I want to execute this query
select * from properties where propertyCode IN ("field1", "field2", "field3")
How can I achieve this in IndexedDB
I tried this thing
getData : function (indexName, params, objectStoreName) {
var defer = $q.defer(),
db, transaction, index, cursorRequest, request, objectStore, resultSet, dataList = [];
request = indexedDB.open('test');
request.onsuccess = function (event) {
db = request.result;
transaction = db.transaction(objectStoreName);
objectStore = transaction.objectStore(objectStoreName);
index = objectStore.index(indexName);
cursorRequest = index.openCursor(IDBKeyRange.only(params));
cursorRequest.onsuccess = function () {
resultSet = cursorRequest.result;
if(resultSet){
dataList.push(resultSet.value);
resultSet.continue();
}
else{
console.log(dataList);
defer.resolve(dataList);
}
};
cursorRequest.onerror = function (event) {
console.log('Error while opening cursor');
}
}
request.onerror = function (event) {
console.log('Not able to get access to DB in executeQuery');
}
return defer.promise;
But didn't worked. I tried google but couldn't find exact answer.
If you consider that IN is essentially equivalent to field1 == propertyCode OR field2 == propertyCode, then you could say that IN is just another way of using OR.
IndexedDB cannot do OR (unions) from a single request.
Generally, your only recourse is to do separate requests, then merge them in memory. Generally, this will not have great performance. If you are dealing with a lot of objects, you might want to consider giving up altogether on this approach and thinking of how to avoid such an approach.
Another approach is to iterate over all objects in memory, and then filter those that don't meet your conditions. Again, terrible performance.
Here is a gimmicky hack that might give you decent performance, but it requires some extra work and a tiny bit of storage overhead:
Store an extra field in your objects. For example, plan to use a property named hasPropertyCodeX.
Whenever any of the 3 properties are true (has the right code), set the field (as in, just make it a property of the object, its value is irrelevant).
When none of the 3 properties are true, delete the property from the object.
Whenever the object is modified, update the derived property (set or unset it as appropriate).
Create an index on this derived property in indexedDB.
Open a cursor over the index. Only objects with a property present will appear in the cursor results.
Example for 3rd approach
var request = indexedDB.open(...);
request.onupgradeneeded = upgrade;
function upgrade(event) {
var db = event.target.result;
var store = db.createObjectStore('store', ...);
// Create another index for the special property
var index = store.createIndex('hasPropCodeX', 'hasPropCodeX');
}
function putThing(db, thing) {
// Before storing the thing, secretly update the hasPropCodeX value
// which is derived from the thing's other properties
if(thing.field1 === 'propCode' || thing.field2 === 'propCode' ||
thing.field3 === 'propCode') {
thing.hasPropCodeX = 1;
} else {
delete thing.hasPropCodeX;
}
var tx = db.transaction('store', 'readwrite');
var store = tx.objectStore('store');
store.put(thing);
}
function getThingsWherePropCodeXInAnyof3Fields(db, callback) {
var things = [];
var tx = db.transaction('store');
var store = tx.objectStore('store');
var index = store.index('hasPropCodeX');
var request = index.openCursor();
request.onsuccess = function(event) {
var cursor = event.target.result;
if(cursor) {
var thing = cursor.value;
things.push(thing);
cursor.continue();
} else {
callback(things);
}
};
request.onerror = function(event) {
console.error(event.target.error);
callback(things);
};
}
// Now that you have an api, here is some example calling code
// Not bothering to promisify it
function getData() {
var request = indexedDB.open(...);
request.onsuccess = function(event) {
var db = event.target.result;
getThingsWherePropCodeXInAnyof3Fields(db, function(things) {
console.log('Got %s things', things.length);
for(let thing of things) {
console.log('Thing', thing);
}
});
};
}
Related
Question: How do I store a large array full of objects, all of which have 5 properties and all except the id property must be updated. Further more, why won't the code below work and how can I format it to work with the main question?
Info I've viewed:
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/IDBObjectStore/openCursor
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/IndexedDB_API/Using_IndexedDB
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/IDBObjectStore/createIndex
Note: I am aware of the setInterval and its inefficiency, it is for testing purposes so I do not have to click many times to check for a result.
