commit

- Rename deserialize() -> deserialize_conn() for clarity
- Rename internal _pushdown_operations -> _namespace_client_pushdown_operations
  for consistency with the parameter name
- Rename serialized key "pushdown_operations" ->
  "namespace_client_pushdown_operations"

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

python/python/lancedb/__init__.py

@@ -215,6 +215,85 @@ def connect(
     )
 
 
+WORKER_PROPERTY_PREFIX = "_lancedb_worker_"
+
+
+def _apply_worker_overrides(props: dict[str, str]) -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Apply worker property overrides.
+
+    Any key starting with ``_lancedb_worker_`` is extracted, the prefix
+    is stripped, and the resulting key-value pair is put back into the
+    map (overriding the existing value if present).  The original
+    prefixed key is removed.
+    """
+    worker_keys = [k for k in props if k.startswith(WORKER_PROPERTY_PREFIX)]
+    if not worker_keys:
+        return props
+    result = dict(props)
+    for key in worker_keys:
+        value = result.pop(key)
+        real_key = key[len(WORKER_PROPERTY_PREFIX) :]
+        result[real_key] = value
+    return result
+
+
+def deserialize_conn(
+    data: str,
+    *,
+    for_worker: bool = False,
+) -> DBConnection:
+    """Reconstruct a DBConnection from a serialized string.
+
+    The string must have been produced by
+    :meth:`DBConnection.serialize`.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    data : str
+        String produced by ``serialize()``.
+    for_worker : bool, default False
+        When ``True``, any namespace client property whose key starts
+        with ``_lancedb_worker_`` has that prefix stripped and the
+        value overrides the corresponding property.  For example,
+        ``_lancedb_worker_uri`` replaces ``uri``.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    DBConnection
+        A new connection matching the serialized state.
+    """
+    import json
+
+    parsed = json.loads(data)
+    connection_type = parsed.get("connection_type")
+
+    rci_secs = parsed.get("read_consistency_interval_seconds")
+    rci = timedelta(seconds=rci_secs) if rci_secs is not None else None
+    storage_options = parsed.get("storage_options")
+
+    if connection_type == "namespace":
+        props = dict(parsed.get("namespace_client_properties") or {})
+        if for_worker:
+            props = _apply_worker_overrides(props)
+        return connect_namespace(
+            namespace_client_impl=parsed["namespace_client_impl"],
+            namespace_client_properties=props,
+            read_consistency_interval=rci,
+            storage_options=storage_options,
+            namespace_client_pushdown_operations=parsed.get(
+                "namespace_client_pushdown_operations"
+            ),
+        )
+    elif connection_type == "local":
+        return LanceDBConnection(
+            parsed["uri"],
+            read_consistency_interval=rci,
+            storage_options=storage_options,
+        )
+    else:
+        raise ValueError(f"Unknown connection_type: {connection_type}")
+
+
 async def connect_async(
     uri: URI,
     *,

python/python/lancedb/db.py

@@ -529,6 +529,19 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
             "namespace_client is not supported for this connection type"
         )
 
+    def serialize(self) -> str:
+        """Serialize this connection for reconstruction.
+
+        The returned string can be passed to :func:`lancedb.deserialize_conn`
+        to recreate an equivalent connection, e.g. in a remote worker.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        str
+            Serialized representation of this connection.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError("serialize is not supported for this connection type")
+
 
 class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
     """
@@ -581,6 +594,7 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
     ):
         if _inner is not None:
             self._conn = _inner
+            self._cached_namespace_client = None
             return
 
         if not isinstance(uri, Path):
@@ -628,6 +642,7 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         # beyond _conn.
         self.storage_options = storage_options
         self._conn = AsyncConnection(LOOP.run(do_connect()))
+        self._cached_namespace_client: Optional[LanceNamespace] = None
 
     @property
     def read_consistency_interval(self) -> Optional[timedelta]:
@@ -652,6 +667,22 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         val += ")"
         return val
 
