Draft:RxDB

RxDB
Other names	Reactive Database
Original author(s)	Daniel Meyer
Developer(s)	Daniel Meyer, Netflix, Inc., Microsoft Corp. and contributors
Initial release	December 20, 2016 (2016-12-20)
Stable release	16.11.0 / April 16, 2025 (2025-04-16)
Repository	github.com/pubkey/rxdb
Written in	TypeScript
License	Apache License
Website	rxdb.info
As of	Apirl 2025

RxDB is an open‑source, cross-platform NoSQL database for JavaScript applications. It is designed to support real‑time data-handling, offline‑first functionality, and data synchronization across various platforms, including web browsers, mobile applications, backend systems, and desktop applications.

RxDB shares a technical foundation with Hoodie, an early offline-first JavaScript database system that is no longer actively maintained.

Main features

Reactive data handling

RxDB utilizes RxJS observables, allowing applications to subscribe to changes in documents, queries, or individual fields. This approach enables automatic user interface updates without manual polling.

Cross‑platform support

Originally developed as a wrapper around Apache CouchDB and PouchDB for browser-based storage, the RxStorage interface, introduced in version 10.0.0, allows integration with multiple storage engines:

• Browser‑based Progressive Web Apps: Supports IndexedDB, Origin Private File System, SQLite, and in-memory storage.
• Mobile Applications: Compatible with React Native and Flutter, utilizing SQLite for persistence.
• Backend Systems (e.g., Node.js and Deno): Supports SQLite, FoundationDB and MongoDB.
• Desktop Applications (e.g., Electron): Can use either browser-based storage options or SQLite.

Offline‑first design

RxDB prioritizes web storage to ensure application functionality without network connectivity. Synchronization plugins allow data replication with remote databases when a connection is available.

Data synchronization and conflict resolution

RxDB provides replication plugins that facilitate synchronization with backend systems, including CouchDB, GraphQL endpoints, Firestore, and NATS. It incorporates conflict resolution mechanisms, such as revision‑based detection and atomic operations, to maintain data integrity.

Extensibility and plugins

A plugin-based architecture allows developers to extend RxDB’s core functionality. Available plugins enable additional capabilities such as full‑text search, vector search, leader election for multi-tab synchronization, and conflict-free replicated data types.

Performance considerations

RxDB includes optimizations to improve efficiency:

• EventReduce algorithm: Reduces query re-execution by computing new results based on change events.
• Compression and indexing: Uses JSON key compression and indexing to enhance performance.
• Batched operations: Groups operations to minimize I/O overhead.

Security and schema Management

RxDB supports JSON schema validation and offers field-level encryption through plugins. It also provides schema migration capabilities to manage data consistency across application updates.

Use cases

RxDB is used in applications that require offline functionality and real-time updates. Common use cases include:

1. Real‑time applications: Collaborative tools such as chat platforms and shared document editors.
2. Offline‑first tools: Applications that must function without constant internet access, such as field service tools and note-taking apps.
3. Cross-platform applications: Used in frameworks like React Native and Capacitor for unified development across platforms.
4. IoT and edge computing: Supports local data management in low-latency environments.

Community and adoption

RxDB is an open-source project licensed under Apache License and is maintained on GitHub. The project is supported by contributors through GitHub and Discord.

As of February 2025, RxDB has accumulated over 22,000 GitHub stars and has been utilized in thousands of open-source projects.