Create a Firestore database by using a web or mobile client library

This quickstart shows you how to set up Firestore, add data, and read data by using the Android, Apple platforms, Web, Unity, or C++ client library.

Create a Firestore database

  1. If you haven't already, create a Firebase project: In the Firebase console, click Add project, then follow the on-screen instructions to create a Firebase project or to add Firebase services to an existing GCP project.

  2. From the Firebase console's navigation pane, select Firestore, then click Create database for Firestore.

  3. Select Test mode for your Firestore Security Rules:

    Test mode
    Good for getting started with the mobile and web client libraries, but allows anyone to read and overwrite your data. After testing, make sure to review the Secure your data section.
  4. Select a location for your database.

    • This location setting is your project's default Google Cloud Platform (GCP) resource location. Note that this location will be used for GCP services in your project that require a location setting, specifically, your default Cloud Storage bucket and your App Engine app (which is required if you use Cloud Scheduler).

    • If you aren't able to select a location, then your project already has a default GCP resource location. It was set either during project creation or when setting up another service that requires a location setting.

  5. Click Done.

When you enable Firestore, it also enables the API in the Cloud API Manager.

Set up your development environment

Add the required dependencies and client libraries to your app.

Web version 9

  1. Follow the instructions to add Firebase to your Web app.
  2. Import both Firebase and Firestore:
    import { initializeApp } from "firebase/app";
    import { getFirestore } from "firebase/firestore";
    

Web version 8

  1. Follow the instructions to add Firebase to your Web app.
  2. Add the Firebase and Firestore libraries to your app:
    <script src="https://www.gstatic.com/firebasejs/8.10.1/firebase-app.js"></script>
    <script src="https://www.gstatic.com/firebasejs/8.10.1/firebase-firestore.js"></script>
    The Firestore SDK is also available as an npm package.
    npm install firebase@8.10.1 --save
    
    You'll need to manually require both Firebase and Firestore.
    const firebase = require("firebase");
    // Required for side-effects
    require("firebase/firestore");
    
Apple platforms

Follow the instructions to add Firebase to your Apple app.

Use Swift Package Manager to install and manage Firebase dependencies.

  1. In Xcode, with your app project open, navigate to File > Swift Packages > Add Package Dependency.
  2. When prompted, add the Firebase Apple platforms SDK repository:
  3.   https://github.com/firebase/firebase-ios-sdk
      
  4. Choose the Firestore library.
  5. When finished, Xcode will automatically begin resolving and downloading your dependencies in the background.
Android
  1. Follow the instructions to add Firebase to your Android app.
  2. Declare the dependency for the Firestore library for Android in your module (app-level) Gradle file (usually app/build.gradle.kts or app/build.gradle):
    implementation("com.google.firebase:firebase-firestore:24.11.0")

    If your app uses multiple Firebase libraries, consider using the Firebase Android BoM, which ensures that your app's Firebase library versions are always compatible.

    Looking for a Kotlin-specific library module? Starting with the October 2023 release, both Kotlin and Java developers can depend on the main library module (for details, see the FAQ about this initiative).

Dart

  1. If you haven't already, configure and initialize Firebase in your Flutter app.
  2. From the root of your Flutter project, run the following command to install the plugin:
    flutter pub add cloud_firestore
  3. Once complete, rebuild your Flutter application:
    flutter run
C++
  1. Follow the instructions to add Firebase to your C++ project.
  2. C++ interface for Android.
    • Gradle dependencies. Add the following to your module (app-level) Gradle file (usually app/build.gradle):
              android.defaultConfig.externalNativeBuild.cmake {
                arguments "-DFIREBASE_CPP_SDK_DIR=$gradle.firebase_cpp_sdk_dir"
              }
      
              apply from: "$gradle.firebase_cpp_sdk_dir/Android/firebase_dependencies.gradle"
              firebaseCpp.dependencies {
                // earlier entries
                auth
                firestore
              }
              
    • Binary dependencies. Similarly, the recommended way to get the binary dependencies is to add the following to your CMakeLists.txt file:
              add_subdirectory(${FIREBASE_CPP_SDK_DIR} bin/ EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
              set(firebase_libs firebase_auth firebase_firestore firebase_app)
              # Replace the target name below with the actual name of your target,
              # for example, "native-lib".
              target_link_libraries(${YOUR_TARGET_NAME_HERE} "${firebase_libs}")
              
  3. To set up desktop integration, see Add Firebase to your C++ project.
Unity
  1. Follow the instructions to add Firebase to your Unity project.
  2. Use the Unity interface to configure your project to minify Android builds.
  3. You must minify the build to avoid the message Error while merging dex archives.

