---
id: index-functions
title: Indexing Functions
sidebar_label: Indexing Functions
---

:::info
QueryAPI is a fully managed service that allows you to create and manage indexers on-chain seamlessly.
:::


## Indexing

Let's review a [very simple indexer](https://near.org/dataplatform.near/widget/QueryApi.App?selectedIndexerPath=roshaan.near/demo-indexer), which will help you to understand
how the indexer's indexing logic works.

```js title=indexingLogic.js
import { Block } from "@near-lake/primitives";

/**
 * getBlock(block, context) applies your custom logic to a Block on Near and commits the data to a database.
 *
 * @param {block} Block - A Near Protocol Block
 * @param {context} - A set of helper methods to retrieve and commit state
 */
async function getBlock(block: Block, context) {
  const h = block.header().height;
  await context.set("height", h);
}
```

In the `getBlock()` function, you're given a block, which is a block on the Near blockchain, as
well as a `context` object, which gives you a set of helper methods to be able to commit
what you want to the database that QueryAPI has provisioned for you.

The code is going into the header of the `block`
and getting the block's `height`, and then is using the `context` object to set a key value store.

Next, if you check out the database schema:

```sql title=schema.sql
CREATE TABLE
  "indexer_storage" (
    "function_name" TEXT NOT NULL,
    "key_name" TEXT NOT NULL,
    "value" TEXT NOT NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY ("function_name", "key_name")
  )
```

It's a very simple schema where you can store the `function_name`, `key_name`, and `value`.

:::tip
That's all this indexer function is doing: it sets the `height` value equal to the current block's height.
:::


<!-- ![QueryAPI Indexer Dashboard](/docs/assets/QAPIScreen2.png) -->


## Local Debug Mode

While you're iterating on your indexer development, it's critical to have some type of debugging
functionality to be able to test with, and the _Debug Mode_ is very helpful for that.

![QueryAPI Dashboard](/docs/assets/QAPIdebug.png)

For example, if you want to test the [simple indexer](#indexing) explained in the previous section
using the local debugging mode:

- Enable <kbd>Debug Mode</kbd> on the **Indexer Editor**
- Add a block to your debug list (e.g., `97779559`)
- Go into your web browser's Console
- Finally, click <kbd>Play</kbd>.


On your browser's Console, you should see the indexer's debug execution where it sets the `height` key to `97779559`:

![QueryAPI Indexer Dashboard](/docs/assets/QAPIdebuglog.png)

:::info Local tests
All debug mode tests are happening **locally**, so they do not reach the database.
All your queries and mutations will return empty objects.
:::

:::tip
You can also click <kbd>Follow the Network</kbd> and it will show how your indexer logic works throughout.
:::

## Contract filters

A contract filter is used by QueryAPI to do backend optimizations to
help do historical indexing faster.
While creating an indexer, when you define a contract filter,
QueryAPI will send any single transaction event that passes this filter to your indexer function
so you can index it.

If you only want to index events from a single contract, simply define the contract name on the **Contract Filter** text box.
In some cases you might want to either support indexing on multiple contracts,
or simply support every single contract that exists on the Near blockchain.

#### Single contract filter


For example, if you check out the [simple indexer](https://near.org/dataplatform.near/widget/QueryApi.App?selectedIndexerPath=roshaan.near/demo-indexer), you'll see that in this case
you have a `social.near` contract filter.
In this example, the indexer is only concerned on indexing events from `social.near`'s contract.

#### Multiple contracts filter

For example, if you want to index all the contracts from AstroDAO, where there is an account created
for each and every different DAO, you should define `*.sputnik-dao.near` as the contract filter.
Likewise, if you want to get events from every contract on the blockchain, simply define `*` as the filter.

## Feed-indexer logic

Then we call context.graphql, which allows us to make arbitrary mutations and queries
to our database that we provision for you.
If you're interested in how to create GraphQL queries, there's a whole bunch of resources
online.
In this case, we are passing in our mutation data, which has a post object, and it's inserting
it inside Postgres, I mean, inside of Postgres using GraphQL.
But it's very easy to create these mutations.

## Mutations in GraphQL

If you go to the GraphiQL tab, you can access the GraphiQL Explorer that provides a user friendly GraphQL playground, where you can view and create queries and mutations based on the DB schema that you defined for the indexer.

![QueryAPI Indexer Dashboard](/docs/assets/QAPIgraphiql.png)

You can easily set some fields and select the returning data
that you want, and the tool will build a query on the mutation panel on the right.
Then you can copy the resulting query, either in your JavaScript code so that you pass actual
data manually, or you pass in the mutation data object as a second parameter.

For example, if you go and add a new mutation, click <kbd>+</kbd>, then you can do a bunch of actions here, such as creating, deleting, or inserting posts into your table.

![Playground](/docs/assets/QAPIScreen.gif)

If you want to test your mutation, using [Debug Mode](#local-debug-mode) you can add a specific
block to the list, and then play it to see how it works. 
Based on the indexer logic you defined, you'll get a call to the GraphQL mutation with the object
and data passed into it.

:::tip Video Walkthrough

**Tip:** watch the video on how to [create mutations in GraphQL](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwO6spk8D58&t=781s).

:::


## Create a NEAR component from query

Creating a NEAR component from a GraphQL query is simple when using the GraphQL Playground. Just follow these steps:

- go to the GraphiQL tab
- select the query that you want to use
- click on the <kbd>Show GraphiQL Code Exporter</kbd> button
- get some default code here, copy it,
- go to the NEAR sandbox, paste it.


This will set up some boilerplate code to execute the GraphQL query, add the query that you had
in your playground and then call that query, extract the data and render it using the
render data function.

Once you have the NEAR component code, you can test it out by going to [the sandbox](https://near.org/sandbox),
pasting the generated code, and then selecting <kbd>Component Preview</kbd>.
Next, you can create a nice UI over this boilerplate code, and publish your new NEAR component.