Now required after backfill
})

Examples

Complete E-commerce Schema

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

export default defineSchema({
  users: defineTable({
    email: v.string(),
    name: v.string(),
    role: v.union(v.literal("customer"), v.literal("admin")),
    createdAt: v.number(),
  })
    .index("by_email", ["email"])
    .index("by_role", ["role"]),

  products: defineTable({
    name: v.string(),
    description: v.string(),
    price: v.number(),
    category: v.string(),
    inventory: v.number(),
    isActive: v.boolean(),
  })
    .index("by_category", ["category"])
    .index("by_active_and_category", ["isActive", "category"])
    .searchIndex("search_products", {
      searchField: "name",
      filterFields: ["category", "isActive"],
    }),

  orders: defineTable({
    userId: v.id("users"),
    items: v.array(v.object({
      productId: v.id("products"),
      quantity: v.number(),
      priceAtPurchase: v.number(),
    })),
    total: v.number(),
    status: v.union(
      v.literal("pending"),
      v.literal("paid"),
      v.literal("shipped"),
      v.literal("delivered"),
      v.literal("cancelled")
    ),
    shippingAddress: v.object({
      street: v.string(),
      city: v.string(),
      state: v.string(),
      zip: v.string(),
      country: v.string(),
    }),
    createdAt: v.number(),
    updatedAt: v.number(),
  })
    .index("by_user", ["userId"])
    .index("by_user_and_status", ["userId", "status"])
    .index("by_status", ["status"]),

  reviews: defineTable({
    productId: v.id("products"),
    userId: v.id("users"),
    rating: v.number(),
    comment: v.optional(v.string()),
    createdAt: v.number(),
  })
    .index("by_product", ["productId"])
    .index("by_user", ["userId"]),
});

Using Schema Types in Functions

// convex/products.ts
import { query, mutation } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";
import { Doc, Id } from "./_generated/dataModel";

// Use Doc type for full documents
type Product = Doc<"products">;

// Use Id type for references
type ProductId = Id<"products">;

export const get = query({
  args: { productId: v.id("products") },
  returns: v.union(
    v.object({
      _id: v.id("products"),
      _creationTime: v.number(),
      name: v.string(),
      description: v.string(),
      price: v.number(),
      category: v.string(),
      inventory: v.number(),
      isActive: v.boolean(),
    }),
    v.null()
  ),
  handler: async (ctx, args): Promise<Product | null> => {
    return await ctx.db.get(args.productId);
  },
});

Best Practices

• Never run npx convex deploy unless explicitly instructed
• Never run any git commands unless explicitly instructed
• Always define explicit schemas rather than relying on inference
• Use descriptive index names that include all indexed fields
• Start with optional fields when adding new columns
• Use discriminated unions for polymorphic data
• Validate data at the schema level, not just in functions
• Plan index strategy based on query patterns

Common Pitfalls

1. Missing indexes for queries - Every withIndex needs a corresponding schema index
2. Wrong index field order - Fields must be queried in order defined
3. Using v.any() excessively - Lose type safety benefits
4. Not making new fields optional - Breaks existing data
5. Forgetting system fields - _id and _creationTime are automatic

References

• Convex Documentation: https://docs.convex.dev/
• Convex LLMs.txt: https://docs.convex.dev/llms.txt
• Schemas: https://docs.convex.dev/database/schemas
• Indexes: https://docs.convex.dev/database/indexes
• Data Types: https://docs.convex.dev/database/types