    • The option can be found in Player Settings > Android > Publishing Settings > Minify.
    • The options may differ in different versions of Unity so refer to the official Unity documentation and the Firebase Unity Build Debug Guide.
    • If, after enabling minification, the number of referenced methods still exceeds the limit, another option is to enable multidex in:
      • mainTemplate.gradle if Custom Gradle Template under Player Settings is enabled
      • or, the module-level build.gradle file, if you use Android Studio to build the exported project.

Initialize Firestore

Initialize an instance of Firestore:

Web version 9

// Initialize Firestore through Firebase
import { initializeApp } from "firebase/app"
import { getFirestore } from "firebase/firestore"
const firebaseApp = initializeApp({
  apiKey: '### FIREBASE API KEY ###',
  authDomain: '### FIREBASE AUTH DOMAIN ###',
  projectId: '### CLOUD FIRESTORE PROJECT ID ###'
});

const db = getFirestore();
The values for `initializeApp` can be found in your web app's `firebaseConfig`. To persist data when the device loses its connection, see the Enable Offline Data documentation.

Web version 8

// Initialize Firestore through Firebase
firebase.initializeApp({
  apiKey: '### FIREBASE API KEY ###',
  authDomain: '### FIREBASE AUTH DOMAIN ###',
  projectId: '### CLOUD FIRESTORE PROJECT ID ###'
});

var db = firebase.firestore();
The values for `initializeApp` can be found in your web app's `firebaseConfig`. To persist data when the device loses its connection, see the Enable Offline Data documentation.
Swift
Note: This product is not available on watchOS and App Clip targets.
import FirebaseCore
import FirebaseFirestore

FirebaseApp.configure()

let db = Firestore.firestore()
Objective-C
Note: This product is not available on watchOS and App Clip targets.
@import FirebaseCore;
@import FirebaseFirestore;

// Use Firebase library to configure APIs
[FIRApp configure];

FIRFirestore *defaultFirestore = [FIRFirestore firestore];
  
Kotlin+KTX
Android
  // Access a Firestore instance from your Activity
  val db = Firebase.firestore
Java
Android
// Access a Firestore instance from your Activity
  FirebaseFirestore db = FirebaseFirestore.getInstance();

Dart

db = FirebaseFirestore.instance;
C++
// Make sure the call to `Create()` happens some time before you call Firestore::GetInstance().
App::Create();
Firestore* db = Firestore::GetInstance();
Unity
using Firebase.Firestore;
using Firebase.Extensions;
FirebaseFirestore db = FirebaseFirestore.DefaultInstance;

Add data

Firestore stores data in Documents, which are stored in Collections. Firestore creates collections and documents implicitly the first time you add data to the document. You do not need to explicitly create collections or documents.

Create a new collection and a document using the following example code.

Web version 9

import { collection, addDoc } from "firebase/firestore"; 

try {
  const docRef = await addDoc(collection(db, "users"), {
    first: "Ada",
    last: "Lovelace",
    born: 1815
  });
  console.log("Document written with ID: ", docRef.id);
} catch (e) {
  console.error("Error adding document: ", e);
}

Web version 8

db.collection("users").add({
    first: "Ada",
    last: "Lovelace",
    born: 1815
})
.then((docRef) => {
    console.log("Document written with ID: ", docRef.id);
})
.catch((error) => {
    console.error("Error adding document: ", error);
});
Swift
Note: This product is not available on watchOS and App Clip targets.
// Add a new document with a generated ID
do {
  let ref = try await db.collection("users").addDocument(data: [
    "first": "Ada",
    "last": "Lovelace",
    "born": 1815
  ])
  print("Document added with ID: \(ref.documentID)")
} catch {
  print("Error adding document: \(error)")
}
Objective-C
Note: This product is not available on watchOS and App Clip targets.
// Add a new document with a generated ID
__block FIRDocumentReference *ref =
    [[self.db collectionWithPath:@"users"] addDocumentWithData:@{
      @"first": @"Ada",
      @"last": @"Lovelace",
      @"born": @1815
    } completion:^(NSError * _Nullable error) {
      if (error != nil) {
        NSLog(@"Error adding document: %@", error);
      } else {
        NSLog(@"Document added with ID: %@", ref.documentID);
      }
    }];
Kotlin+KTX
Android
// Create a new user with a first and last name
val user = hashMapOf(
    "first" to "Ada",
    "last" to "Lovelace",
    "born" to 1815,
)