+    @override
+    def serialize(self) -> str:
+        import json
+
+        rci = self.read_consistency_interval
+        return json.dumps(
+            {
+                "connection_type": "local",
+                "uri": self.uri,
+                "storage_options": self.storage_options,
+                "read_consistency_interval_seconds": (
+                    rci.total_seconds() if rci else None
+                ),
+            }
+        )
+
     async def _async_get_table_names(self, start_after: Optional[str], limit: int):
         conn = AsyncConnection(await lancedb_connect(self.uri))
         return await conn.table_names(start_after=start_after, limit=limit)
@@ -687,10 +718,10 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         """
         if namespace_path is None:
             namespace_path = []
-        return LOOP.run(
+        return self._namespace_conn().list_namespaces(
-            self._conn.list_namespaces(
+            namespace_path=namespace_path,
-                namespace_path=namespace_path, page_token=page_token, limit=limit
+            page_token=page_token,
-            )
+            limit=limit,
         )
 
     @override
@@ -700,27 +731,10 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         mode: Optional[str] = None,
         properties: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
     ) -> CreateNamespaceResponse:
-        """Create a new namespace.
+        return self._namespace_conn().create_namespace(
-
+            namespace_path=namespace_path,
-        Parameters
+            mode=mode,
-        ----------
+            properties=properties,
-        namespace_path: List[str]
-            The namespace identifier to create.
-        mode: str, optional
-            Creation mode - "create" (fail if exists), "exist_ok" (skip if exists),
-            or "overwrite" (replace if exists). Case insensitive.
-        properties: Dict[str, str], optional
-            Properties to set on the namespace.
-
-        Returns
-        -------
-        CreateNamespaceResponse
-            Response containing the properties of the created namespace.
-        """
-        return LOOP.run(
-            self._conn.create_namespace(
-                namespace_path=namespace_path, mode=mode, properties=properties
-            )
         )
 
     @override
@@ -730,46 +744,19 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         mode: Optional[str] = None,
         behavior: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> DropNamespaceResponse:
-        """Drop a namespace.
+        return self._namespace_conn().drop_namespace(
-
+            namespace_path=namespace_path,
-        Parameters
+            mode=mode,
-        ----------
+            behavior=behavior,
-        namespace_path: List[str]
-            The namespace identifier to drop.
-        mode: str, optional
-            Whether to skip if not exists ("SKIP") or fail ("FAIL"). Case insensitive.
-        behavior: str, optional
-            Whether to restrict drop if not empty ("RESTRICT") or cascade ("CASCADE").
-            Case insensitive.
-
-        Returns
-        -------
-        DropNamespaceResponse
-            Response containing properties and transaction_id if applicable.
-        """
-        return LOOP.run(
-            self._conn.drop_namespace(
-                namespace_path=namespace_path, mode=mode, behavior=behavior
-            )
         )
 
     @override
     def describe_namespace(
         self, namespace_path: List[str]
     ) -> DescribeNamespaceResponse:
-        """Describe a namespace.
+        return self._namespace_conn().describe_namespace(
-
+            namespace_path=namespace_path,
-        Parameters
+        )
-        ----------
-        namespace_path: List[str]
-            The namespace identifier to describe.
-
-        Returns
-        -------
-        DescribeNamespaceResponse
-            Response containing the namespace properties.
-        """
-        return LOOP.run(self._conn.describe_namespace(namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
     def list_tables(
@@ -798,6 +785,12 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         """
         if namespace_path is None:
             namespace_path = []
+        if namespace_path:
+            return self._namespace_conn().list_tables(
+                namespace_path=namespace_path,
+                page_token=page_token,
+                limit=limit,
+            )
         return LOOP.run(
             self._conn.list_tables(
                 namespace_path=namespace_path, page_token=page_token, limit=limit
@@ -886,6 +879,22 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
             raise ValueError("mode must be either 'create' or 'overwrite'")
         validate_table_name(name)
 
