Packages
ash
3.4.56
3.29.3
3.29.2
3.29.1
3.29.0
3.28.0
3.27.8
3.27.7
3.27.6
3.27.5
3.27.4
3.27.3
3.27.2
3.27.1
3.27.0
3.26.0
3.25.2
3.25.1
3.25.0
retired
3.24.7
3.24.6
3.24.5
3.24.4
3.24.3
3.24.2
3.24.1
3.24.0
3.23.1
3.23.0
3.22.2
3.22.1
3.22.0
3.21.3
3.21.2
3.21.1
3.21.0
3.20.0
3.19.3
3.19.2
3.19.1
3.19.0
3.18.0
3.17.1
3.17.0
3.16.0
3.15.0
3.14.1
3.14.0
retired
3.13.2
3.13.1
3.13.0
3.12.0
3.11.3
3.11.2
3.11.1
3.11.0
3.10.1
3.10.0
3.9.0
3.8.0
3.7.6
3.7.5
3.7.4
3.7.3
3.7.2
3.7.1
3.7.0
retired
3.6.3
retired
3.6.2
3.6.1
3.6.0
3.5.43
3.5.42
3.5.41
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3.5.9
3.5.8
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3.5.6
3.5.5
3.5.4
3.5.3
3.5.2
3.5.1
3.5.0
3.4.74
retired
3.4.73
3.4.72
3.4.71
3.4.70
3.4.69
3.4.68
3.4.67
3.4.66
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3.4.46
3.4.45
3.4.44
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3.4.40
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3.4.37
3.4.36
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3.4.34
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3.4.29
3.4.28
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3.4.25
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3.4.23
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3.4.11
3.4.10
3.4.9
3.4.8
3.4.7
3.4.6
3.4.5
3.4.4
3.4.3
3.4.2
3.4.1
3.4.0
3.3.3
3.3.2
3.3.1
3.3.0
3.2.6
3.2.5
3.2.4
3.2.3
3.2.2
3.2.1
3.2.0
3.1.8
3.1.7
3.1.6
3.1.5
3.1.4
3.1.3
3.1.2
3.1.1
3.1.0
3.0.16
3.0.15
3.0.14
3.0.13
3.0.12
3.0.11
3.0.10
3.0.9
3.0.8
3.0.7
3.0.6
3.0.5
3.0.4
3.0.3
3.0.2
3.0.1
3.0.0
3.0.0-rc.46
3.0.0-rc.45
3.0.0-rc.44
3.0.0-rc.43
3.0.0-rc.42
3.0.0-rc.41
3.0.0-rc.40
3.0.0-rc.39
3.0.0-rc.38
3.0.0-rc.37
3.0.0-rc.36
3.0.0-rc.35
3.0.0-rc.34
3.0.0-rc.33
3.0.0-rc.32
3.0.0-rc.31
3.0.0-rc.29
3.0.0-rc.28
3.0.0-rc.27
3.0.0-rc.26
3.0.0-rc.25
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3.0.0-rc.22
3.0.0-rc.21
3.0.0-rc.20
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3.0.0-rc.5
3.0.0-rc.4
3.0.0-rc.3
3.0.0-rc.1
3.0.0-rc.0
2.21.15
2.21.14
2.21.13
2.21.12
2.21.11
2.21.10
2.21.9
2.21.8
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2.21.3
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2.21.1
2.21.0
2.20.3
2.20.2
2.20.1
2.20.0
2.19.14
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2.19.10
2.19.9
2.19.8
2.19.7
2.19.6
2.19.5
2.19.4
2.19.3
retired
2.19.2
retired
2.19.1
retired
2.19.0
retired
2.18.2
2.18.1
2.18.0
2.17.24
2.17.23
2.17.22
2.17.21
2.17.20
2.17.19
