feat(secrets): address Secrets by namespace path

A Secret is identified by a namespace path plus a name, and resolution is
exact: one under `["prod"]` is not visible from `["prod", "vision"]` and never
falls back to a parent.

The binding names it as a `SecretReference` of `{name, namespace_path}` rather
than one joined string. A joined id needs a delimiter, and a delimiter has to be
excluded from every name and every segment forever, agreed on by both sides, and
re-agreed each time either side grows a new way to be configured --
`ClientConfig.id_delimiter` is exactly that, configurable and advertised on
every request, so an id joined on a fixed `$` would contradict a delimiter the
same request declares. Naming the parts costs one object and settles it.

Every verb takes `namespace_path` keyword-only, defaulting to the root, and so
does `EnvVarSecret`, which pins the path at construction -- a worker resolves
the Secret it was handed rather than re-resolving against its own default.

A root path is omitted from the request body rather than sent empty, so a root
request is byte-identical to one from a client that predates this, and a root
binding to one written before namespaces existed. Tests pin both.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01UfmeJ533rQDnPBkMtjerV6

python/python/lancedb/_lancedb.pyi

@@ -153,11 +153,17 @@ class Connection(object):
     async def get_function(self, name: str, version: str) -> str: ...
     async def list_functions(self) -> List[str]: ...
     async def drop_function(self, name: str, version: str) -> bool: ...
-    async def create_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None: ...
+    async def create_secret(
-    async def alter_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None: ...
+        self, name: str, value: str, namespace_path: List[str]
-    async def list_secrets(self) -> List[str]: ...
+    ) -> None: ...
-    async def drop_secret(self, name: str) -> None: ...
+    async def alter_secret(
-    async def describe_secret(self, name: str) -> Dict[str, str]: ...
+        self, name: str, value: str, namespace_path: List[str]
+    ) -> None: ...
+    async def list_secrets(self, namespace_path: List[str]) -> List[str]: ...
+    async def drop_secret(self, name: str, namespace_path: List[str]) -> None: ...
+    async def describe_secret(
+        self, name: str, namespace_path: List[str]
+    ) -> Dict[str, str]: ...
     async def list_jobs(self) -> List[JobInfo]: ...
     async def cancel_job(self, job_id: str) -> bool: ...
     async def execute_query_async(

python/python/lancedb/db.py

@@ -58,7 +58,12 @@ from .materialized_view import (
     SelectArg,
     normalize_select,
 )
-from .secrets import EnvVarSecret, SecretInfo, validate_secret_name
+from .secrets import (
+    EnvVarSecret,
+    SecretInfo,
+    validate_namespace_path,
+    validate_secret_name,
+)
 from .table import (
     AsyncTable,
     LanceTable,
@@ -779,7 +784,9 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
             "Function catalog operations are not supported for this connection type"
         )
 
-    def create_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None:
+    def create_secret(
+        self, name: str, value: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
         """Create a named Secret in this database.
 
         Fails if the name is taken, so a create never silently becomes a
@@ -791,7 +798,9 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
             "Secret operations are not supported for this connection type"
         )
 
-    def alter_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None:
+    def alter_secret(
+        self, name: str, value: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
         """Replace the credential behind an existing Secret.
 
         Fails if it does not exist. Every Function bound to the Secret uses the
@@ -803,7 +812,7 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
             "Secret operations are not supported for this connection type"
         )
 
-    def list_secrets(self) -> List[str]:
+    def list_secrets(self, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> List[str]:
         """The names of every Secret in this database.
 
         Names only. No method returns a stored credential, by construction
@@ -813,7 +822,9 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
             "Secret operations are not supported for this connection type"
         )
 
-    def drop_secret(self, name: str) -> None:
+    def drop_secret(
+        self, name: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
         """Drop a Secret.
 
         Functions bound to it fail at their next job, naming the Secret; that
@@ -825,7 +836,9 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
             "Secret operations are not supported for this connection type"
         )
 
-    def describe_secret(self, name: str) -> SecretInfo:
+    def describe_secret(
+        self, name: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> SecretInfo:
         """What this database records about a Secret: name and timestamps.
 
