Handling Databases
This is an introduction to managing databases in ArangoDB from within JavaScript.
When you have an established connection to ArangoDB, the current
database can be changed explicitly using the db._useDatabase()
method. This will switch to the specified database (provided it
exists and the user can connect to it). From this point on, any
following action in the same shell or connection will use the
specified database, unless otherwise specified.
If the database is changed, client drivers need to store the current database name on their side, too. This is because connections in ArangoDB do not contain any state information. All state information is contained in the HTTP request/response data.
To connect to a specific database after arangosh has started use the command
described above. It is also possible to specify a database name when invoking
arangosh. For this purpose, use the command-line parameter --server.database,
e.g.
> arangosh --server.database test
Note that commands, actions, scripts or AQL queries should never access multiple databases, even if they exist. The only intended and supported way in ArangoDB is to use one database at a time for a command, an action, a script or a query. Operations started in one database must not switch the database later and continue operating in another.
Please keep in mind that each database contains its own system collections, which need to be set up when a database is created. This will make the creation of a database take a while.
Foxx applications are also available only in the context of the database they have been installed in. A new database will only provide access to the system applications shipped with ArangoDB (that is the web interface at the moment) and no other Foxx applications until they are explicitly installed for the particular database.