Paginate data with query cursors
With query cursors in Firestore, you can split data returned by a query into batches according to the parameters you define in your query.
Query cursors define the start and end points for a query, allowing you to:
- Return a subset of the data.
- Paginate query results.
However, to define a specific range for a query, you should use the where()
method described in Simple Queries.
Add a simple cursor to a query
Use the startAt()
or startAfter()
methods to define the start point for a query.
The startAt()
method includes the start point, while the startAfter()
method
excludes it.
For example, if you use startAt(A)
in a query, it returns the entire alphabet.
If you use startAfter(A)
instead, it returns B-Z
.
Web version 9
import { query, orderBy, startAt } from "firebase/firestore"; const q = query(citiesRef, orderBy("population"), startAt(1000000));
Web version 8
citiesRef.orderBy("population").startAt(1000000);
Swift
// Get all cities with population over one million, ordered by population. db.collection("cities") .order(by: "population") .start(at: [1000000])
Objective-C
// Get all cities with population over one million, ordered by population. [[[db collectionWithPath:@"cities"] queryOrderedByField:@"population"] queryStartingAtValues:@[ @1000000 ]];
Kotlin+KTX
Android
// Get all cities with a population >= 1,000,000, ordered by population, db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .startAt(1000000)
Java
Android
// Get all cities with a population >= 1,000,000, ordered by population, db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .startAt(1000000);
Dart
db.collection("cities").orderBy("population").startAt([1000000]);
Java
Python
Python
(Async)
C++
// Get all cities with a population >= 1,000,000, ordered by population, db->Collection("cities") .OrderBy("population") .StartAt({FieldValue::Integer(1000000)});
Node.js
Go
PHP
PHP
To authenticate to Firestore, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.
Unity
Query query = citiesRef.OrderBy("Population").StartAt(1000000);
C#
Ruby
Similarly, use the endAt()
or endBefore()
methods to define an end point
for your query results.
Web version 9
import { query, orderBy, endAt } from "firebase/firestore"; const q = query(citiesRef, orderBy("population"), endAt(1000000));
Web version 8
citiesRef.orderBy("population").endAt(1000000);
Swift
// Get all cities with population less than one million, ordered by population. db.collection("cities") .order(by: "population") .end(at: [1000000])
Objective-C
// Get all cities with population less than one million, ordered by population. [[[db collectionWithPath:@"cities"] queryOrderedByField:@"population"] queryEndingAtValues:@[ @1000000 ]];
Kotlin+KTX
Android
// Get all cities with a population <= 1,000,000, ordered by population, db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .endAt(1000000)
Java
Android
// Get all cities with a population <= 1,000,000, ordered by population, db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .endAt(1000000);
Dart
db.collection("cities").orderBy("population").endAt([1000000]);
Java
Python
Python
(Async)
C++
// Get all cities with a population <= 1,000,000, ordered by population, db->Collection("cities") .OrderBy("population") .EndAt({FieldValue::Integer(1000000)});
Node.js
Go
PHP
PHP
To authenticate to Firestore, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.
Unity
Query query = citiesRef.OrderBy("Population").EndAt(1000000);
C#
Ruby
Use a document snapshot to define the query cursor
You can also pass a document snapshot to the cursor clause as the start or end point of the query cursor. The values in the document snapshot serve as the values in the query cursor.
For example, take a snapshot of a "San Francisco" document in your data set of cities and populations. Then, use that document snapshot as the start point for your population query cursor. Your query will return all the cities with a population larger than or equal to San Francisco's, as defined in the document snapshot.
Web version 9
import { collection, doc, getDoc, query, orderBy, startAt } from "firebase/firestore"; const citiesRef = collection(db, "cities"); const docSnap = await getDoc(doc(citiesRef, "SF")); // Get all cities with a population bigger than San Francisco const biggerThanSf = query(citiesRef, orderBy("population"), startAt(docSnap)); // ...
Web version 8
var citiesRef = db.collection("cities"); return citiesRef.doc("SF").get().then((doc) => { // Get all cities with a population bigger than San Francisco var biggerThanSf = citiesRef .orderBy("population") .startAt(doc); // ... });
Swift
db.collection("cities") .document("SF") .addSnapshotListener { (document, error) in guard let document = document else { print("Error retreving cities: \(error.debugDescription)") return } // Get all cities with a population greater than or equal to San Francisco. let sfSizeOrBigger = db.collection("cities") .order(by: "population") .start(atDocument: document) }
Objective-C
[[[db collectionWithPath:@"cities"] documentWithPath:@"SF"] addSnapshotListener:^(FIRDocumentSnapshot *snapshot, NSError *error) { if (snapshot == nil) { NSLog(@"Error retreiving cities: %@", error); return; } // Get all cities with a population greater than or equal to San Francisco. FIRQuery *sfSizeOrBigger = [[[db collectionWithPath:@"cities"] queryOrderedByField:@"population"] queryStartingAtDocument:snapshot]; }];
Kotlin+KTX
Android
// Get the data for "San Francisco" db.collection("cities").document("SF") .get() .addOnSuccessListener { documentSnapshot -> // Get all cities with a population bigger than San Francisco. val biggerThanSf = db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .startAt(documentSnapshot) // ... }
Java
Android
// Get the data for "San Francisco" db.collection("cities").document("SF") .get() .addOnSuccessListener(new OnSuccessListener<DocumentSnapshot>() { @Override public void onSuccess(DocumentSnapshot documentSnapshot) { // Get all cities with a population bigger than San Francisco. Query biggerThanSf = db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .startAt(documentSnapshot); // ... } });
Dart
db.collection("cities").doc("SF").get().then( (documentSnapshot) { final biggerThanSf = db .collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .startAtDocument(documentSnapshot); }, onError: (e) => print("Error: $e"), );
Java
Python
Python
(Async)
C++
db->Collection("cities").Document("SF").Get().OnCompletion( [db](const Future<DocumentSnapshot>& future) { if (future.error() == Error::kErrorOk) { const DocumentSnapshot& document_snapshot = *future.result(); Query bigger_than_sf = db->Collection("cities") .OrderBy("population") .StartAt({document_snapshot}); // ... } });
Node.js
Go
PHP
PHP
To authenticate to Firestore, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.