         Never the value -- there is no code path that could return one. Local
@@ -1569,24 +1582,32 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         return LOOP.run(self._conn.drop_function(name, version=version))
 
     @override
-    def create_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None:
+    def create_secret(
-        LOOP.run(self._conn.create_secret(name, value))
+        self, name: str, value: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
+        LOOP.run(self._conn.create_secret(name, value, namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
-    def alter_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None:
+    def alter_secret(
-        LOOP.run(self._conn.alter_secret(name, value))
+        self, name: str, value: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
+        LOOP.run(self._conn.alter_secret(name, value, namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
-    def list_secrets(self) -> List[str]:
+    def list_secrets(self, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> List[str]:
-        return LOOP.run(self._conn.list_secrets())
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.list_secrets(namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
-    def drop_secret(self, name: str) -> None:
+    def drop_secret(
-        LOOP.run(self._conn.drop_secret(name))
+        self, name: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
+        LOOP.run(self._conn.drop_secret(name, namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
-    def describe_secret(self, name: str) -> SecretInfo:
+    def describe_secret(
-        return LOOP.run(self._conn.describe_secret(name))
+        self, name: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> SecretInfo:
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.describe_secret(name, namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
     def list_jobs(self) -> List[JobInfo]:
@@ -2418,34 +2439,57 @@ class AsyncConnection(object):
         """Drop one exact immutable Function version from the remote catalog."""
         return await self._inner.drop_function(name, version)
 
-    async def create_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None:
+    async def create_secret(
+        self, name: str, value: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
         """Create a named Secret in this database.
 
         Fails if the name is taken, so a create never silently becomes a
         rotation. Nothing reads the value back.
         """
-        await self._inner.create_secret(validate_secret_name(name), value)
+        await self._inner.create_secret(
+            validate_secret_name(name),
+            value,
+            list(validate_namespace_path(namespace_path)),
+        )
 
-    async def alter_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None:
+    async def alter_secret(
+        self, name: str, value: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
         """Replace the credential behind an existing Secret.
 
         Fails if it does not exist. Bound Functions use the new value from
         their next job, with no new Function version.
         """
-        await self._inner.alter_secret(validate_secret_name(name), value)
+        await self._inner.alter_secret(
+            validate_secret_name(name),
+            value,
+            list(validate_namespace_path(namespace_path)),
+        )
 
-    async def list_secrets(self) -> List[str]:
+    async def list_secrets(
+        self, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> List[str]:
         """The names of every Secret in this database. Names only."""
-        return await self._inner.list_secrets()
+        return await self._inner.list_secrets(
+            list(validate_namespace_path(namespace_path))
+        )
 
-    async def drop_secret(self, name: str) -> None:
+    async def drop_secret(
+        self, name: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
         """Drop a Secret. Bound Functions fail at their next job."""
-        await self._inner.drop_secret(validate_secret_name(name))
+        await self._inner.drop_secret(
+            validate_secret_name(name), list(validate_namespace_path(namespace_path))
+        )
 
-    async def describe_secret(self, name: str) -> SecretInfo:
+    async def describe_secret(
+        self, name: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> SecretInfo:
         """What this database records about a Secret. Never the value."""
         name, created_at_millis, updated_at_millis = await self._inner.describe_secret(
-            validate_secret_name(name)
+            validate_secret_name(name),
+            list(validate_namespace_path(namespace_path)),
         )
         return SecretInfo(
             name=name,

python/python/lancedb/functions.py

@@ -227,6 +227,19 @@ class FunctionOutput(_OpenRemoteValue):
     fields: tuple[FunctionResultField, ...] = ()
 
 
+class SecretReference(_RemoteValue):
+    """Where a Secret lives, carried as its parts rather than as one string.
+
+    A joined id would need a delimiter, and a delimiter has to be excluded from
+    every name and segment forever, agreed on by both sides, and re-agreed each
+    time either grows a new way to be configured. Naming the parts settles all
+    of that: nothing here is parsed, so nothing can parse two ways.
+    """
+
+    name: str
+    namespace_path: tuple[str, ...] = ()
+
+
 class SecretBinding(_RemoteValue):
     """How a Secret reaches the Function that binds it.
 
