Mutations

Unlike queries, mutations are typically used to create/update/delete data or perform server side-effects. For this purpose, TanStack Query exports a injectMutation function.

Here's an example of a mutation that adds a new todo to the server:

angular-ts

@Component({
  template: `
    <div>
      @if (mutation.isPending()) {
        <span>Adding todo...</span>
      } @else if (mutation.isError()) {
        <div>An error occurred: {{ mutation.error()?.message }}</div>
      } @else if (mutation.isSuccess()) {
        <div>Todo added!</div>
      }
      <button (click)="mutation.mutate(1)">Create Todo</button>
    </div>
  `,
})
export class TodosComponent {
  todoService = inject(TodoService)
  mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
    mutationFn: (todoId: number) =>
      lastValueFrom(this.todoService.create(todoId)),
  }))
}

@Component({
  template: `
    <div>
      @if (mutation.isPending()) {
        <span>Adding todo...</span>
      } @else if (mutation.isError()) {
        <div>An error occurred: {{ mutation.error()?.message }}</div>
      } @else if (mutation.isSuccess()) {
        <div>Todo added!</div>
      }
      <button (click)="mutation.mutate(1)">Create Todo</button>
    </div>
  `,
})
export class TodosComponent {
  todoService = inject(TodoService)
  mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
    mutationFn: (todoId: number) =>
      lastValueFrom(this.todoService.create(todoId)),
  }))
}

A mutation can only be in one of the following states at any given moment:

isIdle or status === 'idle' - The mutation is currently idle or in a fresh/reset state
isPending or status === 'pending' - The mutation is currently running
isError or status === 'error' - The mutation encountered an error
isSuccess or status === 'success' - The mutation was successful and mutation data is available

Beyond those primary states, more information is available depending on the state of the mutation:

error - If the mutation is in an error state, the error is available via the error property.
data - If the mutation is in a success state, the data is available via the data property.

In the example above, you also saw that you can pass variables to your mutations function by calling the mutate function with a single variable or object.

Even with just variables, mutations aren't all that special, but when used with the onSuccess option, the Query Client's invalidateQueries method and the Query Client's setQueryData method, mutations become a very powerful tool.

Resetting Mutation State

It's sometimes the case that you need to clear the error or data of a mutation request. To do this, you can use the reset function to handle this:

angular-ts

@Component({
  standalone: true,
  selector: 'todo-item',
  imports: [ReactiveFormsModule],
  template: `
    <form [formGroup]="todoForm" (ngSubmit)="onCreateTodo()">
      @if (mutation.error()) {
        <h5 (click)="mutation.reset()">{{ mutation.error() }}</h5>
      }
      <input type="text" formControlName="title" />
      <br />
      <button type="submit">Create Todo</button>
    </form>
  `,
})
export class TodosComponent {
  mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
    mutationFn: createTodo,
  }))

  fb = inject(NonNullableFormBuilder)

  todoForm = this.fb.group({
    title: this.fb.control('', {
      validators: [Validators.required],
    }),
  })

  title = toSignal(this.todoForm.controls.title.valueChanges, {
    initialValue: '',
  })

  onCreateTodo = () => {
    this.mutation.mutate(this.title())
  }
}

@Component({
  standalone: true,
  selector: 'todo-item',
  imports: [ReactiveFormsModule],
  template: `
    <form [formGroup]="todoForm" (ngSubmit)="onCreateTodo()">
      @if (mutation.error()) {
        <h5 (click)="mutation.reset()">{{ mutation.error() }}</h5>
      }
      <input type="text" formControlName="title" />
      <br />
      <button type="submit">Create Todo</button>
    </form>
  `,
})
export class TodosComponent {
  mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
    mutationFn: createTodo,
  }))

  fb = inject(NonNullableFormBuilder)

  todoForm = this.fb.group({
    title: this.fb.control('', {
      validators: [Validators.required],
    }),
  })

  title = toSignal(this.todoForm.controls.title.valueChanges, {
    initialValue: '',
  })

  onCreateTodo = () => {
    this.mutation.mutate(this.title())
  }
}

Mutation Side Effects

injectMutation comes with some helper options that allow quick and easy side-effects at any stage during the mutation lifecycle. These come in handy for both invalidating and refetching queries after mutations and even optimistic updates

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  onMutate: (variables) => {
    // A mutation is about to happen!