2.17.18
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2.17.12
2.17.11
2.17.10
2.17.9
2.17.8
2.17.7
2.17.6
2.17.5
2.17.4
2.17.3
2.17.2
2.17.1
2.17.0
2.16.1
2.16.0
2.15.20
2.15.19
2.15.18
2.15.17
2.15.16
2.15.15
2.15.14
2.15.13
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2.15.11
2.15.10
2.15.9
2.15.8
2.15.7
2.15.6
2.15.5
2.15.4
2.15.2
2.15.1
2.15.0
2.14.21
2.14.20
2.14.19
2.14.18
2.14.17
2.14.16
2.14.15
2.14.14
2.14.13
2.14.12
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2.14.10
2.14.9
2.14.8
2.14.7
2.14.6
2.14.5
2.14.4
2.14.3
2.14.2
2.14.1
2.14.0
2.13.4
retired
2.13.3
2.13.2
2.13.1
2.13.0
2.12.1
2.12.0
2.11.11
2.11.10
2.11.9
2.11.8
2.11.7
2.11.6
2.11.5
2.11.4
2.11.3
2.11.2
2.11.1
2.11.0
2.11.0-rc.3
2.11.0-rc.2
2.11.0-rc.1
2.11.0-rc.0
2.10.2
2.10.1
2.10.0
2.9.29
2.9.28
2.9.27
2.9.26
2.9.25
2.9.24
2.9.23
2.9.22
2.9.21
2.9.20
2.9.19
2.9.18
2.9.17
2.9.16
2.9.15
2.9.14
2.9.13
2.9.12
2.9.11
2.9.10
2.9.9
2.9.8
2.9.7
2.9.6
2.9.5
2.9.4
2.9.3
2.9.2
2.9.1
2.9.0
2.8.1
2.8.0
2.7.1
2.7.0
2.6.31
2.6.30
2.6.29
2.6.28
2.6.27
2.6.26
2.6.25
2.6.24
2.6.23
2.6.22
2.6.21
2.6.20
2.6.19
2.6.18
2.6.17
2.6.16
2.6.15
2.6.14
2.6.13
2.6.11
2.6.10
2.6.9
2.6.8
2.6.7
2.6.6
2.6.5
2.6.4
2.6.3
2.6.2
2.6.1
2.6.0
2.5.16
2.5.15
2.5.14
2.5.13
2.5.12
2.5.11
2.5.10
2.5.9
2.5.8
2.5.7
2.5.6
2.5.5
2.5.4
2.5.3
2.5.2
2.5.1
2.5.0
2.5.0-rc.6
2.5.0-rc.5
2.5.0-rc.4
2.5.0-rc.3
2.5.0-rc.2
2.5.0-rc.1
2.5.0-rc.0
2.4.30
2.4.29
2.4.28
2.4.27
2.4.26
2.4.25
2.4.24
2.4.23
2.4.22
2.4.21
2.4.20
2.4.19
2.4.18
2.4.17
2.4.16
2.4.15
2.4.14
2.4.13
2.4.12
2.4.11
2.4.10
2.4.9
2.4.8
2.4.7
2.4.6
2.4.5
2.4.4
2.4.3
2.4.2
2.4.1
2.4.0
2.3.0
2.2.0
2.1.0
2.0.0
2.0.0-rc.15
2.0.0-rc.14
2.0.0-rc.13
2.0.0-rc.12
2.0.0-rc.11
2.0.0-rc.10
2.0.0-rc.9
2.0.0-rc.8
2.0.0-rc.7
2.0.0-rc.6
2.0.0-rc.5
2.0.0-rc.4
2.0.0-rc.3
2.0.0-rc.2
2.0.0-rc.1
2.0.0-rc.0
2.0.0-pre.8
2.0.0-pre.7
2.0.0-pre.6
2.0.0-pre.5
2.0.0-pre.4
2.0.0-pre.3
2.0.0-pre.2
2.0.0-pre.1
2.0.0-pre.0
1.53.3
1.53.2
1.53.0
1.52.0-rc.22
1.52.0-rc.21
1.52.0-rc.20
1.52.0-rc.19
1.52.0-rc.18
1.52.0-rc.17
1.52.0-rc.16
1.52.0-rc.15
1.52.0-rc.14
1.52.0-rc.13
1.52.0-rc.12
1.52.0-rc.11
1.52.0-rc.10
1.52.0-rc.9
1.52.0-rc.8
1.52.0-rc.7
1.52.0-rc.6
1.52.0-rc.5
1.52.0-rc.4
1.52.0-rc.3
1.52.0-rc.2
1.52.0-rc.1
1.52.0-rc.0
1.51.2
1.51.1
retired
1.51.0
1.50.21
1.50.20
1.50.19
1.50.18
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1.50.16
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1.50.9
1.50.8
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1.50.6
1.50.5