@@ -238,7 +251,7 @@ class SecretBinding(_RemoteValue):
 
     kind: str
     variable: Optional[str] = None
-    secret_ref: Optional[str] = None
+    secret_ref: Optional[SecretReference] = None
 
 
 class FunctionSignature(_RemoteValue):
@@ -1344,7 +1357,10 @@ class UdfDefinition:
                     SecretBinding(
                         kind="env",
                         variable=binding.env_variable,
-                        secret_ref=binding.secret,
+                        secret_ref=SecretReference(
+                            name=binding.secret,
+                            namespace_path=tuple(binding.namespace_path),
+                        ),
                     )
                     for binding in bindings
                 ),

python/python/lancedb/remote/db.py

@@ -778,24 +778,32 @@ class RemoteDBConnection(DBConnection):
         return LOOP.run(self._conn.drop_function(name, version=version))
 
     @override
-    def create_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None:
+    def create_secret(
-        LOOP.run(self._conn.create_secret(name, value))
+        self, name: str, value: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
+        LOOP.run(self._conn.create_secret(name, value, namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
-    def alter_secret(self, name: str, value: str) -> None:
+    def alter_secret(
-        LOOP.run(self._conn.alter_secret(name, value))
+        self, name: str, value: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
+        LOOP.run(self._conn.alter_secret(name, value, namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
-    def describe_secret(self, name: str) -> SecretInfo:
+    def describe_secret(
-        return LOOP.run(self._conn.describe_secret(name))
+        self, name: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> SecretInfo:
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.describe_secret(name, namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
-    def list_secrets(self) -> List[str]:
+    def list_secrets(self, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> List[str]:
-        return LOOP.run(self._conn.list_secrets())
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.list_secrets(namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
-    def drop_secret(self, name: str) -> None:
+    def drop_secret(
-        LOOP.run(self._conn.drop_secret(name))
+        self, name: str, *, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    ) -> None:
+        LOOP.run(self._conn.drop_secret(name, namespace_path=namespace_path))
 
     @override
     def list_jobs(self) -> List["JobInfo"]:

python/python/lancedb/secrets.py

@@ -31,6 +31,31 @@ def validate_secret_name(name: str) -> str:
     return name
 
 
+def validate_namespace_path(namespace_path=None):
+    """Check a namespace path locally and return it as a tuple.
+
+    ``None`` and ``[]`` both mean the root namespace. Segments follow the same
+    rule as Secret names: a binding carries the path and the name as separate
+    fields, so neither is ever parsed out of the other.
+    """
+    if namespace_path is None:
+        return ()
+    if isinstance(namespace_path, str):
+        raise TypeError(
+            "namespace_path must be a list of segments, not a string; "
+            f"did you mean [{namespace_path!r}]?"
+        )
+    segments = tuple(namespace_path)
+    for segment in segments:
+        if not isinstance(segment, str):
+            raise TypeError(
+                f"namespace path segment must be a string, not {type(segment).__name__}"
+            )
+        if not _SECRET_NAME.fullmatch(segment):
+            raise ValueError(f"invalid namespace path segment: {segment!r}")
+    return segments
+
+
 def validate_env_variable(name: str) -> str:
     """Check an environment variable name locally and return it unchanged."""
     if not isinstance(name, str):
@@ -76,11 +101,12 @@ class EnvVarSecret:
     ('openai-prod', 'OPENAI_API_KEY')
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("_secret", "_env_variable")
+    __slots__ = ("_secret", "_env_variable", "_namespace_path")
 
-    def __init__(self, secret: str, env_variable: str):
+    def __init__(self, secret: str, env_variable: str, *, namespace_path=None):
         self._secret = validate_secret_name(secret)
         self._env_variable = validate_env_variable(env_variable)
+        self._namespace_path = validate_namespace_path(namespace_path)
 
     @property
     def secret(self) -> str:
@@ -92,10 +118,20 @@ class EnvVarSecret:
         """The environment variable the value is delivered in."""
         return self._env_variable
 
+    @property
+    def namespace_path(self):
+        """The namespace path the Secret is addressed within, root when empty."""
+        return list(self._namespace_path)
+
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        path = (
+            f", namespace_path={list(self._namespace_path)!r}"
+            if self._namespace_path
+            else ""
+        )
         return (
             f"EnvVarSecret(secret={self._secret!r}, "
-            f"env_variable={self._env_variable!r})"
+            f"env_variable={self._env_variable!r}{path})"
         )
 
     def __eq__(self, other: object) -> bool:
@@ -103,10 +139,13 @@ class EnvVarSecret:
             isinstance(other, EnvVarSecret)
             and other._secret == self._secret
             and other._env_variable == self._env_variable
+            and other._namespace_path == self._namespace_path
         )
 
     def __hash__(self) -> int:
-        return hash((EnvVarSecret, self._secret, self._env_variable))
+        return hash(
+            (EnvVarSecret, self._secret, self._env_variable, self._namespace_path)
+        )
 
 
 class SecretInfo:

python/python/tests/test_first_class_function_slice1.py

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from lancedb.functions import (
     PythonRuntimeSpec,
     SecretBinding,
     RefreshColumnResult,
+    SecretReference,
 )
 from lancedb.table import AsyncTable
 
