Skip to content
Back to the library
FREE
Database

azure-cosmos-java

Azure Cosmos DB SDK for Java. NoSQL database operations with global distribution, multi-model support, and reactive patterns.

Try it — you'd type
Help me with azure-cosmos-java.
And you'd get back
Azure Cosmos DB SDK for Java.
NoSQL database operations with global distribution, multi-model support, and reactive patterns.
Adding it takes about 30 seconds
1

Click Get this skill. Grab the .md file, one click, no account needed.

2

Add it to Claude. Drop it into ~/.claude/skills/. Claude picks it up the next time you open a session.

3

Ask normally. Type your question. The skill triggers on the right keywords — you don't have to remember anything.

Unlock all skills — $25
You might also like
Migration Generator

Generate database migration files

Query Optimizer

Analyze and optimize slow database queries

Schema Designer

Design database schema from requirements

Seed Data Generator

Generate database seed/sample data

Index Advisor

Suggest database indexes based on query patterns

ORM Model Generator

Generate ORM models from database schema

SKILL FILEWhat Claude actually reads
Client library for Azure Cosmos DB NoSQL API with global distribution and reactive patterns.

## Installation

```xml
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.azure</groupId>
    <artifactId>azure-cosmos</artifactId>
    <version>LATEST</version>
</dependency>
```

Or use Azure SDK BOM:

```xml
<dependencyManagement>
    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>com.azure</groupId>
            <artifactId>azure-sdk-bom</artifactId>
            <version>{bom_version}</version>
            <type>pom</type>
            <scope>import</scope>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>
</dependencyManagement>

<dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>com.azure</groupId>
        <artifactId>azure-cosmos</artifactId>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>
```

## Environment Variables

```bash
COSMOS_ENDPOINT=https://<account>.documents.azure.com:443/
COSMOS_KEY=<your-primary-key>
```

## Authentication

### Key-based Authentication

```java
import com.azure.cosmos.CosmosClient;
import com.azure.cosmos.CosmosClientBuilder;

CosmosClient client = new CosmosClientBuilder()
    .endpoint(System.getenv("COSMOS_ENDPOINT"))
    .key(System.getenv("COSMOS_KEY"))
    .buildClient();
```

### Async Client

```java
import com.azure.cosmos.CosmosAsyncClient;

CosmosAsyncClient asyncClient = new CosmosClientBuilder()
    .endpoint(serviceEndpoint)
    .key(key)
    .buildAsyncClient();
```

### With Customizations

```java
import com.azure.cosmos.ConsistencyLevel;
import java.util.Arrays;

CosmosClient client = new CosmosClientBuilder()
    .endpoint(serviceEndpoint)
    .key(key)
    .directMode(directConnectionConfig, gatewayConnectionConfig)
    .consistencyLevel(ConsistencyLevel.SESSION)
    .connectionSharingAcrossClientsEnabled(true)
    .contentResponseOnWriteEnabled(true)
    .userAgentSuffix("my-application")
    .preferredRegions(Arrays.asList("West US", "East US"))
    .buildClient();
```

## Client Hierarchy

| Class | Purpose |
|-------|---------|
| `CosmosClient` / `CosmosAsyncClient` | Account-level operations |
| `CosmosDatabase` / `CosmosAsyncDatabase` | Database operations |
| `CosmosContainer` / `CosmosAsyncContainer` | Container/item operations |

## Core Workflow

### Create Database

```java
// Sync
client.createDatabaseIfNotExists("myDatabase")
    .map(response -> client.getDatabase(response.getProperties().getId()));

// Async with chaining
asyncClient.createDatabaseIfNotExists("myDatabase")
    .map(response -> asyncClient.getDatabase(response.getProperties().getId()))
    .subscribe(database -> System.out.println("Created: " + database.getId()));
```

