---
name: components-guide
description: Guide to using Convex components for feature encapsulation. Learn about sibling components, creating your own, and when to use components vs monolithic code.
---

# Convex Components Guide

Use components to encapsulate features and build maintainable, reusable backends.

## What Are Convex Components?

**Components are self-contained mini-backends** that bundle:
- Their own database schema
- Their own functions (queries, mutations, actions)
- Their own data (isolated tables)
- Clear API boundaries

**Think of them as:** npm packages for your backend, or microservices without the deployment complexity.

## Why Use Components?

### Traditional Approach (Monolithic)
```
convex/
  users.ts (500 lines)
  files.ts (600 lines - upload, storage, permissions, rate limiting)
  payments.ts (400 lines - Stripe, webhooks, billing)
  notifications.ts (300 lines)
  analytics.ts (200 lines)

Total: One big codebase, everything mixed together
```

### Component Approach (Encapsulated)
```
convex/
  components/
    storage/ (File uploads - reusable)
    billing/ (Payments - reusable)
    notifications/ (Alerts - reusable)
    analytics/ (Tracking - reusable)
  convex.config.ts (Wire components together)
  domain/ (Your actual business logic)
    users.ts (50 lines - uses components)
    projects.ts (75 lines - uses components)

Total: Clean, focused, reusable
```

## Quick Start

### 1. Install a Component

```bash
# Official components from npm
npm install @convex-dev/ratelimiter
```

### 2. Configure in convex.config.ts

```typescript
import { defineApp } from "convex/server";
import ratelimiter from "@convex-dev/ratelimiter/convex.config";

export default defineApp({
  components: {
    ratelimiter,
  },
});
```

### 3. Use in Your Code

```typescript
import { components } from "./_generated/api";

export const createPost = mutation({
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Use the component
    await components.ratelimiter.check(ctx, {
      key: `user:${ctx.user._id}`,
      limit: 10,
      period: 60000, // 10 requests per minute
    });

    return await ctx.db.insert("posts", args);
  },
});
```

## Sibling Components Pattern

Multiple components working together at the same level:

```typescript
// convex.config.ts
export default defineApp({
  components: {
    // Sibling components - each handles one concern
    auth: authComponent,
    storage: storageComponent,
    payments: paymentsComponent,
    emails: emailComponent,
    analytics: analyticsComponent,
  },
});
```

### Example: Complete Feature Using Siblings

```typescript
// convex/subscriptions.ts
import { components } from "./_generated/api";

export const subscribe = mutation({
  args: { plan: v.string() },
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // 1. Verify authentication (auth component)
    const user = await components.auth.getCurrentUser(ctx);

    // 2. Create payment (payments component)
    const subscription = await components.payments.createSubscription(ctx, {
      userId: user._id,
      plan: args.plan,
      amount: getPlanAmount(args.plan),
    });

    // 3. Track conversion (analytics component)
    await components.analytics.track(ctx, {
      event: "subscription_created",
      userId: user._id,
      plan: args.plan,
    });

    // 4. Send confirmation (emails component)
    await components.emails.send(ctx, {
      to: user.email,
      template: "subscription_welcome",
      data: { plan: args.plan },
    });

    // 5. Store subscription in main app
    await ctx.db.insert("subscriptions", {
      userId: user._id,
      paymentId: subscription.id,
      plan: args.plan,
      status: "active",
    });

    return subscription;
  },
});
```

## Official Components

Browse [Component Directory](https://www.convex.dev/components):

### Authentication
- **@convex-dev/better-auth** - Better Auth integration

### Storage
- **@convex-dev/r2** - Cloudflare R2 file storage
- **@convex-dev/storage** - File upload/download

### Payments
- **@convex-dev/polar** - Polar billing & subscriptions

### AI
- **@convex-dev/agent** - AI agent workflows
- **@convex-dev/embeddings** - Vector storage & search

### Backend Utilities
- **@convex-dev/ratelimiter** - Rate limiting
- **@convex-dev/aggregate** - Data aggregations
- **@convex-dev/action-cache** - Cache action results
- **@convex-dev/sharded-counter** - Distributed counters
- **@convex-dev/migrations** - Schema migrations
- **@convex-dev/workflow** - Workflow orchestration