// Add a new document with a generated ID
db.collection("users")
    .add(user)
    .addOnSuccessListener { documentReference ->
        Log.d(TAG, "DocumentSnapshot added with ID: ${documentReference.id}")
    }
    .addOnFailureListener { e ->
        Log.w(TAG, "Error adding document", e)
    }
Java
Android
// Create a new user with a first and last name
Map<String, Object> user = new HashMap<>();
user.put("first", "Ada");
user.put("last", "Lovelace");
user.put("born", 1815);

// Add a new document with a generated ID
db.collection("users")
        .add(user)
        .addOnSuccessListener(new OnSuccessListener<DocumentReference>() {
            @Override
            public void onSuccess(DocumentReference documentReference) {
                Log.d(TAG, "DocumentSnapshot added with ID: " + documentReference.getId());
            }
        })
        .addOnFailureListener(new OnFailureListener() {
            @Override
            public void onFailure(@NonNull Exception e) {
                Log.w(TAG, "Error adding document", e);
            }
        });

Dart

// Create a new user with a first and last name
final user = <String, dynamic>{
  "first": "Ada",
  "last": "Lovelace",
  "born": 1815
};

// Add a new document with a generated ID
db.collection("users").add(user).then((DocumentReference doc) =>
    print('DocumentSnapshot added with ID: ${doc.id}'));
C++
// Add a new document with a generated ID
Future<DocumentReference> user_ref =
    db->Collection("users").Add({{"first", FieldValue::String("Ada")},
                                 {"last", FieldValue::String("Lovelace")},
                                 {"born", FieldValue::Integer(1815)}});

user_ref.OnCompletion([](const Future<DocumentReference>& future) {
  if (future.error() == Error::kErrorOk) {
    std::cout << "DocumentSnapshot added with ID: " << future.result()->id()
              << std::endl;
  } else {
    std::cout << "Error adding document: " << future.error_message() << std::endl;
  }
});
Unity
DocumentReference docRef = db.Collection("users").Document("alovelace");
Dictionary<string, object> user = new Dictionary<string, object>
{
	{ "First", "Ada" },
	{ "Last", "Lovelace" },
	{ "Born", 1815 },
};
docRef.SetAsync(user).ContinueWithOnMainThread(task => {
	Debug.Log("Added data to the alovelace document in the users collection.");
});

Now add another document to the users collection. Notice that this document includes a key-value pair (middle name) that does not appear in the first document. Documents in a collection can contain different sets of information.

Web version 9

// Add a second document with a generated ID.
import { addDoc, collection } from "firebase/firestore"; 

try {
  const docRef = await addDoc(collection(db, "users"), {
    first: "Alan",
    middle: "Mathison",
    last: "Turing",
    born: 1912
  });

  console.log("Document written with ID: ", docRef.id);
} catch (e) {
  console.error("Error adding document: ", e);
}