    // Optionally return a context containing data to use when for example rolling back
    return { id: 1 }
  },
  onError: (error, variables, context) => {
    // An error happened!
    console.log(`rolling back optimistic update with id ${context.id}`)
  },
  onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
    // Boom baby!
  },
  onSettled: (data, error, variables, context) => {
    // Error or success... doesn't matter!
  },
}))

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  onMutate: (variables) => {
    // A mutation is about to happen!

    // Optionally return a context containing data to use when for example rolling back
    return { id: 1 }
  },
  onError: (error, variables, context) => {
    // An error happened!
    console.log(`rolling back optimistic update with id ${context.id}`)
  },
  onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
    // Boom baby!
  },
  onSettled: (data, error, variables, context) => {
    // Error or success... doesn't matter!
  },
}))

When returning a promise in any of the callback functions it will first be awaited before the next callback is called:

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  onSuccess: async () => {
    console.log("I'm first!")
  },
  onSettled: async () => {
    console.log("I'm second!")
  },
}))

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  onSuccess: async () => {
    console.log("I'm first!")
  },
  onSettled: async () => {
    console.log("I'm second!")
  },
}))

You might find that you want to trigger additional callbacks beyond the ones defined on injectMutation when calling mutate. This can be used to trigger component-specific side effects. To do that, you can provide any of the same callback options to the mutate function after your mutation variable. Supported options include: onSuccess, onError and onSettled. Please keep in mind that those additional callbacks won't run if your component gets destroyed before the mutation finishes.

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire first
  },
  onError: (error, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire first
  },
  onSettled: (data, error, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire first
  },
}))

mutation.mutate(todo, {
  onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire second!
  },
  onError: (error, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire second!
  },
  onSettled: (data, error, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire second!
  },
})

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire first
  },
  onError: (error, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire first
  },
  onSettled: (data, error, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire first
  },
}))

mutation.mutate(todo, {
  onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire second!
  },
  onError: (error, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire second!
  },
  onSettled: (data, error, variables, context) => {
    // I will fire second!
  },
})

Consecutive mutations

There is a slight difference in handling onSuccess, onError and onSettled callbacks when it comes to consecutive mutations. When passed to the mutate function, they will be fired up only once and only if the component is still active. This is due to the fact that mutation observer is removed and resubscribed every time when the mutate function is called. On the contrary, injectMutation handlers execute for each mutate call.

Be aware that most likely, mutationFn passed to injectMutation is asynchronous. In that case, the order in which mutations are fulfilled may differ from the order of mutate function calls.

export class Example {
  mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
    mutationFn: addTodo,
    onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
      // Will be called 3 times
    },
  }))

  doMutations() {
    ;['Todo 1', 'Todo 2', 'Todo 3'].forEach((todo) => {
      this.mutation.mutate(todo, {
        onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
          // Will execute only once, for the last mutation (Todo 3),
          // regardless which mutation resolves first
        },
      })
    })
  }
}

export class Example {
  mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
    mutationFn: addTodo,
    onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
      // Will be called 3 times
    },
  }))

  doMutations() {
    ;['Todo 1', 'Todo 2', 'Todo 3'].forEach((todo) => {
      this.mutation.mutate(todo, {
        onSuccess: (data, variables, context) => {
          // Will execute only once, for the last mutation (Todo 3),
          // regardless which mutation resolves first
        },
      })
    })
  }
}

Promises

Use mutateAsync instead of mutate to get a promise which will resolve on success or throw on an error. This can for example be used to compose side effects.

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({ mutationFn: addTodo }))

try {
  const todo = await mutation.mutateAsync(todo)
  console.log(todo)
} catch (error) {
  console.error(error)
} finally {
  console.log('done')
}

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({ mutationFn: addTodo }))

try {
  const todo = await mutation.mutateAsync(todo)
  console.log(todo)
} catch (error) {
  console.error(error)
} finally {
  console.log('done')
}

Retry

By default, TanStack Query will not retry a mutation on error, but it is possible with the retry option:

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  retry: 3,
}))

mutation = injectMutation(() => ({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  retry: 3,
}))

If mutations fail because the device is offline, they will be retried in the same order when the device reconnects.