@@ -112,7 +113,9 @@ def test_function_version_identity_is_immutable_and_exact():
     assert version.name == "embed"
     assert version.version == "fv_01K3EXACT"
     assert list(version.secret_bindings) == [
-        SecretBinding(kind="env", variable="HF_TOKEN", secret_ref="hf-prod")
+        SecretBinding(
+            kind="env", variable="HF_TOKEN", secret_ref=SecretReference(name="hf-prod")
+        )
     ]
 
     with pytest.raises((TypeError, ValueError)):
@@ -303,7 +306,7 @@ def test_canonical_client_values_carry_bindings_and_no_credentials():
     )
     canonical = json.loads(version.to_canonical_json())
     assert canonical["secret_bindings"] == [
-        {"kind": "env", "variable": "HF_TOKEN", "secret_ref": "hf-prod"}
+        {"kind": "env", "variable": "HF_TOKEN", "secret_ref": {"name": "hf-prod"}}
     ]
     assert_no_secret_values(canonical)
 

python/python/tests/test_first_class_function_slice2.py

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import lancedb
 from lancedb.functions import (
     PythonRuntimeSpec,
     SecretBinding,
+    SecretReference,
     UdfDefinition,
     _canonical_arrow_type,
     _GRAMMAR_PRIMITIVES,
@@ -94,6 +95,67 @@ def test_secret_bound_udf_matches_its_shared_registration_golden():
     )
 
 
+def test_a_namespaced_binding_records_the_path_and_the_name():
+    """A binding names the parts, so nothing has to be parsed back out.
+
+    A root binding carries no path at all, which is what keeps its wire shape
+    identical to one written before namespaces existed.
+    """
+    root = EnvVarSecret(secret="openai-prod", env_variable="OPENAI_API_KEY")
+    assert root.namespace_path == []
+
+    nested = EnvVarSecret(
+        secret="openai-prod",
+        env_variable="OPENAI_API_KEY",
+        namespace_path=["prod", "vision"],
+    )
+    assert nested.namespace_path == ["prod", "vision"]
+    assert nested != root
+
+    bound = analyze_caption.bind_secrets([nested])
+    assert list(bound.secret_bindings) == [
+        SecretBinding(
+            kind="env",
+            variable="OPENAI_API_KEY",
+            secret_ref=SecretReference(
+                name="openai-prod", namespace_path=("prod", "vision")
+            ),
+        )
+    ]
+
+    at_root = analyze_caption.bind_secrets([root])
+    assert list(at_root.secret_bindings) == [
+        SecretBinding(
+            kind="env",
+            variable="OPENAI_API_KEY",
+            secret_ref=SecretReference(name="openai-prod"),
+        )
+    ]
+    # A root binding carries no path at all on the wire.
+    canonical = json.loads(at_root.to_canonical_json())
+    assert canonical["secret_bindings"] == [
+        {
+            "kind": "env",
+            "variable": "OPENAI_API_KEY",
+            "secret_ref": {"name": "openai-prod"},
+        }
+    ]
+
+
+def test_a_namespace_path_is_validated_locally():
+    # The charset is the service's, not a delimiter's: a reference is never
+    # joined, so a segment cannot make anything parse two ways.
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        EnvVarSecret(
+            secret="openai-prod", env_variable="K", namespace_path=["with$delim"]
+        )
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        EnvVarSecret(secret="openai-prod", env_variable="K", namespace_path=["a/b"])
+    # A bare string is a plausible mistake with the wrong meaning.
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        EnvVarSecret(secret="openai-prod", env_variable="K", namespace_path="prod")
+
+
 def test_an_unbound_request_carries_no_binding_at_all():
     """Binding is a registration-time decision, so the definition holds none.
 