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
let count =0;
let storeBuilt = false;
const dbName = "the_name";
let version=82;
let storeName= "store82";
let storeBuilding= false;
setInterval(build,1000/24);
function build(){
hello()
}
function hello(){
let customerData = [];
for(let i=0;i<=50000;i++){
customerData.push({name:"bob",minX:random(),minY:random(),maxX:random(),maxY:random(),id:random()})
}
let request = indexedDB.open(dbName, version);
request.onsuccess= function(event){
let db = event.target.result;
let transaction = db.transaction( storeName,"readwrite").objectStore(storeName);
if( storeBuilding=== false&& storeBuilt=== false){
storeBuilding= true;
let additem = addData(customerData, transaction);
additem.onsuccess= function(e){storeBuilt=true}
} else if (storeBuilt=== true){
let updateitem= updateData(customerData, transaction);
}
};
request.onupgradeneeded = function(event) {
let db = event.target.result;
// Create an objectStore to hold information about our customers. We're
// going to use "ssn" as our key path because it's guaranteed to be
// unique - or at least that's what I was told during the kickoff meeting.
let objectStore = db.createObjectStore(storeName, {keyPath:"names",autoIncrement:true});
objectStore.createIndex("name","name",{unique:true});
// Use transaction oncomplete to make sure the objectStore creation is
// finished before adding data into it.
objectStore.transaction.oncomplete = function(event) {
// Store values in the newly created objectStore.
let customerObjectStore = db.transaction(storeName, "readwrite").objectStore(storeName);
}
};}
function random (){
return (Math.floor((Math.random() * 10) + 1))
}
function addData(data,transaction){
return transaction.add(data)
}
function updateData(data,transaction){
let openCursor = transaction.index("name").openCursor();
openCursor.onsuccess= function(event){
let cursor = event.target.result;
if (cursor){
alert (cursor);
for(let I in data){
let item = data[I];
if(item.id === cursor.value.id){
let updateProperty = cursor.value;
updateProperty.minX = item.minX;
cursor.update(updateProperty);
cursor.continue()
}
}
}{alert("none")}
}
}
function deleteData(data,transaction){
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
Not sure if I understand the problem clearly, but generally you will want to load the objects from the object store, modify each object's properties, and then store the objects in the object store. There are several ways to do this. One way is to use cursor.update, but I don't think you need to do this at all. Just overwrite the objects.
function storeThings(db, things, callback) {
var txn = db.transaction('store82', 'readwrite');
txn.oncomplete = callback;
var store = txn.objectStore('store82');
for(var thing of things) {
store.put(thing);
}
}
function open(callback) {
var request = indexedDB.open();
request.onsuccess = _ => callback(request.result);
}
var things = [{id:1}, {id:2}, {id:3}];
open(db => storeThings(db, things, _ => console.log('done')));
I am using IDBObjectStore.prototype.put to store the objects. The put method will either create or overwrite an object in the store. It will create a new object in the store when no matching object is found based on the keypath. It will replace an existing object in the store when a matching object is found.
In your case, you are using ssn string as a keypath. So, in other words, it will create new people if ssn not found, or overwrite people if ssn found. You just need to make sure that the ssn property is defined within each person object you pass to put, or indexedDB will complain.
I'm trying to use indexedDB.
Some parts of my code works.
In the following example, the first function adds server in my DB, however in Chrome debug console there is an undefined message not related to any line. The server is already added though.
The second function puts records in an array, there is also an undefined message not related to any line.
If I do a console.log(servers); just before return servers; I can see the array content, however if I call the function somewhere else in my code, the returned object is undefined.
