Lifecycle Reducers

Special reducers handle system events during the database lifecycle.

Init Reducer

Runs once when the module is first published or when the database is cleared.

TypeScript

spacetimedb.init((ctx) => {
  console.log('Database initializing...');
  
  // Set up default data
  if (ctx.db.settings.count === 0) {
    ctx.db.settings.insert({
      key: 'welcome_message',
      value: 'Hello, SpacetimeDB!'
    });
  }
});

C#

[SpacetimeDB.Reducer(ReducerKind.Init)]
public static void Init(ReducerContext ctx)
{
    Log.Info("Database initializing...");
    
    // Set up default data
    if (ctx.Db.settings.Count == 0)
    {
        ctx.Db.settings.Insert(new Settings
        {
            Key = "welcome_message",
            Value = "Hello, SpacetimeDB!"
        });
    }
}

Rust

#[reducer(init)]
pub fn init(ctx: &ReducerContext) -> Result<(), String> {
    log::info!("Database initializing...");
    
    // Set up default data
    if ctx.db.settings().count() == 0 {
        ctx.db.settings().insert(Settings {
            key: "welcome_message".to_string(),
            value: "Hello, SpacetimeDB!".to_string(),
        })?;
    }
    
    Ok(())
}

The init reducer:

• Cannot take arguments beyond ReducerContext
• Runs when publishing with spacetime publish
• Runs when clearing with spacetime publish -c
• Failure prevents publishing or clearing

Client Connected

Runs when a client establishes a connection.

TypeScript

spacetimedb.clientConnected((ctx) => {
  console.log(`Client connected: ${ctx.sender}`);
  
  // ctx.connectionId is guaranteed to be defined
  const connId = ctx.connectionId!;
  
  // Initialize client session
  ctx.db.sessions.insert({
    connection_id: connId,
    identity: ctx.sender,
    connected_at: ctx.timestamp
  });
});

C#

[SpacetimeDB.Reducer(ReducerKind.ClientConnected)]
public static void OnConnect(ReducerContext ctx)
{
    Log.Info($"Client connected: {ctx.Sender}");
    
    // ctx.ConnectionId is guaranteed to be non-null
    var connId = ctx.ConnectionId!.Value;
    
    // Initialize client session
    ctx.Db.sessions.Insert(new Session
    {
        ConnectionId = connId,
        Identity = ctx.Sender,
        ConnectedAt = ctx.Timestamp
    });
}

Rust

#[reducer(client_connected)]
pub fn on_connect(ctx: &ReducerContext) -> Result<(), String> {
    log::info!("Client connected: {}", ctx.sender);
    
    // ctx.connection_id is guaranteed to be Some(...)
    let conn_id = ctx.connection_id.unwrap();
    
    // Initialize client session
    ctx.db.sessions().insert(Session {
        connection_id: conn_id,
        identity: ctx.sender,
        connected_at: ctx.timestamp,
    })?;
    
    Ok(())
}

The client_connected reducer:

• Cannot take arguments beyond ReducerContext
• ctx.connection_id is guaranteed to be present
• Failure disconnects the client
• Runs for each distinct connection (WebSocket, HTTP call)

Client Disconnected

Runs when a client connection terminates.

TypeScript

spacetimedb.clientDisconnected((ctx) => {
  console.log(`Client disconnected: ${ctx.sender}`);
  
  // ctx.connectionId is guaranteed to be defined
  const connId = ctx.connectionId!;
  
  // Clean up client session
  ctx.db.sessions.connection_id.delete(connId);
});

C#

[SpacetimeDB.Reducer(ReducerKind.ClientDisconnected)]
public static void OnDisconnect(ReducerContext ctx)
{
    Log.Info($"Client disconnected: {ctx.Sender}");
    
    // ctx.ConnectionId is guaranteed to be non-null
    var connId = ctx.ConnectionId!.Value;
    
    // Clean up client session
    ctx.Db.sessions.ConnectionId.Delete(connId);
}

Rust

#[reducer(client_disconnected)]
pub fn on_disconnect(ctx: &ReducerContext) -> Result<(), String> {
    log::info!("Client disconnected: {}", ctx.sender);
    
    // ctx.connection_id is guaranteed to be Some(...)
    let conn_id = ctx.connection_id.unwrap();
    
    // Clean up client session
    ctx.db.sessions().connection_id().delete(&conn_id);
    
    Ok(())
}

The client_disconnected reducer:

• Cannot take arguments beyond ReducerContext
• ctx.connection_id is guaranteed to be present
• Failure is logged but doesn't prevent disconnection
• Runs when connection ends (close, timeout, error)

Scheduled Reducers

Reducers can be triggered at specific times using scheduled tables. See Scheduled Tables for details on:

• Defining scheduled tables
• Triggering reducers at specific timestamps
• Running reducers periodically
• Canceling scheduled executions

Scheduled Reducer Context

Scheduled reducer calls originate from SpacetimeDB itself, not from a client. Therefore:

• ctx.sender will be the module's own identity
• ctx.connection_id will be None/null/undefined