@@ -168,9 +230,11 @@ def test_a_binding_envelope_reaches_the_service_for_it_to_judge():
 
     sent = state["requests"][0][1]
     assert len(sent["secret_bindings"]) == 17
-    assert {"kind": "env", "variable": "TOKEN_0", "secret_ref": "secret-0"} in sent[
+    assert {
-        "secret_bindings"
+        "kind": "env",
-    ]
+        "variable": "TOKEN_0",
+        "secret_ref": {"name": "secret-0"},
+    } in sent["secret_bindings"]
 
 
 _SECRET_DEBUG_LOG_SOURCE = """
@@ -271,6 +335,24 @@ def test_a_secret_name_admits_what_a_namespace_name_does():
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="invalid Secret name"):
             EnvVarSecret(secret=name, env_variable="OPENAI_API_KEY")
 
+    # A namespace segment follows the same rule, and LanceDB already admits
+    # these shapes as namespace names -- so a Secret is addressable inside one.
+    for segment in [".hidden", "_internal", "-lead", "trailing."]:
+        binding = EnvVarSecret(
+            secret="openai-prod",
+            env_variable="OPENAI_API_KEY",
+            namespace_path=[segment],
+        )
+        assert binding.namespace_path == [segment]
+
+    for segment in ["", "with/slash", "with$delimiter"]:
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="invalid namespace path segment"):
+            EnvVarSecret(
+                secret="openai-prod",
+                env_variable="OPENAI_API_KEY",
+                namespace_path=[segment],
+            )
+
 
 def _main_udf_source(
     *, threshold: int = 20, input_annotation: str = "int", comparison: str = ">="
@@ -1545,12 +1627,20 @@ def test_remote_registration_sends_bindings_and_never_a_credential():
         )
 
     assert list(created.secret_bindings) == [
-        SecretBinding(kind="env", variable="OPENAI_API_KEY", secret_ref="openai-prod")
+        SecretBinding(
+            kind="env",
+            variable="OPENAI_API_KEY",
+            secret_ref=SecretReference(name="openai-prod"),
+        )
     ]
     path, create_request = state["requests"][0]
     assert path == "/v1/functions/create"
     assert create_request["secret_bindings"] == [
-        {"kind": "env", "variable": "OPENAI_API_KEY", "secret_ref": "openai-prod"}
+        {
+            "kind": "env",
+            "variable": "OPENAI_API_KEY",
+            "secret_ref": {"name": "openai-prod"},
+        }
     ]
     # The request names a Secret and carries nothing that could be one.
     assert create_request == json.loads(

python/src/connection.rs

@@ -708,10 +708,14 @@ impl Connection {
         self_: PyRef<'_, Self>,
         name: String,
         value: String,
+        namespace_path: Vec<String>,
     ) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
         let inner = self_.get_inner()?.clone();
         future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
-            inner.create_secret(name, value).await.infer_error()
+            inner
+                .create_secret(name, value, &namespace_path)
+                .await
+                .infer_error()
         })
     }
 
@@ -719,34 +723,52 @@ impl Connection {
         self_: PyRef<'_, Self>,
         name: String,
         value: String,
+        namespace_path: Vec<String>,
     ) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
         let inner = self_.get_inner()?.clone();
         future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
-            inner.alter_secret(name, value).await.infer_error()
+            inner
+                .alter_secret(name, value, &namespace_path)
+                .await
+                .infer_error()
         })
     }
 
-    pub fn list_secrets(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+    pub fn list_secrets(
+        self_: PyRef<'_, Self>,
+        namespace_path: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
         let inner = self_.get_inner()?.clone();
         future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
-            inner.list_secrets().await.infer_error()
+            inner.list_secrets(&namespace_path).await.infer_error()
         })
     }
 
-    pub fn drop_secret(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>, name: String) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+    pub fn drop_secret(
+        self_: PyRef<'_, Self>,
+        name: String,
+        namespace_path: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
         let inner = self_.get_inner()?.clone();
         future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
-            inner.drop_secret(name).await.infer_error()
+            inner.drop_secret(name, &namespace_path).await.infer_error()
         })
     }
 
     /// Name and timestamps as a plain tuple. `SecretInfo` carries no value, so
     /// there is none to filter out here. Timestamps stay integers rather than
     /// going through a string, so the caller can compare two without parsing.
-    pub fn describe_secret(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>, name: String) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+    pub fn describe_secret(
+        self_: PyRef<'_, Self>,
+        name: String,
+        namespace_path: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
         let inner = self_.get_inner()?.clone();
         future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
-            let info = inner.describe_secret(name).await.infer_error()?;
+            let info = inner
+                .describe_secret(name, &namespace_path)
+                .await
+                .infer_error()?;
             Ok((info.name, info.created_at_millis, info.updated_at_millis))
         })
     }

rust/lancedb/src/connection.rs

@@ -653,9 +653,14 @@ impl Connection {
     /// rotation. There is no API that reads a stored credential back; the only
     /// consumer is a Function that binds the Secret by name. Local databases
     /// return [`Error::NotSupported`].
-    pub async fn create_secret(&self, name: impl AsRef<str>, value: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<()> {
+    pub async fn create_secret(
+        &self,
+        name: impl AsRef<str>,
+        value: impl AsRef<str>,
+        namespace_path: &[String],
+    ) -> Result<()> {
         self.internal
-            .create_secret(name.as_ref(), value.as_ref())
+            .create_secret(name.as_ref(), value.as_ref(), namespace_path)
             .await
     }
 