+        if namespace_path:
+            return self._namespace_conn().create_table(
+                name,
+                data=data,
+                schema=schema,
+                mode=mode,
+                exist_ok=exist_ok,
+                on_bad_vectors=on_bad_vectors,
+                fill_value=fill_value,
+                embedding_functions=embedding_functions,
+                namespace_path=namespace_path,
+                storage_options=storage_options,
+                data_storage_version=data_storage_version,
+                enable_v2_manifest_paths=enable_v2_manifest_paths,
+            )
+
         tbl = LanceTable.create(
             self,
             name,
@@ -901,6 +910,19 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         )
         return tbl
 
+    def _namespace_conn(self) -> DBConnection:
+        """Return a LanceNamespaceDBConnection backed by this connection's
+        directory namespace.  Used to delegate child-namespace operations."""
+        from lancedb.namespace import LanceNamespaceDBConnection
+
+        return LanceNamespaceDBConnection(
+            self.namespace_client(),
+            read_consistency_interval=self.read_consistency_interval,
+            storage_options=self.storage_options,
+            namespace_client_impl=None,
+            namespace_client_properties=None,
+        )
+
     @override
     def open_table(
         self,
@@ -917,7 +939,8 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         name: str
             The name of the table.
         namespace_path: List[str], optional
-            The namespace to open the table from.
+            The namespace to open the table from.  When non-empty, the
+            table is resolved through the directory namespace client.
 
         Returns
         -------
@@ -936,6 +959,14 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
                 stacklevel=2,
             )
 
+        if namespace_path:
+            return self._namespace_conn().open_table(
+                name,
+                namespace_path=namespace_path,
+                storage_options=storage_options,
+                index_cache_size=index_cache_size,
+            )
+
         return LanceTable.open(
             self,
             name,
@@ -1020,6 +1051,9 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         """
         if namespace_path is None:
             namespace_path = []
+        if namespace_path:
+            self._namespace_conn().drop_table(name, namespace_path=namespace_path)
+            return
         LOOP.run(
             self._conn.drop_table(
                 name, namespace_path=namespace_path, ignore_missing=ignore_missing
@@ -1071,14 +1105,17 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         """Get the equivalent namespace client for this connection.
 
         Returns a DirectoryNamespace pointing to the same root with the
-        same storage options.
+        same storage options.  The result is cached for the lifetime of
+        this connection.
 
         Returns
         -------
         LanceNamespace
             The namespace client for this connection.
         """
-        return LOOP.run(self._conn.namespace_client())
+        if self._cached_namespace_client is None:
+            self._cached_namespace_client = LOOP.run(self._conn.namespace_client())
+        return self._cached_namespace_client
 
     @deprecation.deprecated(
         deprecated_in="0.15.1",

python/python/lancedb/namespace.py

@@ -381,6 +381,8 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         storage_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
         session: Optional[Session] = None,
         namespace_client_pushdown_operations: Optional[List[str]] = None,
+        namespace_client_impl: Optional[str] = None,
+        namespace_client_properties: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
     ):
         """
         Initialize a namespace-based LanceDB connection.
@@ -406,12 +408,43 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
               namespace.create_table() instead of using declare_table + local write.
 
             Default is None (no pushdown, all operations run locally).
+        namespace_client_impl : Optional[str]
+            The namespace implementation name used to create this connection.
+            Stored for serialization purposes.
+        namespace_client_properties : Optional[Dict[str, str]]
+            The namespace properties used to create this connection.
+            Stored for serialization purposes.
         """
         self._namespace_client = namespace_client
         self.read_consistency_interval = read_consistency_interval
         self.storage_options = storage_options or {}
         self.session = session
-        self._pushdown_operations = set(namespace_client_pushdown_operations or [])
+        self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations = set(
+            namespace_client_pushdown_operations or []
+        )
+        self._namespace_client_impl = namespace_client_impl
+        self._namespace_client_properties = namespace_client_properties
+
+    @override
+    def serialize(self) -> str:
+        import json
+
+        return json.dumps(
+            {
+                "connection_type": "namespace",
+                "namespace_client_impl": self._namespace_client_impl,
+                "namespace_client_properties": self._namespace_client_properties,
+                "namespace_client_pushdown_operations": sorted(
+                    self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations
+                ),
+                "storage_options": self.storage_options or None,
+                "read_consistency_interval_seconds": (
+                    self.read_consistency_interval.total_seconds()
+                    if self.read_consistency_interval
+                    else None
+                ),
+            }
+        )
 