var dbName = 'myDBname',
dbServersStoreName = 'servers',
dbVersion = 1,
openDBforCreation = indexedDB.open(dbName, dbVersion);
openDBforCreation.onupgradeneeded = function(e) {
var db = e.target.result;
var objStore = db.createObjectStore(dbServersStoreName, { keyPath: "alias"
});
var index = objStore.createIndex("serversAlias", ["alias"]);
};
function addServerInDB(serverAlias,serverAddress,user,pwd){
var myDB = indexedDB.open(dbName, dbVersion);
myDB.onerror = function() {
var notification = document.querySelector('.mdl-js-snackbar');
notification.MaterialSnackbar.showSnackbar(
{message: 'Error while trying to access internal database'});
}
myDB.onsuccess = function(e) {
var db = e.target.result,
request = db.transaction([dbServersStoreName],
"readwrite").objectStore("servers")
.put({alias:''+serverAlias+'',
address:''+serverAddress+'', login:''+user+'',
passwd:''+pwd+''});
request.onsuccess = function(){
var notification = document.querySelector('.mdl-js-snackbar');
notification.MaterialSnackbar.showSnackbar(
{message: 'Server added'});
}
}
};
function listServersInDB(){
var myDB= indexedDB.open(dbName, dbVersion);
myDB.onerror = function() {
var notification = document.querySelector('.mdl-js-snackbar');
notification.MaterialSnackbar.showSnackbar(
{message: 'Error while trying to access internal database'});
}
myDB.onsuccess = function(e) {
var servers = new Array(),
db = e.target.result,
request = db.transaction(["servers"], "readwrite")
.objectStore("servers")
.openCursor();
request.onsuccess = function(e){
var cursor = e.target.result;
if(cursor){
servers.push(cursor.value);
cursor.continue();
}
return servers;
}
}
};
I do not understand where this undefined comes from and if that is why the listServersInDB() function doesn't work.
You need to learn more about how to write asynchronous Javascript. There are too many errors in your code to even begin reasoning about the problem.
Briefly, don't do this:
function open() {
var openDatabaseRequest = ...;
}
openDatabaseRequest.foo = ...;
Instead, do this:
function open() {
var openDatabaseRequest = ...;
openDatabaseRequest.foo = ...;
}
Next, you don't need to try and open the same database multiple times. Why are you calling indexedDB.open twice? You can open a database to both install it and to start using it immediately. All using the same connection.
Next, I'd advise you don't name the database open request as 'myDB'. This is misleading. This is an IDBRequest object, and more specifically, an IDBOpenRequest object. A request isn't a database.
Next, you cannot return the servers array from the request.onsuccess at the end. For one this returns to nowhere and might be source of undefined. Two this returns every single time the cursor is advanced, so it makes no sense at all to return return servers multiple times. Three is that this returns too early, because it cannot return until all servers enumerated. To properly return you need to wait until all servers listed. This means using an asynchronous code pattern. For example, here is how you would do it with a callback:
function listServers(db, callbackFunction) {
var servers = [];
var tx = db.transaction(...);
var store = tx.objectStore(...);
var request = store.openCursor();
request.onsuccess = function() {
var cursor = request.result;
if(cursor) {
servers.push(cursor.value);
cursor.continue();
}
};
tx.oncomplete = function() {
callbackFunction(servers);
};
return 'Requested servers to be loaded ... eventually callback will happen';
}
function connectAndList() {
var request = indexedDB.open(...);
request.onsuccess = function() {
var db = request.result;
listServers(db, onServersListed);
};
}
function onServersListed(servers) {
console.log('Loaded servers array from db:', servers);
}
When you call a function that does not return a value, it returns undefined. All functions in JavaScript return undefined unless you explicitly return something else.
When you call a function from the devtools console, and that function returns undefined, then the console prints out '-> undefined'. This is an ordinary aspect of using the console.
If you want to get a function that returns the list of servers as an array, well, you cannot. The only way to do that in a pretend sort of way, is to use an 'async' function, together with promises.
async function getServers() {
var db = await new Promise(resolve => {
var request = indexedDB.open(...);
request.onsuccess = () => resolve(request.result);
});
var servers = await new Promise(resolve => {
var tx = db.transaction(...);
var request = tx.objectStore(...).getAll();
request.onsuccess = () => resolve(request.result);
});
return servers;
}
One more edit, if you want to call this from the console, use await getServers();. If you do not use the top-level await in console, then you will get the typical return value of async function which is a Promise object. To turn a promise into its return value you must await it.
Clear and helpfull explanations, Thank you.
I open database multiple times beacause the first time is for checking if DB needs an upgrade and doing something if needed. I'll add 'db.close()' in each functions.
Then, I tried your exemple and the result is the same:
console.log('Loaded servers array from db:', servers); works
but return servers; Don't work.
And in console there is already an undefined without related line :
Screenshot
I have an OK understanding of JS but am ultimately still learning. I'm trying to recreate a PHP/mySQL project over to IndexedDB and can't work out why I'm seeing an error here.