Unity
CollectionReference citiesRef = db.Collection("cities"); DocumentReference docRef = citiesRef.Document("SF"); docRef.GetSnapshotAsync().ContinueWith((snapshotTask) => { Query query = citiesRef.OrderBy("Population").StartAt(snapshotTask.Result); });
C#
Ruby
Paginate a query
Paginate queries by combining query cursors with the limit()
method.
For example, use the last document in a batch as the start of a cursor for the
next batch.
Web version 9
import { collection, query, orderBy, startAfter, limit, getDocs } from "firebase/firestore"; // Query the first page of docs const first = query(collection(db, "cities"), orderBy("population"), limit(25)); const documentSnapshots = await getDocs(first); // Get the last visible document const lastVisible = documentSnapshots.docs[documentSnapshots.docs.length-1]; console.log("last", lastVisible); // Construct a new query starting at this document, // get the next 25 cities. const next = query(collection(db, "cities"), orderBy("population"), startAfter(lastVisible), limit(25));
Web version 8
var first = db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .limit(25); return first.get().then((documentSnapshots) => { // Get the last visible document var lastVisible = documentSnapshots.docs[documentSnapshots.docs.length-1]; console.log("last", lastVisible); // Construct a new query starting at this document, // get the next 25 cities. var next = db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .startAfter(lastVisible) .limit(25); });
Swift
// Construct query for first 25 cities, ordered by population let first = db.collection("cities") .order(by: "population") .limit(to: 25) first.addSnapshotListener { (snapshot, error) in guard let snapshot = snapshot else { print("Error retreving cities: \(error.debugDescription)") return } guard let lastSnapshot = snapshot.documents.last else { // The collection is empty. return } // Construct a new query starting after this document, // retrieving the next 25 cities. let next = db.collection("cities") .order(by: "population") .start(afterDocument: lastSnapshot) // Use the query for pagination. // ... }
Objective-C
FIRQuery *first = [[[db collectionWithPath:@"cities"] queryOrderedByField:@"population"] queryLimitedTo:25]; [first addSnapshotListener:^(FIRQuerySnapshot *snapshot, NSError *error) { if (snapshot == nil) { NSLog(@"Error retreiving cities: %@", error); return; } if (snapshot.documents.count == 0) { return; } FIRDocumentSnapshot *lastSnapshot = snapshot.documents.lastObject; // Construct a new query starting after this document, // retreiving the next 25 cities. FIRQuery *next = [[[db collectionWithPath:@"cities"] queryOrderedByField:@"population"] queryStartingAfterDocument:lastSnapshot]; // Use the query for pagination. // ... }];
Kotlin+KTX
Android
// Construct query for first 25 cities, ordered by population val first = db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .limit(25) first.get() .addOnSuccessListener { documentSnapshots -> // ... // Get the last visible document val lastVisible = documentSnapshots.documents[documentSnapshots.size() - 1] // Construct a new query starting at this document, // get the next 25 cities. val next = db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .startAfter(lastVisible) .limit(25) // Use the query for pagination // ... }
Java
Android
// Construct query for first 25 cities, ordered by population Query first = db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .limit(25); first.get() .addOnSuccessListener(new OnSuccessListener<QuerySnapshot>() { @Override public void onSuccess(QuerySnapshot documentSnapshots) { // ... // Get the last visible document DocumentSnapshot lastVisible = documentSnapshots.getDocuments() .get(documentSnapshots.size() -1); // Construct a new query starting at this document, // get the next 25 cities. Query next = db.collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .startAfter(lastVisible) .limit(25); // Use the query for pagination // ... } });
Dart
// Construct query for first 25 cities, ordered by population final first = db.collection("cities").orderBy("population").limit(25); first.get().then( (documentSnapshots) { // Get the last visible document final lastVisible = documentSnapshots.docs[documentSnapshots.size - 1]; // Construct a new query starting at this document, // get the next 25 cities. final next = db .collection("cities") .orderBy("population") .startAfterDocument(lastVisible) .limit(25); // Use the query for pagination // ... }, onError: (e) => print("Error completing: $e"), );
Java
Python
Python
(Async)
C++
// Construct query for first 25 cities, ordered by population Query first = db->Collection("cities").OrderBy("population").Limit(25); first.Get().OnCompletion([db](const Future<QuerySnapshot>& future) { if (future.error() != Error::kErrorOk) { // Handle error... return; } // Get the last visible document const QuerySnapshot& document_snapshots = *future.result(); std::vector<DocumentSnapshot> documents = document_snapshots.documents(); const DocumentSnapshot& last_visible = documents.back(); // Construct a new query starting at this document, // get the next 25 cities. Query next = db->Collection("cities") .OrderBy("population") .StartAfter(last_visible) .Limit(25); // Use the query for pagination // ... });
Node.js
Go
PHP
PHP
To authenticate to Firestore, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.