## Creating Your Own Component

### When to Create a Component

**Good reasons:**
- Feature is self-contained
- You'll reuse it across projects
- Want to share with team/community
- Complex feature with its own data model
- Third-party integration wrapper

**Not good reasons:**
- One-off business logic
- Tightly coupled to main app
- Simple utility functions

### Structure

```bash
mkdir -p convex/components/notifications
```

```typescript
// convex/components/notifications/convex.config.ts
import { defineComponent } from "convex/server";

export default defineComponent("notifications");
```

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

export default defineSchema({
  notifications: defineTable({
    userId: v.id("users"),
    message: v.string(),
    read: v.boolean(),
    createdAt: v.number(),
  })
    .index("by_user", ["userId"])
    .index("by_user_and_read", ["userId", "read"]),
});
```

```typescript
// convex/components/notifications/send.ts
import { mutation } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

export const send = mutation({
  args: {
    userId: v.id("users"),
    message: v.string(),
  },
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    await ctx.db.insert("notifications", {
      userId: args.userId,
      message: args.message,
      read: false,
      createdAt: Date.now(),
    });
  },
});

export const markRead = mutation({
  args: { notificationId: v.id("notifications") },
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    await ctx.db.patch(args.notificationId, { read: true });
  },
});
```

```typescript
// convex/components/notifications/read.ts
import { query } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

export const list = query({
  args: { userId: v.id("users") },
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    return await ctx.db
      .query("notifications")
      .withIndex("by_user", q => q.eq("userId", args.userId))
      .order("desc")
      .collect();
  },
});

export const unreadCount = query({
  args: { userId: v.id("users") },
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const unread = await ctx.db
      .query("notifications")
      .withIndex("by_user_and_read", q =>
        q.eq("userId", args.userId).eq("read", false)
      )
      .collect();

    return unread.length;
  },
});
```

## Component Communication Patterns

### Parent to Component (Good)

```typescript
// Main app calls component
await components.storage.upload(ctx, file);
await components.analytics.track(ctx, event);
```

### Parent to Multiple Siblings (Good)

```typescript
// Main app orchestrates multiple components
await components.auth.verify(ctx);
const file = await components.storage.upload(ctx, data);
await components.notifications.send(ctx, message);
```

### Component Receives Parent Data (Good)

```typescript
// Pass IDs from parent's tables to component
await components.audit.log(ctx, {
  userId: user._id, // From parent's users table
  action: "delete",
  resourceId: task._id, // From parent's tasks table
});

// Component stores these as strings/IDs
// but doesn't access parent tables directly
```

### Component to Parent Tables (Bad)

```typescript
// Inside component code - DON'T DO THIS
const user = await ctx.db.get(userId); // Error! Can't access parent tables
```

### Sibling to Sibling (Bad)

Components can't call each other directly. If you need this, they should be in the main app or refactor the design.

## Best Practices

### 1. Single Responsibility
Each component does ONE thing well:
- Storage component handles files
- Auth component handles authentication
- Don't create "utils" component with everything

### 2. Clear API Surface
```typescript
// Export only what's needed
export { upload, download, delete } from "./storage";

// Keep internals private
// (Don't export helper functions)
```

### 3. Minimal Coupling
```typescript
// Good: Pass data as arguments
await components.audit.log(ctx, {
  userId: user._id,
  action: "delete"
});

// Bad: Component accesses parent tables
// (Not even possible, but shows the principle)
```

### 4. Version Your Components
```json
{
  "name": "@yourteam/notifications-component",
  "version": "1.0.0"
}
```

### 5. Document Your Components
Include README with:
- What the component does
- How to install
- How to use
- API reference
- Examples

## Checklist

- [ ] Browse [Component Directory](https://www.convex.dev/components) for existing solutions
- [ ] Install components via npm: `npm install @convex-dev/component-name`
- [ ] Configure in `convex.config.ts`
- [ ] Use sibling components for feature encapsulation
- [ ] Create your own components for reusable features
- [ ] Keep components focused (single responsibility)
- [ ] Test components in isolation
- [ ] Document component APIs
- [ ] Version your components properly