The IndexedDB connection works as expected. The first function (createItem) functions fine, however the second function (getItems) is returning an error claiming that the "db" variable is undefined. It's a global variable so should be accessible by the function's scope, and the createItem function has no problem using it. Can anyone help me see what I've missed here.
// GLOBAL DB VAR
var db;
// WAIT FOR DOM
document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(){
// IF INDEXED DB CAPABLE
if("indexedDB" in window) {
// OPEN DB
var openRequest = indexedDB.open("newTabTest",1);
// CREATE NEW / UPDATE
openRequest.onupgradeneeded = function(e) {
// Notify user here: creating database (first time use)
var thisDB = e.target.result;
// Create "items" table if it doesn't already exist
if(!thisDB.objectStoreNames.contains("items")) {
var store = thisDB.createObjectStore("items", {keyPath: "id", autoIncrement: true});
store.createIndex("name","name", {unique:true});
store.createIndex("folder","folder", {unique:false});
store.createIndex("dial","dial", {unique:false});
}
}
openRequest.onsuccess = function(e) {
// Success- set db to target result.
db = e.target.result;
}
openRequest.onerror = function(e) {
// DB ERROR :-(
}
}
},false);
// CREATE ITEM FUNCTION
function createItem(n,u,f,c) {
var transaction = db.transaction(["items"],"readwrite");
var store = transaction.objectStore("items");
var item = {
name: n,
url: u,
folder: f,
colour: c,
dial: 0,
order: 100
}
var request = store.add(item);
request.onerror = function(e) {
console.log("An error occured.");
}
request.onsuccess = function(e) {
console.log("Successfully added.")
}
};
// GET ITEM(S) FUNCTION
// Specify index and key value OR omit for all
function getItems(callback, ind, key) {
var transaction = db.transaction(["items"],"readonly");
var store = transaction.objectStore("items");
var response = [];
// If args are omitted - grab all items
if(!ind | !key) {
var cursor = store.openCursor();
cursor.onsuccess = function(e) {
var res = e.target.result;
if(res) {
var r = {
"name": res.value['name'],
"url": res.value['url'],
"folder": res.value['folder'],
"colour": res.value['colour'],
"dial": res.value['dial'],
"order": res.value['order']
};
response.push(r);
res.continue();
}
}
cursor.oncomplete = function() {
callback(response);
}
} else {
// If both args are specified query specified index
store = store.index(ind);
var range = IDBKeyRange.bound(key, key);
store.openCursor(range).onsuccess = function(e) {
var res = e.target.result;
if(res) {
var r = {
"name": res.value['name'],
"url": res.value['url'],
"folder": res.value['folder'],
"colour": res.value['colour'],
"dial": res.value['dial'],
"order": res.value['order']
};
response.push(r);
res.continue();
}
}
cursor.oncomplete = function() {
callback(response);
}
}
};
As you've figured out in comments, you do have to stick the db-dependent actions inside a function called from a success handler.
This callback-based programming quickly becomes a pain, and a common solution for that is to use promises.
However, making IndexedDB work with promises is still work-in-progress (see https://github.com/inexorabletash/indexeddb-promises if you're interested).
If your goal is to get something done (and not to learn the bare IndexedDB APIs), perhaps you'd be better off finding a wrapper library for IndexedDB (can't recommend one though, since I've not tried working seriously with IDB yet).
I would not recommend using a variable like 'db' as you have in your example. If you are new to reading and writing asynchronous Javascript, you are just going to cause yourself a lot of pain. There are better ways to do it. It takes several pages to explain and is explained in many other questions on StackOverflow, so instead, very briefly, consider rewriting your code to do something like the following:
function createItem(db, ...) {
var tx = db.transaction(...);
// ...
}
function openIndexedDBThenCreateItem(...) {
var openRequest = indexedDB.open(...);
openRequest.onsuccess = function(event) {
var db = event.target.result;
createItem(db, ...);
};
}
function getItems(db, callback, ...) {
var tx = db.transaction(...);
var items = [];
tx.oncomplete = function(event) {
callback(items);
};
// ...
var request = store.openCursor(...);
request.onsuccess = function(event) {
var request = event.target;
var cursor = event.target.result;
if(cursor) {
var item = cursor.value;
items.push(item);
cursor.continue();
}
};
}
function openIndexedDBThenGetItems(db, callback, ...) {
var openRequest = indexedDB.open(...);
openRequest.onsuccess = function(event) {
var db = event.target.result;
getItems(db, callback, ...);
};
}
Also, you don't need to wait for DOMContentLoaded to start using indexedDB. It is immediately available.