Unity
CollectionReference citiesRef = db.Collection("cities"); Query firstQuery = citiesRef.OrderBy("Population").Limit(3); // Get the last document from the results firstQuery.GetSnapshotAsync().ContinueWith((querySnapshotTask) => { long lastPopulation = 0; foreach (DocumentSnapshot documentSnapshot in querySnapshotTask.Result.Documents) { lastPopulation = documentSnapshot.GetValue<long>("Population"); } // Construct a new query starting at this document. // Note: this will not have the desired effect if multiple cities have the exact same population value Query secondQuery = citiesRef.OrderBy("Population").StartAfter(lastPopulation); Task<QuerySnapshot> secondQuerySnapshot = secondQuery.GetSnapshotAsync();
C#
Ruby
Set cursor based on multiple fields
When using a cursor based on a field value (not a DocumentSnapshot), you can make the cursor position more precise by adding additional fields. This is particularly useful if your data set includes multiple documents that all have the same value for your cursor field, making the cursor's position ambiguous. You can add additional field values to your cursor to further specify the start or end point and reduce ambiguity.
For example, in a data set containing all the cities named "Springfield" in the United States, there would be multiple start points for a query set to start at "Springfield":
Cities | |
---|---|
Name | State |
Springfield | Massachusetts |
Springfield | Missouri |
Springfield | Wisconsin |
To start at a specific Springfield, you could add the state as a secondary condition in your cursor clause.
Web version 9
// Will return all Springfields import { collection, query, orderBy, startAt } from "firebase/firestore"; const q1 = query(collection(db, "cities"), orderBy("name"), orderBy("state"), startAt("Springfield")); // Will return "Springfield, Missouri" and "Springfield, Wisconsin" const q2 = query(collection(db, "cities"), orderBy("name"), orderBy("state"), startAt("Springfield", "Missouri"));
Web version 8
// Will return all Springfields db.collection("cities") .orderBy("name") .orderBy("state") .startAt("Springfield"); // Will return "Springfield, Missouri" and "Springfield, Wisconsin" db.collection("cities") .orderBy("name") .orderBy("state") .startAt("Springfield", "Missouri");
Swift
// Will return all Springfields db.collection("cities") .order(by: "name") .order(by: "state") .start(at: ["Springfield"]) // Will return "Springfield, Missouri" and "Springfield, Wisconsin" db.collection("cities") .order(by: "name") .order(by: "state") .start(at: ["Springfield", "Missouri"])
Objective-C
// Will return all Springfields [[[[db collectionWithPath:@"cities"] queryOrderedByField:@"name"] queryOrderedByField:@"state"] queryStartingAtValues:@[ @"Springfield" ]]; // Will return "Springfield, Missouri" and "Springfield, Wisconsin" [[[[db collectionWithPath:@"cities"] queryOrderedByField:@"name"] queryOrderedByField:@"state"] queryStartingAtValues:@[ @"Springfield", @"Missouri" ]];
Kotlin+KTX
Android
// Will return all Springfields db.collection("cities") .orderBy("name") .orderBy("state") .startAt("Springfield") // Will return "Springfield, Missouri" and "Springfield, Wisconsin" db.collection("cities") .orderBy("name") .orderBy("state") .startAt("Springfield", "Missouri")
Java
Android
// Will return all Springfields db.collection("cities") .orderBy("name") .orderBy("state") .startAt("Springfield"); // Will return "Springfield, Missouri" and "Springfield, Wisconsin" db.collection("cities") .orderBy("name") .orderBy("state") .startAt("Springfield", "Missouri");
Dart
// Will return all Springfields db .collection("cities") .orderBy("name") .orderBy("state") .startAt(["Springfield"]); // Will return "Springfield, Missouri" and "Springfield, Wisconsin" db .collection("cities") .orderBy("name") .orderBy("state") .startAt(["Springfield", "Missouri"]);
Java
Python
Python
(Async)
C++
// This is not yet supported.
Node.js
Go
PHP
PHP
To authenticate to Firestore, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.
Unity
Query query1 = db.Collection("cities").OrderBy("Name").OrderBy("State").StartAt("Springfield"); Query query2 = db.Collection("cities").OrderBy("Name").OrderBy("State").StartAt("Springfield", "Missouri");