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Live Queries

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      Description — Couchbase mobile database live query concepts

      Overview

      Activating a Live Query

      A live query is a query that, once activated, remains active and monitors the database for changes; refreshing the result set whenever a change occurs. As such, it is a great way to build reactive user interfaces — especially table/list views — that keep themselves up to date.

      So, a simple use case may be: A replicator running and pulling new data from a server, whilst a live-query-driven UI automatically updates to show the data without the user having to manually refresh. This helps your app feel quick and responsive.

      To activate a LiveQuery just add a change listener to the query statement. It will be immediately active. When a change is detected the query automatically runs, and posts the new query result to any observers (change listeners).

      Example 1. Starting a Live Query
      /*
      static void query_change_listener(void* context, CBLQuery* query, CBLListenerToken* token) {
          CBLError err;
          CBLResultSet* results = CBLQuery_CopyCurrentResults(query, token, &err);
          while(CBLResultSet_Next(results)) {
              // Update UI
          }
      }
      */
      
      // NOTE: No error handling, for brevity (see getting started)
      
      CBLError err;
      CBLQuery* query = CBLDatabase_CreateQuery(database, kCBLN1QLLanguage,
          FLSTR("SELECT * FROM _"), NULL, &err); (1)
      
      CBLListenerToken* token = CBLQuery_AddChangeListener(query, query_change_listener, NULL); (2)
      1 Build the query statements
      2 Activate the live query by attaching a listener. Save the token in order to detach the listener and stop the query later — se Example 2
      Example 2. Stop a LIve Query
      CBLListener_Remove(token); // The token received from AddChangeListener
      CBLQuery_Release(query);
      1 Here we use the change lister token from Example 1 to remove the listener. Doing so stops the live query.