herodb/instructions/redis_basics.md
2025-08-16 08:25:25 +02:00

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Got it 👍 — lets break this down properly.
Redis has two broad classes youre asking about:
1. **Basic key-space functions** (SET, GET, DEL, EXISTS, etc.)
2. **Iteration commands** (`SCAN`, `SSCAN`, `HSCAN`, `ZSCAN`)
And for each Ill show:
* What it does
* How it works at a high level
* Its **RESP protocol implementation** (the actual wire format).
---
# 1. Basic Key-Space Commands
### `SET key value`
* Stores a string value at a key.
* Overwrites if the key already exists.
**Protocol (RESP2):**
```
*3
$3
SET
$3
foo
$3
bar
```
(client sends: array of 3 bulk strings: `["SET", "foo", "bar"]`)
**Reply:**
```
+OK
```
---
### `GET key`
* Retrieves the string value stored at the key.
* Returns `nil` if key doesnt exist.
**Protocol:**
```
*2
$3
GET
$3
foo
```
**Reply:**
```
$3
bar
```
(or `$-1` for nil)
---
### `DEL key [key ...]`
* Removes one or more keys.
* Returns number of keys actually removed.
**Protocol:**
```
*2
$3
DEL
$3
foo
```
**Reply:**
```
:1
```
(integer reply = number of deleted keys)
---
### `EXISTS key [key ...]`
* Checks if one or more keys exist.
* Returns count of existing keys.
**Protocol:**
```
*2
$6
EXISTS
$3
foo
```
**Reply:**
```
:1
```
---
### `KEYS pattern`
* Returns all keys matching a glob-style pattern.
⚠️ Not efficient in production (O(N)), better to use `SCAN`.
**Protocol:**
```
*2
$4
KEYS
$1
*
```
**Reply:**
```
*2
$3
foo
$3
bar
```
(array of bulk strings with key names)
---
# 2. Iteration Commands (`SCAN` family)
### `SCAN cursor [MATCH pattern] [COUNT n]`
* Iterates the keyspace incrementally.
* Client keeps sending back the cursor from previous call until it returns `0`.
**Protocol example:**
```
*2
$4
SCAN
$1
0
```
**Reply:**
```
*2
$1
0
*2
$3
foo
$3
bar
```
Explanation:
* First element = new cursor (`"0"` means iteration finished).
* Second element = array of keys returned in this batch.
---
### `HSCAN key cursor [MATCH pattern] [COUNT n]`
* Like `SCAN`, but iterates fields of a hash.
**Protocol:**
```
*3
$5
HSCAN
$3
myh
$1
0
```
**Reply:**
```
*2
$1
0
*4
$5
field
$5
value
$5
age
$2
42
```
(Array of alternating field/value pairs)
---
### `SSCAN key cursor [MATCH pattern] [COUNT n]`
* Iterates members of a set.
Protocol and reply structure same as SCAN.
---
### `ZSCAN key cursor [MATCH pattern] [COUNT n]`
* Iterates members of a sorted set with scores.
* Returns alternating `member`, `score`.
---
# Quick Comparison
| Command | Purpose | Return Type |
| -------- | ----------------------------- | --------------------- |
| `SET` | Store a string value | Simple string `+OK` |
| `GET` | Retrieve a string value | Bulk string / nil |
| `DEL` | Delete keys | Integer (count) |
| `EXISTS` | Check existence | Integer (count) |
| `KEYS` | List all matching keys (slow) | Array of bulk strings |
| `SCAN` | Iterate over keys (safe) | `[cursor, array]` |
| `HSCAN` | Iterate over hash fields | `[cursor, array]` |
| `SSCAN` | Iterate over set members | `[cursor, array]` |
| `ZSCAN` | Iterate over sorted set | `[cursor, array]` |
##