@@ -666,9 +671,14 @@ impl Connection {
     /// minted -- which is what lets a rotation reach columns pinned to a
     /// version registered before it. Local databases return
     /// [`Error::NotSupported`].
-    pub async fn alter_secret(&self, name: impl AsRef<str>, value: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<()> {
+    pub async fn alter_secret(
+        &self,
+        name: impl AsRef<str>,
+        value: impl AsRef<str>,
+        namespace_path: &[String],
+    ) -> Result<()> {
         self.internal
-            .alter_secret(name.as_ref(), value.as_ref())
+            .alter_secret(name.as_ref(), value.as_ref(), namespace_path)
             .await
     }
 
@@ -677,8 +687,8 @@ impl Connection {
     /// Names only. No path in this API returns a stored credential, by
     /// construction rather than by policy. Local databases return
     /// [`Error::NotSupported`].
-    pub async fn list_secrets(&self) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
+    pub async fn list_secrets(&self, namespace_path: &[String]) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
-        self.internal.list_secrets().await
+        self.internal.list_secrets(namespace_path).await
     }
 
     /// Drop a Secret.
@@ -687,8 +697,14 @@ impl Connection {
     /// is the revocation path. The name becomes free to reuse, and a new
     /// Secret under it is picked up by everything still bound to that name.
     /// Local databases return [`Error::NotSupported`].
-    pub async fn drop_secret(&self, name: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<()> {
+    pub async fn drop_secret(
-        self.internal.drop_secret(name.as_ref()).await
+        &self,
+        name: impl AsRef<str>,
+        namespace_path: &[String],
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        self.internal
+            .drop_secret(name.as_ref(), namespace_path)
+            .await
     }
 
     /// What this database records about one Secret: its name and timestamps.
@@ -696,8 +712,14 @@ impl Connection {
     /// Never the value. The type it returns has no field for one, so this is a
     /// property of the API rather than of what the caller chooses to read.
     /// Local databases return [`Error::NotSupported`].
-    pub async fn describe_secret(&self, name: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<SecretInfo> {
+    pub async fn describe_secret(
-        self.internal.describe_secret(name.as_ref()).await
+        &self,
+        name: impl AsRef<str>,
+        namespace_path: &[String],
+    ) -> Result<SecretInfo> {
+        self.internal
+            .describe_secret(name.as_ref(), namespace_path)
+            .await
     }
 
     /// Rename a table in the database.

rust/lancedb/src/database.rs

@@ -326,30 +326,40 @@ pub trait Database:
     }
     /// Create a named Secret in this database. Fails if the name is taken, so
     /// a create can never silently become a rotation.
-    async fn create_secret(&self, _name: &str, _value: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn create_secret(
+        &self,
+        _name: &str,
+        _value: &str,
+        _namespace_path: &[String],
+    ) -> Result<()> {
         secret_catalog_not_supported()
     }
     /// Replace the credential behind an existing Secret. Fails if it does not
     /// exist. Every Function bound to it resolves the new value from its next
     /// execution, with no new Function version.
-    async fn alter_secret(&self, _name: &str, _value: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn alter_secret(
+        &self,
+        _name: &str,
+        _value: &str,
+        _namespace_path: &[String],
+    ) -> Result<()> {
         secret_catalog_not_supported()
     }
     /// The names of every Secret in this database.
     ///
     /// Names only. No API path returns a stored credential, by construction
     /// rather than by policy.
-    async fn list_secrets(&self) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
+    async fn list_secrets(&self, _namespace_path: &[String]) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
         secret_catalog_not_supported()
     }
     /// Drop a Secret. Functions bound to it fail at their next job, which is
     /// the revocation path.
-    async fn drop_secret(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn drop_secret(&self, _name: &str, _namespace_path: &[String]) -> Result<()> {
         secret_catalog_not_supported()
     }
     /// What the database records about one Secret: its name and timestamps,
     /// never its value.
-    async fn describe_secret(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<SecretInfo> {
+    async fn describe_secret(&self, _name: &str, _namespace_path: &[String]) -> Result<SecretInfo> {
         secret_catalog_not_supported()
     }
     /// Open a job by id, returning a handle with its record already

rust/lancedb/src/function.rs

@@ -493,6 +493,40 @@ pub struct FunctionArtifactRequest {
     pub adapter: PythonAdapterSpec,
 }
 