     @override
     def table_names(
@@ -467,7 +500,7 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
 
         table_id = namespace_path + [name]
 
-        if "CreateTable" in self._pushdown_operations:
+        if "CreateTable" in self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations:
             return self._create_table_server_side(
                 name=name,
                 data=data,
@@ -549,7 +582,7 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
             storage_options=merged_storage_options,
             location=location,
             namespace_client=self._namespace_client,
-            pushdown_operations=self._pushdown_operations,
+            pushdown_operations=self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations,
         )
 
         return tbl
@@ -580,10 +613,13 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
             fill_value=fill_value,
         )
 
+        merged = dict(self.storage_options or {})
+        if storage_options:
+            merged.update(storage_options)
         request = CreateTableRequest(
             id=table_id,
             mode=_normalize_create_table_mode(mode),
-            properties=self.storage_options if self.storage_options else None,
+            properties=merged or None,
         )
 
         try:
@@ -887,7 +923,7 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
             location=table_uri,
             namespace_client=namespace_client,
             managed_versioning=managed_versioning,
-            pushdown_operations=self._pushdown_operations,
+            pushdown_operations=self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations,
         )
 
     @override
@@ -951,7 +987,9 @@ class AsyncLanceNamespaceDBConnection:
         self.read_consistency_interval = read_consistency_interval
         self.storage_options = storage_options or {}
         self.session = session
-        self._pushdown_operations = set(namespace_client_pushdown_operations or [])
+        self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations = set(
+            namespace_client_pushdown_operations or []
+        )
 
     async def table_names(
         self,
@@ -1006,7 +1044,7 @@ class AsyncLanceNamespaceDBConnection:
 
         table_id = namespace_path + [name]
 
-        if "CreateTable" in self._pushdown_operations:
+        if "CreateTable" in self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations:
             return await self._create_table_server_side(
                 name=name,
                 data=data,
@@ -1086,7 +1124,7 @@ class AsyncLanceNamespaceDBConnection:
                 storage_options=merged_storage_options,
                 location=location,
                 namespace_client=self._namespace_client,
-                pushdown_operations=self._pushdown_operations,
+                pushdown_operations=self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations,
             )
 
         lance_table = await asyncio.to_thread(_create_table)
@@ -1120,10 +1158,13 @@ class AsyncLanceNamespaceDBConnection:
                 fill_value=fill_value,
             )
 
+            merged = dict(self.storage_options or {})
+            if storage_options:
+                merged.update(storage_options)
             request = CreateTableRequest(
                 id=table_id,
                 mode=_normalize_create_table_mode(mode),
-                properties=self.storage_options if self.storage_options else None,
+                properties=merged or None,
             )
 
             self._namespace_client.create_table(request, arrow_ipc_bytes)
@@ -1190,7 +1231,7 @@ class AsyncLanceNamespaceDBConnection:
                 location=response.location,
                 namespace_client=self._namespace_client,
                 managed_versioning=managed_versioning,
-                pushdown_operations=self._pushdown_operations,
+                pushdown_operations=self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations,
             )
 
         lance_table = await asyncio.to_thread(_open_table)
@@ -1472,6 +1513,8 @@ def connect_namespace(
         storage_options=storage_options,
         session=session,
         namespace_client_pushdown_operations=namespace_client_pushdown_operations,
+        namespace_client_impl=namespace_client_impl,
+        namespace_client_properties=namespace_client_properties,
     )
 
 

python/python/tests/test_db.py

@@ -897,42 +897,22 @@ def test_bypass_vector_index_sync(tmp_db: lancedb.DBConnection):
 
 
 def test_local_namespace_operations(tmp_path):
-    """Test that local mode namespace operations behave as expected."""
+    """Test that local mode namespace operations work via directory namespace."""
-    # Create a local database connection
     db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)
 