Persist mutations

Mutations can be persisted to storage if needed and resumed at a later point. This can be done with the hydration functions:

const queryClient = new QueryClient()

// Define the "addTodo" mutation
queryClient.setMutationDefaults(['addTodo'], {
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  onMutate: async (variables) => {
    // Cancel current queries for the todos list
    await queryClient.cancelQueries({ queryKey: ['todos'] })

    // Create optimistic todo
    const optimisticTodo = { id: uuid(), title: variables.title }

    // Add optimistic todo to todos list
    queryClient.setQueryData(['todos'], (old) => [...old, optimisticTodo])

    // Return context with the optimistic todo
    return { optimisticTodo }
  },
  onSuccess: (result, variables, context) => {
    // Replace optimistic todo in the todos list with the result
    queryClient.setQueryData(['todos'], (old) =>
      old.map((todo) =>
        todo.id === context.optimisticTodo.id ? result : todo,
      ),
    )
  },
  onError: (error, variables, context) => {
    // Remove optimistic todo from the todos list
    queryClient.setQueryData(['todos'], (old) =>
      old.filter((todo) => todo.id !== context.optimisticTodo.id),
    )
  },
  retry: 3,
})

class someComponent {
  // Start mutation in some component:
  mutation = injectMutation(() => ({ mutationKey: ['addTodo'] }))

  someMethod() {
    mutation.mutate({ title: 'title' })
  }
}

// If the mutation has been paused because the device is for example offline,
// Then the paused mutation can be dehydrated when the application quits:
const state = dehydrate(queryClient)

// The mutation can then be hydrated again when the application is started:
hydrate(queryClient, state)

// Resume the paused mutations:
queryClient.resumePausedMutations()

const queryClient = new QueryClient()

// Define the "addTodo" mutation
queryClient.setMutationDefaults(['addTodo'], {
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  onMutate: async (variables) => {
    // Cancel current queries for the todos list
    await queryClient.cancelQueries({ queryKey: ['todos'] })

    // Create optimistic todo
    const optimisticTodo = { id: uuid(), title: variables.title }

    // Add optimistic todo to todos list
    queryClient.setQueryData(['todos'], (old) => [...old, optimisticTodo])

    // Return context with the optimistic todo
    return { optimisticTodo }
  },
  onSuccess: (result, variables, context) => {
    // Replace optimistic todo in the todos list with the result
    queryClient.setQueryData(['todos'], (old) =>
      old.map((todo) =>
        todo.id === context.optimisticTodo.id ? result : todo,
      ),
    )
  },
  onError: (error, variables, context) => {
    // Remove optimistic todo from the todos list
    queryClient.setQueryData(['todos'], (old) =>
      old.filter((todo) => todo.id !== context.optimisticTodo.id),
    )
  },
  retry: 3,
})

class someComponent {
  // Start mutation in some component:
  mutation = injectMutation(() => ({ mutationKey: ['addTodo'] }))

  someMethod() {
    mutation.mutate({ title: 'title' })
  }
}

// If the mutation has been paused because the device is for example offline,
// Then the paused mutation can be dehydrated when the application quits:
const state = dehydrate(queryClient)

// The mutation can then be hydrated again when the application is started:
hydrate(queryClient, state)

// Resume the paused mutations:
queryClient.resumePausedMutations()

Persisting Offline mutations

If you persist offline mutations with the persistQueryClient plugin, mutations cannot be resumed when the page is reloaded unless you provide a default mutation function.

This is a technical limitation. When persisting to an external storage, only the state of mutations is persisted, as functions cannot be serialized. After hydration, the component that triggers the mutation might not be initialized, so calling resumePausedMutations might yield an error: No mutationFn found.

We also have an extensive offline example that covers both queries and mutations.

Mutation Scopes

Per default, all mutations run in parallel - even if you invoke .mutate() of the same mutation multiple times. Mutations can be given a scope with an id to avoid that. All mutations with the same scope.id will run in serial, which means when they are triggered, they will start in isPaused: true state if there is already a mutation for that scope in progress. They will be put into a queue and will automatically resume once their time in the queue has come.

tsx

const mutation = injectMutation({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  scope: {
    id: 'todo',
  },
})

const mutation = injectMutation({
  mutationFn: addTodo,
  scope: {
    id: 'todo',
  },
})