+/// Where a Secret lives, carried as its parts rather than as one string.
+///
+/// A joined id would need a delimiter, and a delimiter has to be excluded from
+/// every name and segment forever, agreed on by both sides, and re-agreed each
+/// time either grows a new way to be configured. Naming the parts costs one
+/// object and settles all of that: nothing here is parsed, so nothing can parse
+/// two ways.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct SecretReference {
+    pub name: String,
+    /// The namespace holding the Secret. Empty is the root, and is omitted from
+    /// the wire so a root binding carries no trace of a feature it does not use.
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Vec::is_empty")]
+    pub namespace_path: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+impl SecretReference {
+    /// A Secret in the root namespace.
+    pub fn new(name: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            name: name.into(),
+            namespace_path: Vec::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// A Secret in `namespace_path`.
+    pub fn in_namespace(name: impl Into<String>, namespace_path: Vec<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            name: name.into(),
+            namespace_path,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// How a Secret reaches the Function that binds it.
 ///
 /// One list rather than a field per delivery mode: a binding is the concept,
@@ -513,7 +547,7 @@ pub enum SecretBinding {
         /// Named `secret_ref` rather than `secret` because a Job payload is
         /// scanned server-side for credential-shaped keys, and a key called
         /// `secret` trips that guard whatever it actually holds.
-        secret_ref: String,
+        secret_ref: SecretReference,
     },
     /// A binding kind introduced by a newer server.
     Unrecognized { kind: String },
@@ -538,7 +572,7 @@ impl SecretBinding {
     }
 
     /// The Secret bound, or `None` for a kind this client cannot read.
-    pub fn secret(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+    pub fn secret(&self) -> Option<&SecretReference> {
         match self {
             Self::Env { secret_ref, .. } => Some(secret_ref),
             Self::Unrecognized { .. } => None,
@@ -549,7 +583,7 @@ impl SecretBinding {
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
 struct EnvSecretBindingWire {
     variable: String,
-    secret_ref: String,
+    secret_ref: SecretReference,
 }
 
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for SecretBinding {
@@ -581,7 +615,7 @@ impl Serialize for SecretBinding {
         struct EnvBindingRef<'a> {
             kind: &'static str,
             variable: &'a str,
-            secret_ref: &'a str,
+            secret_ref: &'a SecretReference,
         }
 
         #[derive(Serialize)]

rust/lancedb/src/remote/db.rs

@@ -278,6 +278,22 @@ pub struct RemoteHostOverrides {
     pub sql: Option<String>,
 }
 
+/// Attach a namespace path to a Secret request body.
+///
+/// A root path is omitted rather than sent empty, so a root request is byte
+/// identical to one from a client that predates namespace addressing.
+fn add_namespace_path(body: &mut serde_json::Value, namespace_path: &[String]) {
+    if namespace_path.is_empty() {
+        return;
+    }
+    body["namespace_path"] = serde_json::Value::Array(
+        namespace_path
+            .iter()
+            .map(|segment| serde_json::Value::String(segment.clone()))
+            .collect(),
+    );
+}
+
 impl RemoteDatabase {
     pub(crate) fn try_new(
         uri: &str,
@@ -599,6 +615,10 @@ struct RemoteDropFunctionResponse {
 struct RemoteCreateSecretRequest<'a> {
     name: &'a str,
     value: &'a str,
+    /// Omitted at the root, so a request from a client that predates namespaces
+    /// is byte-identical to one that does not use them.
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "<[String]>::is_empty")]
+    namespace_path: &'a [String],
 }
 
 /// Replace the credential behind a Secret the database already holds.
@@ -606,15 +626,21 @@ struct RemoteCreateSecretRequest<'a> {
 struct RemoteAlterSecretRequest<'a> {
     name: &'a str,
     value: &'a str,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "<[String]>::is_empty")]
+    namespace_path: &'a [String],
 }
 
 /// One page of a Secret listing. A struct rather than an inline object so the
 /// request and the response are declared the same way -- a reader of one finds
 /// the other.
 #[derive(serde::Serialize)]
-struct RemoteListSecretsRequest {
+struct RemoteListSecretsRequest<'a> {
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     page_token: Option<String>,
+    /// Omitted at the root, so a listing from a client that predates namespaces
+    /// is byte-identical to one that does not use them.
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "<[String]>::is_empty")]
+    namespace_path: &'a [String],
 }
 