Web version 8

// Add a second document with a generated ID.
db.collection("users").add({
    first: "Alan",
    middle: "Mathison",
    last: "Turing",
    born: 1912
})
.then((docRef) => {
    console.log("Document written with ID: ", docRef.id);
})
.catch((error) => {
    console.error("Error adding document: ", error);
});
Swift
Note: This product is not available on watchOS and App Clip targets.
// Add a second document with a generated ID.
do {
  let ref = try await db.collection("users").addDocument(data: [
    "first": "Alan",
    "middle": "Mathison",
    "last": "Turing",
    "born": 1912
  ])
  print("Document added with ID: \(ref.documentID)")
} catch {
  print("Error adding document: \(error)")
}
Objective-C
Note: This product is not available on watchOS and App Clip targets.
// Add a second document with a generated ID.
__block FIRDocumentReference *ref =
    [[self.db collectionWithPath:@"users"] addDocumentWithData:@{
      @"first": @"Alan",
      @"middle": @"Mathison",
      @"last": @"Turing",
      @"born": @1912
    } completion:^(NSError * _Nullable error) {
      if (error != nil) {
        NSLog(@"Error adding document: %@", error);
      } else {
        NSLog(@"Document added with ID: %@", ref.documentID);
      }
    }];
Kotlin+KTX
Android
// Create a new user with a first, middle, and last name
val user = hashMapOf(
    "first" to "Alan",
    "middle" to "Mathison",
    "last" to "Turing",
    "born" to 1912,
)

// Add a new document with a generated ID
db.collection("users")
    .add(user)
    .addOnSuccessListener { documentReference ->
        Log.d(TAG, "DocumentSnapshot added with ID: ${documentReference.id}")
    }
    .addOnFailureListener { e ->
        Log.w(TAG, "Error adding document", e)
    }
Java
Android
// Create a new user with a first, middle, and last name
Map<String, Object> user = new HashMap<>();
user.put("first", "Alan");
user.put("middle", "Mathison");
user.put("last", "Turing");
user.put("born", 1912);

// Add a new document with a generated ID
db.collection("users")
        .add(user)
        .addOnSuccessListener(new OnSuccessListener<DocumentReference>() {
            @Override
            public void onSuccess(DocumentReference documentReference) {
                Log.d(TAG, "DocumentSnapshot added with ID: " + documentReference.getId());
            }
        })
        .addOnFailureListener(new OnFailureListener() {
            @Override
            public void onFailure(@NonNull Exception e) {
                Log.w(TAG, "Error adding document", e);
            }
        });

Dart

// Create a new user with a first and last name
final user = <String, dynamic>{
  "first": "Alan",
  "middle": "Mathison",
  "last": "Turing",
  "born": 1912
};

// Add a new document with a generated ID
db.collection("users").add(user).then((DocumentReference doc) =>
    print('DocumentSnapshot added with ID: ${doc.id}'));
C++
db->Collection("users")
    .Add({{"first", FieldValue::String("Alan")},
          {"middle", FieldValue::String("Mathison")},
          {"last", FieldValue::String("Turing")},
          {"born", FieldValue::Integer(1912)}})
    .OnCompletion([](const Future<DocumentReference>& future) {
      if (future.error() == Error::kErrorOk) {
        std::cout << "DocumentSnapshot added with ID: "
                  << future.result()->id() << std::endl;
      } else {
        std::cout << "Error adding document: " << future.error_message()
                  << std::endl;
      }
    });
Unity
DocumentReference docRef = db.Collection("users").Document("aturing");
Dictionary<string, object> user = new Dictionary<string, object>
{
	{ "First", "Alan" },
	{ "Middle", "Mathison" },
	{ "Last", "Turing" },
	{ "Born", 1912 }
};
docRef.SetAsync(user).ContinueWithOnMainThread(task => {
	Debug.Log("Added data to the aturing document in the users collection.");
});

Read data

Use the data viewer in the Firebase console to quickly verify that you've added data to Firestore.

You can also use the get method to retrieve the entire collection.

Web version 9

import { collection, getDocs } from "firebase/firestore"; 

const querySnapshot = await getDocs(collection(db, "users"));
querySnapshot.forEach((doc) => {
  console.log(`${doc.id} => ${doc.data()}`);
});