### Create Container

```java
asyncClient.createDatabaseIfNotExists("myDatabase")
    .flatMap(dbResponse -> {
        String databaseId = dbResponse.getProperties().getId();
        return asyncClient.getDatabase(databaseId)
            .createContainerIfNotExists("myContainer", "/partitionKey")
            .map(containerResponse -> asyncClient.getDatabase(databaseId)
                .getContainer(containerResponse.getProperties().getId()));
    })
    .subscribe(container -> System.out.println("Container: " + container.getId()));
```

### CRUD Operations

```java
import com.azure.cosmos.models.PartitionKey;

CosmosAsyncContainer container = asyncClient
    .getDatabase("myDatabase")
    .getContainer("myContainer");

// Create
container.createItem(new User("1", "John Doe", "john@example.com"))
    .flatMap(response -> {
        System.out.println("Created: " + response.getItem());
        // Read
        return container.readItem(
            response.getItem().getId(),
            new PartitionKey(response.getItem().getId()),
            User.class);
    })
    .flatMap(response -> {
        System.out.println("Read: " + response.getItem());
        // Update
        User user = response.getItem();
        user.setEmail("john.doe@example.com");
        return container.replaceItem(
            user,
            user.getId(),
            new PartitionKey(user.getId()));
    })
    .flatMap(response -> {
        // Delete
        return container.deleteItem(
            response.getItem().getId(),
            new PartitionKey(response.getItem().getId()));
    })
    .block();
```

### Query Documents

```java
import com.azure.cosmos.models.CosmosQueryRequestOptions;
import com.azure.cosmos.util.CosmosPagedIterable;

CosmosContainer container = client.getDatabase("myDatabase").getContainer("myContainer");

String query = "SELECT * FROM c WHERE c.status = @status";
CosmosQueryRequestOptions options = new CosmosQueryRequestOptions();

CosmosPagedIterable<User> results = container.queryItems(
    query,
    options,
    User.class
);

results.forEach(user -> System.out.println("User: " + user.getName()));
```

## Key Concepts

### Partition Keys

Choose a partition key with:
- High cardinality (many distinct values)
- Even distribution of data and requests
- Frequently used in queries

### Consistency Levels

| Level | Guarantee |
|-------|-----------|
| Strong | Linearizability |
| Bounded Staleness | Consistent prefix with bounded lag |
| Session | Consistent prefix within session |
| Consistent Prefix | Reads never see out-of-order writes |
| Eventual | No ordering guarantee |

### Request Units (RUs)

All operations consume RUs. Check response headers:

```java
CosmosItemResponse<User> response = container.createItem(user);
System.out.println("RU charge: " + response.getRequestCharge());
```

## Best Practices

1. **Reuse CosmosClient** — Create once, reuse throughout application
2. **Use async client** for high-throughput scenarios
3. **Choose partition key carefully** — Affects performance and scalability
4. **Enable content response on write** for immediate access to created items
5. **Configure preferred regions** for geo-distributed applications
6. **Handle 429 errors** with retry policies (built-in by default)
7. **Use direct mode** for lowest latency in production

## Error Handling

```java
import com.azure.cosmos.CosmosException;

try {
    container.createItem(item);
} catch (CosmosException e) {
    System.err.println("Status: " + e.getStatusCode());
    System.err.println("Message: " + e.getMessage());
    System.err.println("Request charge: " + e.getRequestCharge());
    
    if (e.getStatusCode() == 409) {
        System.err.println("Item already exists");
    } else if (e.getStatusCode() == 429) {
        System.err.println("Rate limited, retry after: " + e.getRetryAfterDuration());
    }
}
```

## Reference Links

| Resource | URL |
|----------|-----|
| Maven Package | https://central.sonatype.com/artifact/com.azure/azure-cosmos |
| API Documentation | https://azuresdkdocs.z19.web.core.windows.net/java/azure-cosmos/latest/index.html |
| Product Docs | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cosmos-db/ |
| Samples | https://github.com/Azure-Samples/azure-cosmos-java-sql-api-samples |
| Performance Guide | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cosmos-db/performance-tips-java-sdk-v4-sql |
| Troubleshooting | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cosmos-db/troubleshoot-java-sdk-v4-sql |

## When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.