JavaScript Firestore Auto ID

Firestore is a NoSQL document-oriented database that allows you to store and sync data in real time. When creating documents in Firestore, you have the option of providing a unique document ID or allowing Firestore to auto-generate an ID for you. In this guide, we will explore how to generate auto IDs in Javascript.

Auto ID Generation

Firestore provides a firestore.FieldValue class with a static method firestore.FieldValue.serverTimestamp() which returns a special sentinel value that can be used to generate a server timestamp. This sentinel value can also be used to generate a unique auto ID.

const { firestore } = require('firebase-admin');

const autoId = firestore().collection('myCollection').doc().id;
console.log(autoId);

The autoId variable will contain a unique auto ID generated by Firestore.

Advantages of Auto ID Generation

Using auto IDs has several advantages over manually generating unique IDs:

1. Simplicity: Auto IDs require less code to generate and maintain in your application.

2. Uniqueness: Auto IDs are guaranteed to be unique, eliminating the need for manual checks for duplicate IDs.

3. Scalability: Auto IDs allow for better scalability and performance when working with large data sets.

Conclusion

Firestore auto ID generation is a simple and effective way to generate unique document IDs in your Javascript applications. By using the firestore.FieldValue.serverTimestamp() sentinel value, Firestore can generate a unique ID for you, eliminating the need for manual ID generation and maintenance.