Web version 8

db.collection("users").get().then((querySnapshot) => {
    querySnapshot.forEach((doc) => {
        console.log(`${doc.id} => ${doc.data()}`);
    });
});
Swift
Note: This product is not available on watchOS and App Clip targets.
do {
  let snapshot = try await db.collection("users").getDocuments()
  for document in snapshot.documents {
    print("\(document.documentID) => \(document.data())")
  }
} catch {
  print("Error getting documents: \(error)")
}
Objective-C
Note: This product is not available on watchOS and App Clip targets.
[[self.db collectionWithPath:@"users"]
    getDocumentsWithCompletion:^(FIRQuerySnapshot * _Nullable snapshot,
                                 NSError * _Nullable error) {
      if (error != nil) {
        NSLog(@"Error getting documents: %@", error);
      } else {
        for (FIRDocumentSnapshot *document in snapshot.documents) {
          NSLog(@"%@ => %@", document.documentID, document.data);
        }
      }
    }];
Kotlin+KTX
Android
db.collection("users")
    .get()
    .addOnSuccessListener { result ->
        for (document in result) {
            Log.d(TAG, "${document.id} => ${document.data}")
        }
    }
    .addOnFailureListener { exception ->
        Log.w(TAG, "Error getting documents.", exception)
    }
Java
Android
db.collection("users")
        .get()
        .addOnCompleteListener(new OnCompleteListener<QuerySnapshot>() {
            @Override
            public void onComplete(@NonNull Task<QuerySnapshot> task) {
                if (task.isSuccessful()) {
                    for (QueryDocumentSnapshot document : task.getResult()) {
                        Log.d(TAG, document.getId() + " => " + document.getData());
                    }
                } else {
                    Log.w(TAG, "Error getting documents.", task.getException());
                }
            }
        });

Dart

await db.collection("users").get().then((event) {
  for (var doc in event.docs) {
    print("${doc.id} => ${doc.data()}");
  }
});
C++
Future<QuerySnapshot> users = db->Collection("users").Get();
users.OnCompletion([](const Future<QuerySnapshot>& future) {
  if (future.error() == Error::kErrorOk) {
    for (const DocumentSnapshot& document : future.result()->documents()) {
      std::cout << document << std::endl;
    }
  } else {
    std::cout << "Error getting documents: " << future.error_message()
              << std::endl;
  }
});
Unity
CollectionReference usersRef = db.Collection("users");
usersRef.GetSnapshotAsync().ContinueWithOnMainThread(task =>
{
  QuerySnapshot snapshot = task.Result;
  foreach (DocumentSnapshot document in snapshot.Documents)
  {
    Debug.Log(String.Format("User: {0}", document.Id));
    Dictionary<string, object> documentDictionary = document.ToDictionary();
    Debug.Log(String.Format("First: {0}", documentDictionary["First"]));
    if (documentDictionary.ContainsKey("Middle"))
    {
      Debug.Log(String.Format("Middle: {0}", documentDictionary["Middle"]));
    }

    Debug.Log(String.Format("Last: {0}", documentDictionary["Last"]));
    Debug.Log(String.Format("Born: {0}", documentDictionary["Born"]));
  }

  Debug.Log("Read all data from the users collection.");
});

Secure your data

Use Firebase Authentication and Firestore Security Rules to secure your data in Firestore.

Here are some basic rule sets you can use to get started. You can modify your security rules in the Rules tab of the Firebase console.

Auth required

// Allow read/write access on all documents to any user signed in to the application
service cloud.firestore {
  match /databases/{database}/documents {
    match /{document=**} {
      allow read, write: if request.auth != null;
    }
  }
}

Locked mode

// Deny read/write access to all users under any conditions
service cloud.firestore {
  match /databases/{database}/documents {
    match /{document=**} {
      allow read, write: if false;
    }
  }
}

Test mode

// Allow read/write access to all users under any conditions
// Warning: **NEVER** use this rule set in production; it allows
// anyone to overwrite your entire database.
service cloud.firestore {
  match /databases/{database}/documents {
    match /{document=**} {
      allow read, write: if true;
    }
  }
}

Before you deploy your Web, Android, or iOS app to production, also take steps to ensure that only your app clients can access your Firestore data. See the App Check documentation.

Watch a video tutorial

For detailed guidance on getting started with the Firestore mobile and web client libraries, watch one of the following video tutorials:

Web
iOS
Android

You can find more videos in the Firebase YouTube channel.

Next steps

Deepen your knowledge with the following topics:

  • Codelabs — Learn to use Firestore in a real app by following the codelab for Android, iOS, or Web.
  • Data model — Learn more about how data is structured in Firestore, including hierarchical data and subcollections.
  • Add data — Learn more about creating and updating data in Firestore.
  • Get data — Learn more about how to retrieve data.
  • Perform simple and compound queries — Learn how to run simple and compound queries.
  • Order and limit queries — Learn how to order and limit the data returned by your queries.