View

A View model makes it easy to map an entity to a database table and query it.

To create a View model, use the NewView() function.

import (
    "github.com/stephenafamo/bob"
    "github.com/stephenafamo/bob/expr"
    "github.com/stephenafamo/bob/dialect/psql"
)

type User struct {
    ID  int
    Name  string
    Email string
}

var userView = psql.NewView[*User, bob.Expression]("public", "users", expr.ColsForStruct[User]("users"))

tip

The NewViewx() function takes an extra type parameter to determine how slices of the corresponding table struct are returned.

A View model provides the following methods:

Name()

Returns the bare table or view name as a string (no schema prefix). For example, "users".

Use this when you need the identifier as data (logging, map keys, etc.), not when building SQL.

Schema()

PostgreSQL and SQLite only. Returns the schema name the model was constructed with, or "" if none was set at codegen time.

When the schema is empty, pass a schema at runtime with psql.UseSchema or sqlite.UseSchema so NameExpr() can qualify the table in SQL.

Alias()

Returns the alias used for generated columns and for NameAsExpr(). When a schema is set at construction, this is usually schema.table (e.g. "public.users"). Otherwise it matches the table name.

NameExpr()

Returns the table or view as a bob expression for query builders (sm.From, im.Into, joins, etc.).

• PostgreSQL/SQLite with schema at construction: qualified name, e.g. "public"."users".
• PostgreSQL/SQLite with empty schema: uses UseSchema from context when present; otherwise the unqualified table name.
• MySQL: the quoted table name (MySQL models do not use schema/database qualification).

import (
    "github.com/stephenafamo/bob/dialect/psql"
    "github.com/stephenafamo/bob/dialect/psql/sm"
)

query := psql.Select(sm.From(userView.NameExpr()))

NameAsExpr()

Like NameExpr(), but includes the table alias (same as Alias()). Use in FROM, JOIN, and other clauses that need a named range variable—for example, PostgreSQL/SQLite INSERT INTO ... AS alias or subqueries that reference Alias() in WHERE.

import (
    "github.com/stephenafamo/bob/dialect/psql"
    "github.com/stephenafamo/bob/dialect/psql/sm"
)

query := psql.Select(sm.From(userView.NameAsExpr()))

note

MySQL does not support a table alias on the INSERT target (INSERT INTO t AS alias). Generated MySQL Table.Insert() uses NameExpr() only; use row aliases in ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE when needed.

Columns

A expr.Columns field. This is also a bob expression. Which by default, the expression evaluates to:

-- table_alias.column_name
"public.users"."id" AS "id",
"public.users"."name" AS "name",
"public.users"."email" AS "email"

Learn about how to manipulate a columns list in the columns documentation.

Query()

The Query() method on a View model starts a SELECT query on the model's database view/table. It accepts query mods to modify the final query.

import (
    "github.com/stephenafamo/bob/dialect/psql"
    "github.com/stephenafamo/bob/dialect/psql/sm"
)

query := userView.Query(
    sm.Where(
        psql.Quote("name").In(
            psql.Arg("Ayan", "Rudra", "Ila")
        ),
        sm.Limit(10), // LIMIT 10
    )
)

The query can then be executed with One(), All(), Cursor(), Count() or Exists().

// SELECT * FROM "users" LIMIT 1
userView.Query().One(ctx, db)

// SELECT * FROM "users"
userView.Query().All(ctx, db)

// Like All, but returns a cursor for moving through large results
userView.Query().Cursor(ctx, db)

// SELECT count(1) FROM "users"
userView.Query().Count(ctx, db)

// Like One(), but only returns a boolean indicating if the model was found
userView.Query().Exists(ctx, db)

tip

The Count() function clones the current query which can be an expensive operation.