Data types

SurrealQL allows you to describe data with specific data types. These data types are used to validate data and to generate the appropriate database schema.

Type	Description
`any`	Use this when you explicitly don't want to specify the field's data type. The field will allow any data type supported by SurrealDB.
`array`	An array of items. The array type also allows you to define which types can be stored in the array and the required length. `array` `array<string>` `array<string, 10>`
`bool`	Describes whether something is truthy or not.
`bytes`	Stores a value in a byte array. `<bytes>value` `bytes`
`datetime`	An RFC 3339 compliant data type that stores a date with time and time zone.
`decimal`	Data type for storing decimal floating point numbers.
`duration`	Store a value representing a length of time. Can be added or subtracted from datetimes or other durations.
`float`	Data type for storing floating point numbers. Larger or extremely precise values should be stored as a decimal.
`geometry`	RFC 7946 compliant data type for storing geometry in the GeoJson format. `geometry<feature>` `geometry<point>` `geometry<line>` `geometry<polygon>` `geometry<multipoint>` `geometry<multiline>` `geometry<multipolygon>` `geometry<collection>`
`int`	Store a value in a 64 bit signed integer. Values can range between `-9223372036854775808` and `9223372036854775807` (inclusive). Larger values should be stored as a float or a decimal.
`number`	Store numbers without specifying the type. SurrealDB will detect the type of number and store it using the minimal number of bytes.
`object`	Store formatted objects containing values of any supported type including nested objects or arrays.
`regex`	A compiled regular expression that can be used for matching strings.
`literal`	A value that may have multiple representations or formats, similar to an enum or a union type. Can be composed of strings, numbers, objects, arrays, or durations. `"a" \| "b"` `[number, "abc"]` `123 \| 456 \| string \| 1y1m1d`
`option`	Makes types optional and guarantees the field to be either empty (NONE) or some other type. `option<number>`
`range`	A range of possible values. Lower and upper bounds can be set, in the absence of which the range becomes open-ended. A range of integers can be used in a FOR loop. `0..10` `0..=10` `..10` `'a'..'z'`
`record`	Store a reference to another record. The value must be a Record ID. Add the record name inside angle brackets to restrict the reference to only certain record names. `record` `record<user>` `record<user \| administrator>`
`set`	A set of items. The set type also allows you to define which types can be stored in the set and the required length. Items are automatically deduplicated and orderd. `set` `set<string>` `set<string, 10>`
`string`	Describes a text-like value.

Examples

geometry

-- Define a field with a single type
DEFINE FIELD location ON TABLE restaurant TYPE geometry<point>;
-- Define a field with any geometric type
DEFINE FIELD area ON TABLE restaurant TYPE geometry<feature>;
-- Define a field with specific geometric types
DEFINE FIELD area ON TABLE restaurant TYPE geometry<polygon|multipolygon|collection>;

bytes

-- Define a field with a single type
DEFINE FIELD image ON TABLE product TYPE bytes;

-- Create a record with a bytes field and set the value
CREATE foo SET value = <bytes>"bar";