If you get the above code, then you can consider a further improvement of adding a simple helper function:
function openIndexedDB(callback) {
var openRequest = indexedDB.open(...);
openRequest.onerror = callback;
openRequest.onsuccess = callback;
}
And then rewrite the examples like this:
function openIndexedDBThenCreateItem(...) {
openIndexedDB(function onOpen(event) {
if(event.type !== 'success') {
console.error(event);
} else {
var db = event.target.result;
createItem(db, ...);
}
});
}
function openIndexedDBThenGetItems(...) {
openIndexedDB(function onOpen(event) {
if(event.type !== 'success') {
console.error(event);
} else {
var db = event.target.result;
getItems(db, ...);
}
});
}
I have a similar question here, but I thought I'd ask it a different way to cast a wider net. I haven't come across a workable solution yet (that I know of).
I'd like for XCode to issue a JavaScript command and get a return value back from an executeSql callback.
From the research that I've been reading, I can't issue a synchronous executeSql command. The closest I came was trying to Spin Lock until I got the callback. But that hasn't worked yet either. Maybe my spinning isn't giving the callback chance to come back (See code below).
Q: How can jQuery have an async=false argument when it comes to Ajax? Is there something different about XHR than there is about the executeSql command?
Here is my proof-of-concept so far: (Please don't laugh)
// First define any dom elements that are referenced more than once.
var dom = {};
dom.TestID = $('#TestID'); // <input id="TestID">
dom.msg = $('#msg'); // <div id="msg"></div>
window.dbo = openDatabase('POC','1.0','Proof-Of-Concept', 1024*1024); // 1MB
!function($, window, undefined) {
var Variables = {}; // Variables that are to be passed from one function to another.
Variables.Ready = new $.Deferred();
Variables.DropTableDeferred = new $.Deferred();
Variables.CreateTableDeferred = new $.Deferred();
window.dbo.transaction(function(myTrans) {
myTrans.executeSql(
'drop table Test;',
[],
Variables.DropTableDeferred.resolve()
// ,WebSqlError
);
});
$.when(Variables.DropTableDeferred).done(function() {
window.dbo.transaction(function(myTrans) {
myTrans.executeSql(
'CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Test'
+ '(TestID Integer NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY'
+ ',TestSort Int'
+ ');',
[],
Variables.CreateTableDeferred.resolve(),
WebSqlError
);
});
});
$.when(Variables.CreateTableDeferred).done(function() {
for (var i=0;i < 10;i++) {
myFunction(i);
};
Variables.Ready.resolve();
function myFunction(i) {
window.dbo.transaction(function(myTrans) {
myTrans.executeSql(
'INSERT INTO Test(TestID,TestSort) VALUES(?,?)',
[
i
,i+100000
]
,function() {}
,WebSqlError
)
});
};
});
$.when(Variables.Ready).done(function() {
$('#Save').removeAttr('disabled');
});
}(jQuery, window);
!function($, window, undefined) {
var Variables = {};
$(document).on('click','#Save',function() {
var local = {};
local.result = barcode.Scan(dom.TestID.val());
console.log(local.result);
});
var mySuccess = function(transaction, argument) {
var local = {};
for (local.i=0; local.i < argument.rows.length; local.i++) {
local.qry = argument.rows.item(local.i);
Variables.result = local.qry.TestSort;
}
Variables.Return = true;
};
var myError = function(transaction, argument) {
dom.msg.text(argument.message);
Variables.result = '';
Variables.Return = true;
}
var barcode = {};
barcode.Scan = function(argument) {
var local = {};
Variables.result = '';
Variables.Return = false;
window.dbo.transaction(function(myTrans) {
myTrans.executeSql(
'SELECT * FROM Test WHERE TestID=?'
