Firebase Database API Cheatsheet

Firebase Database API Cheatsheet

    There is no way to store an empty object/array/null value.
    There are also no actual arrays.  Array values get stored as objects with integer keys.
        (If all keys are integers, it will be returned as an array.)

    Basically, it's one giant tree of hashes with string keys.
    Simply write a value to any location, and the intermediary locations will automatically come into existance.

 ── Classes ──

    DataSnapshot  : Container for a subtree of data at a particular location.
                    The `ref` property stores a Reference to the DataSnapshot's location.

    Reference     : Represent a location.  Returned by:  db.ref(path), ref.parent, ref.child(path)
                    Inherits query and read methods from Query, then adds write methods.

    Query         : Query objects have query (sorting/filtering) methods and read methods.
                    Query objects are returned when calling a query method on a Reference.
                    The `ref` property stores a Reference to the Query's location.

    You read from or write to a location using a Reference.
    You begin a query at a location using a Reference's query methods, then read from it using the Query's read methods.
    Read methods are callback-based, and pass DataSnapshots to the callback.

 ── Write Methods ──

    push        (            )  Returns a Reference to a child location with an auto-generated key.
    push        ( val,    cb )  Like `push()`, but also writes val to child location.
    remove      (         cb )  Remove location.
    set         ( val,    cb )  Writes val to location.                              Writing null == calling remove().
    update      ( {vals}, cb )  Writes vals to their respective relative locations.  Writing null == calling remove().

 ── Query Methods ──

    orderByChild    (key)       Order children at location by the value of specified grandchild key.
    orderByKey      ()          Order children at location by child keys.
    orderByValue    ()          Order children at location by child values.

    limitToFirst    (num)       Max number of children to return from the beginning.  (Based on orderBy*.)
    limitToLast     (num)       Max number of children to return from the end.        (Based on orderBy*.)
    startAt         (val, key)  Return children who's val (and key, optionally) are >= the specified val (and key, optionally).
    endAt           (val, key)  Return children who's val (and key, optionally) are <= the specified val (and key, optionally).
    equalTo         (val)       Return children who's val is == the specified val.

 ── Read Methods ──

    on           ( event, cb )  Invokes callback every time the specified event happens at location.
    once         ( event, cb )  Like `on`, but only invokes the callback the first time the event happens.

 ── Events ──

    child_added     Triggered once for each existing child, then when a new child is added.
    child_changed   Triggered any time a child (including descendants) is modified.
    child_moved     See docs.
    child_removed   Triggered when an immediate child is removed.
    value           Triggered once when listener attached, then every time the value (including children) changes.