1.50.4
1.50.3
1.50.2
1.50.1
1.50.0
1.49.0
1.48.0-rc.30
1.48.0-rc.29
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1.48.0-rc.4
1.48.0-rc.3
1.48.0-rc.2
1.48.0-rc.1
1.48.0-rc.0
1.47.12
1.47.11
1.47.10
1.47.9
1.47.8
1.47.7
1.47.6
1.47.5
1.47.4
1.47.3
1.47.2
1.47.1
1.47.0
1.46.13
1.46.12
1.46.11
1.46.10
1.46.9
1.46.8
1.46.7
1.46.6
1.46.5
1.46.4
1.46.3
1.46.2
1.46.1
1.46.0
1.45.0-rc9
1.45.0-rc8
1.45.0-rc7
1.45.0-rc6
1.45.0-rc5
1.45.0-rc4
1.45.0-rc3
1.45.0-rc20
1.45.0-rc2
1.45.0-rc19
1.45.0-rc18
1.45.0-rc17
1.45.0-rc16
1.45.0-rc15
1.45.0-rc14
1.45.0-rc13
1.45.0-rc12
1.45.0-rc11
1.45.0-rc10
1.45.0-rc1
1.45.0-rc0
1.44.13
1.44.12
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1.44.10
1.44.9
1.44.8
1.44.7
1.44.6
1.44.5
1.44.4
1.44.3
1.44.2
1.44.1
1.44.0
1.43.12
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1.43.9
1.43.8
1.43.7
1.43.6
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1.43.4
1.43.3
1.43.2
1.43.1
1.43.0
1.42.0
1.41.12
1.41.11
1.41.10
1.41.9
1.41.8
1.41.7
1.41.6
1.41.5
1.41.4
1.41.3
1.41.2
1.41.1
1.41.0
1.40.0
1.39.7
1.39.6
1.39.5
1.39.4
1.39.3
1.39.2
1.39.1
1.39.0
1.38.0
1.37.2
1.37.1
1.37.0
1.36.22
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1.36.19
1.36.18
1.36.17
1.36.16
1.36.15
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1.36.13
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1.36.10
1.36.9
1.36.8
1.36.7
1.36.6
1.36.5
1.36.4
1.36.3
1.36.2
1.36.0
1.35.1
1.35.0
1.34.9
1.34.8
1.34.7
1.34.6
1.34.5
1.34.4
1.34.3
1.34.2
1.34.1
1.34.0
1.33.0
1.32.2
1.32.1
1.32.0
1.31.1
1.31.0
1.30.2
1.30.1
1.29.0-rc1
1.29.0-rc0
1.28.1
1.28.0
1.27.1
1.27.0
1.26.13
1.26.12
1.26.11
1.26.10
1.26.9
1.26.8
1.26.7
1.26.6
1.26.5
1.26.4
1.26.2
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1.25.6
1.25.5
1.25.4
1.25.3
1.25.2
1.25.1
1.25.0
1.24.2
1.24.1
1.24.0
1.23.3
1.23.2
1.23.1
1.23.0
1.22.1
1.22.0
1.20.1
1.20.0
1.19.1
1.19.0
1.18.1
1.18.0
1.17.1
1.17.0
1.16.2
1.15.1
1.15.0
1.14.0
1.13.4
1.13.3
1.13.2
1.13.1
1.13.0
1.12.0
1.11.1
1.11.0
1.10.0
1.9.0
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1.5.1
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1.4.1
1.4.0
1.3.1
1.3.0
1.2.1
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1.1.3
1.1.2
1.1.0
1.0.3
1.0.2
1.0.1
1.0.0
0.13.1
0.13.0
0.12.0
0.10.0
0.9.1
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0.4.0
0.3.0
0.2.0
0.1.9
0.1.8
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0.1.0
A declarative, extensible framework for building Elixir applications.