-    # Test list_namespaces returns empty list for root namespace
+    # Root namespace starts empty
-    namespaces = db.list_namespaces().namespaces
+    assert db.list_namespaces().namespaces == []
-    assert namespaces == []
 
-    # Test list_namespaces with non-empty namespace raises NotImplementedError
+    # Create and list child namespace
-    with pytest.raises(
+    db.create_namespace(["child"])
-        NotImplementedError,
+    assert "child" in db.list_namespaces().namespaces
-        match="Namespace operations are not supported for listing database",
-    ):
-        db.list_namespaces(namespace_path=["test"])
 
+    # List namespaces under child
+    assert db.list_namespaces(namespace_path=["child"]).namespaces == []
 
-def test_local_create_namespace_not_supported(tmp_path):
+    # Drop namespace
-    """Test that create_namespace is not supported in local mode."""
+    db.drop_namespace(["child"])
-    db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)
+    assert db.list_namespaces().namespaces == []
-
-    with pytest.raises(
-        NotImplementedError,
-        match="Namespace operations are not supported for listing database",
-    ):
-        db.create_namespace(["test_namespace"])
-
-
-def test_local_drop_namespace_not_supported(tmp_path):
-    """Test that drop_namespace is not supported in local mode."""
-    db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)
-
-    with pytest.raises(
-        NotImplementedError,
-        match="Namespace operations are not supported for listing database",
-    ):
-        db.drop_namespace(["test_namespace"])
 
 
 def test_clone_table_latest_version(tmp_path):

python/python/tests/test_namespace.py

@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ class TestPushdownOperations:
             {"root": self.temp_dir},
             namespace_client_pushdown_operations=["QueryTable"],
         )
-        assert "QueryTable" in db._pushdown_operations
+        assert "QueryTable" in db._namespace_client_pushdown_operations
 
     def test_create_table_pushdown_stored(self):
         """Test that CreateTable pushdown is stored on sync connection."""
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ class TestPushdownOperations:
             {"root": self.temp_dir},
             namespace_client_pushdown_operations=["CreateTable"],
         )
-        assert "CreateTable" in db._pushdown_operations
+        assert "CreateTable" in db._namespace_client_pushdown_operations
 
     def test_both_pushdowns_stored(self):
         """Test that both pushdown operations can be set together."""
@@ -699,13 +699,13 @@ class TestPushdownOperations:
             {"root": self.temp_dir},
             namespace_client_pushdown_operations=["QueryTable", "CreateTable"],
         )
-        assert "QueryTable" in db._pushdown_operations
+        assert "QueryTable" in db._namespace_client_pushdown_operations
-        assert "CreateTable" in db._pushdown_operations
+        assert "CreateTable" in db._namespace_client_pushdown_operations
 
     def test_pushdown_defaults_to_empty(self):
         """Test that pushdown operations default to empty."""
         db = lancedb.connect_namespace("dir", {"root": self.temp_dir})
-        assert len(db._pushdown_operations) == 0
+        assert len(db._namespace_client_pushdown_operations) == 0
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@ class TestAsyncPushdownOperations:
             {"root": self.temp_dir},
             namespace_client_pushdown_operations=["QueryTable"],
         )
-        assert "QueryTable" in db._pushdown_operations
+        assert "QueryTable" in db._namespace_client_pushdown_operations
 
     async def test_async_create_table_pushdown_stored(self):
         """Test that CreateTable pushdown is stored on async connection."""
@@ -736,9 +736,9 @@ class TestAsyncPushdownOperations:
             {"root": self.temp_dir},
             namespace_client_pushdown_operations=["CreateTable"],
         )
-        assert "CreateTable" in db._pushdown_operations
+        assert "CreateTable" in db._namespace_client_pushdown_operations
 
     async def test_async_pushdown_defaults_to_empty(self):
         """Test that pushdown operations default to empty on async connection."""
         db = lancedb.connect_namespace_async("dir", {"root": self.temp_dir})
-        assert len(db._pushdown_operations) == 0
+        assert len(db._namespace_client_pushdown_operations) == 0