,[argument]
,mySuccess
,myError
)
});
for (local.I = 0;local.I < 3; local.I++) { // Try a bunch of times.
if (Variables.Return) break; // Gets set in mySuccess and myError
SpinLock(250);
}
return Variables.result;
}
var SpinLock = function(milliseconds) {
var local = {};
local.StartTime = Date.now();
do {
} while (Date.now() < local.StartTime + milliseconds);
}
function WebSqlError(tx,result) {
if (dom.msg.text()) {
dom.msg.append('<br>');
}
dom.msg.append(result.message);
}
}(jQuery, window);
Is there something different about XHR than there is about the executeSql command?
Kind of.
How can jQuery have an async=false argument when it comes to Ajax?
Ajax, or rather XMLHttpRequest, isn't strictly limited to being asynchronous -- though, as the original acronym suggested, it is preferred.
jQuery.ajax()'s async option is tied to the boolean async argument of xhr.open():
void open(
DOMString method,
DOMString url,
optional boolean async, // <---
optional DOMString user,
optional DOMString password
);
The Web SQL Database spec does also define a Synchronous database API. However, it's only available to implementations of the WorkerUtils interface, defined primarily for Web Workers:
window.dbo = openDatabaseSync('POC','1.0','Proof-Of-Concept', 1024*1024);
var results;
window.dbo.transaction(function (trans) {
results = trans.executeSql('...');
});
If the environment running the script hasn't implemented this interface, then you're stuck with the asynchronous API and returning the result will not be feasible. You can't force blocking/waiting of asynchronous tasks for the reason you suspected:
Maybe my spinning isn't giving the callback chance to come back (See code below).
I'm using a proxy class as the data I have is a reference to a Firebase location that stores my object but I want to act as if I have the object itself. I've got something that works fine but I would like to improve it, the key criteria being to reduce repetition. I suspect something is possible by inspecting the Map class and using apply() but I don't know quite how to do that (or if there is a better solution).
I think it would also be useful if the solution could be generalised to support any class, not just the Map class.
var Map = function() {
...
};
var MapProxy = function(mapRef) {
this.mapRef = mapRef;
};
Map.prototype.addToken = function(portrait, newLocation) {
...
};
Map.prototype.removeToken = function(token) {
...
};
Map.prototype.moveToken = function(token, newLocation) {
...
};
MapProxy.prototype.addToken = function(portrait, newLocation) {
var mapRef = this.mapRef;
mapRef.once('value', function(data) {
var map = new Map();
map.init(mapRef, data.val());
map.addToken(portrait, newLocation);
});
};
MapProxy.prototype.removeToken = function(token) {
var mapRef = this.mapRef;
mapRef.once('value', function(data) {
var map = new Map();
map.init(mapRef, data.val());
map.removeToken(token);
});
};
MapProxy.prototype.moveToken = function(token, newLocation) {
var mapRef = this.mapRef;
mapRef.once('value', function(data) {
var map = new Map();
map.init(mapRef, data.val());
map.moveToken(token, newLocation);
});
};
var mapProxy = new MapProxy(mapRef);
Think I solved it myself in the end.
var FirebaseProxy = function(classToProxy, firebaseRef) {
var key,
self = this;
self.proxy = classToProxy;
self.firebaseRef = firebaseRef;
for (key in self.proxy.prototype) {
if (typeof self.proxy.prototype[key] === 'function') {
(function(inner_key) {
self[inner_key] = function ()
{
var args = arguments;
self.firebaseRef.once('value', function(data) {
var proxiedInstance = new self.proxy();
if (typeof proxiedInstance.init === 'function') {
proxiedInstance.init(self.firebaseRef, data.val());
}
proxiedInstance[inner_key].apply(proxiedInstance, args);
});
}
})(key);
}
}
}
I don't think I completely follow what you're trying to accomplish. Could you forego the proxy and just use something like this?
var Map = function(mapRef) {
mapRef.on('value', function(snap) {
this.init(snap.val());
});
};
Map.prototype.init = function(data) {
// update internal state with new data from Firebase ...
};
...
Since 'value' will fire every time the data at mapRef changes, your map object will always have the latest data.
It's worth noting that if you're going to be needing the latest map data on a regular basis, you should probably use .on(), not .once(). .once() will go and retrieve the data from the servers every time you ask for it, while .on() will always have the latest data cached (since it subscribes to updates). So it'll be faster and use less bandwidth.