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documentation/topics/actions/generic-actions.md
# Generic Actions
Generic actions are so named because there are no special rules about how they work. A generic action takes arguments and returns a value. The struct used for building input for a generic action is `Ash.ActionInput`.
```elixir
action :say_hello, :string do
argument :name, :string, allow_nil?: false
run fn input, _ ->
{:ok, "Hello: #{input.arguments.name}"}
end
end
```
A generic action declares its arguments, return type, and implementation, as illustrated above.
> ### No return? No problem! {: .tip}
>
> Generic actions can omit a return type, in which case running them returns `:ok` if successful.
>
> ```elixir
> action :schedule_job do
> argument :job_name, :string, allow_nil?: false
> run fn input, _ ->
> # Schedule the job
> :ok
> end
> end
> ```
For a full list of all of the available options for configuring generic actions, see [the Ash.Resource.Dsl documentation](dsl-ash-resource.html#actions-action).
## Why use generic actions?
The example above could be written as a normal function in elixir, i.e
```elixir
def say_hello(name), do: "Hello: #{name}"
```
The benefit of using generic actions instead of defining normal functions:
- They can be used with api extensions like `ash_json_api` and `ash_graphql`
- Their inputs are type checked and casted
- They support Ash authorization patterns (i.e policies)
- They can be included in the code interface of a resource
- They can be made transactional with a single option (`transaction? true`)
If you don't need any of the above, then there is no problem with writing regular Elixir functions!
## Return types and constraints
Generic actions do not cast their return types. It is expected that the action return a valid value for the type that they declare. However, declaring additional constraints can inform API usage, and make the action more clear. For example:
```elixir
action :priority, :integer do
constraints [min: 1, max: 3]
argument :status, :atom, constraints: [one_of: [:high, :medium, :low]]
run fn input, _ ->
case input.arguments.status do
:high -> {:ok, 3}
:medium -> {:ok, 2}
:low -> {:ok, 1}
end
end
end
```
> #### Returning resource instances {: .info}
>
> It sometimes happens that you want to make a generic action which returns an
> instance or instances of the resource. It's natural to assume that you can
> set your action's return type to the name of your resource. This won't work
> as resources do not define a type, unless they are embedded. In embedded resources, this won't work because the module is still being compiled, so referencing yourself as a type causes a compile error. Instead, use the `:struct` type and the `instance_of` constraint, like so:
>
> ```elixir
> action :get, :struct do
> constraints instance_of: __MODULE__
>
> run # ...
> end
> ```
>
> For returning many instances of the resource, you can set your action's return type to
> `{:array, :struct}` and set the `items` constraint to the name of your resource.
>
> ```elixir
> action :list_resources, {:array, :struct} do
> constraints items: [instance_of: __MODULE__]
>
> run # ...
> end
> ```
## Calling Generic Actions
To execute a generic action in Ash, follow these steps:
1. **Prepare the action input:** Use `Ash.ActionInput.for_action/4` to specify the resource, the action and its arguments.
2. **Run the action:** Use `Ash.run_action/2` to execute the action with the prepared input.
### Example Usage
Consider an `Ash.Resource` with the action `:say_hello`:
```elixir
action :say_hello, :string do
argument :name, :string, allow_nil?: false
run fn input, _ ->
{:ok, "Hello: #{input.arguments.name}"}
end
end
```
Call this action:
```elixir
{:ok, greeting} = Resource
|> Ash.ActionInput.for_action(:say_hello, %{name: "Alice"})
|> Ash.run_action()
IO.puts(greeting) # Output: Hello: Alice
```
### Using Code Interface
You can also use [Code Interfaces](documentation/topics/resources/code-interfaces.md) to call actions:
Given a definition like:
```elixir
define :say_hello, args: [:name]
```
```elixir
{:ok, greeting} = Resource.say_hello("Alice")
greeting = Resource.say_hello!("Alice")
```