 #[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
@@ -733,29 +759,43 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> Database for RemoteDatabase<S> {
         Ok(response.dropped)
     }
 
-    async fn create_secret(&self, name: &str, value: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn create_secret(
+        &self,
+        name: &str,
+        value: &str,
+        namespace_path: &[String],
+    ) -> Result<()> {
         self.post_secret_write(
             "/v1/secrets/create",
-            &RemoteCreateSecretRequest { name, value },
+            &RemoteCreateSecretRequest {
+                name,
+                value,
+                namespace_path,
+            },
         )
         .await
     }
 
-    async fn alter_secret(&self, name: &str, value: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn alter_secret(&self, name: &str, value: &str, namespace_path: &[String]) -> Result<()> {
         self.post_secret_write(
             "/v1/secrets/alter",
-            &RemoteAlterSecretRequest { name, value },
+            &RemoteAlterSecretRequest {
+                name,
+                value,
+                namespace_path,
+            },
         )
         .await
     }
 
-    async fn list_secrets(&self) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
+    async fn list_secrets(&self, namespace_path: &[String]) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
         let mut names = Vec::new();
         let mut page_token: Option<String> = None;
         let mut seen_page_tokens = HashSet::new();
         loop {
             let body = RemoteListSecretsRequest {
                 page_token: page_token.clone(),
+                namespace_path,
             };
             let req = self.client.post("/v1/secrets/list").json(&body);
             let (request_id, response) = self.client.send(req).await?;
@@ -780,21 +820,19 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> Database for RemoteDatabase<S> {
         Ok(names)
     }
 
-    async fn drop_secret(&self, name: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn drop_secret(&self, name: &str, namespace_path: &[String]) -> Result<()> {
-        let req = self
+        let mut body = serde_json::json!({ "name": name });
-            .client
+        add_namespace_path(&mut body, namespace_path);
-            .post("/v1/secrets/drop")
+        let req = self.client.post("/v1/secrets/drop").json(&body);
-            .json(&serde_json::json!({ "name": name }));
         let (request_id, response) = self.client.send(req).await?;
         self.client.check_response(&request_id, response).await?;
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    async fn describe_secret(&self, name: &str) -> Result<SecretInfo> {
+    async fn describe_secret(&self, name: &str, namespace_path: &[String]) -> Result<SecretInfo> {
-        let req = self
+        let mut body = serde_json::json!({ "name": name });
-            .client
+        add_namespace_path(&mut body, namespace_path);
-            .post("/v1/secrets/describe")
+        let req = self.client.post("/v1/secrets/describe").json(&body);
-            .json(&serde_json::json!({ "name": name }));
         let (request_id, response) = self.client.send(req).await?;
         let response = self.client.check_response(&request_id, response).await?;
         response.json().await.err_to_http(request_id)
@@ -2926,11 +2964,11 @@ mod tests {
                 http::Response::builder().status(200).body("{}").unwrap()
             });
             if call {
-                conn.create_secret("openai-prod", "sk-live-0001")
+                conn.create_secret("openai-prod", "sk-live-0001", &[])
                     .await
                     .unwrap();
             } else {
-                conn.alter_secret("openai-prod", "sk-live-0001")
+                conn.alter_secret("openai-prod", "sk-live-0001", &[])
                     .await
                     .unwrap();
             }
@@ -2952,7 +2990,7 @@ mod tests {
             http::Response::builder().status(200).body(body).unwrap()
         });
         assert_eq!(
-            conn.list_secrets().await.unwrap(),
+            conn.list_secrets(&[]).await.unwrap(),
             vec!["openai-prod".to_string(), "hf-prod".to_string()]
         );
     }
@@ -2967,7 +3005,7 @@ mod tests {
                 .body(r#"{"secrets":[{"name":"openai-prod"}],"page_token":"same"}"#)
                 .unwrap()
         });
-        let error = conn.list_secrets().await.unwrap_err();
+        let error = conn.list_secrets(&[]).await.unwrap_err();
         assert!(
             error.to_string().contains("repeated a page_token"),
             "{error}"
@@ -2983,7 +3021,38 @@ mod tests {
             assert_eq!(body, serde_json::json!({"name": "openai-prod"}));
             http::Response::builder().status(200).body("{}").unwrap()
         });
-        conn.drop_secret("openai-prod").await.unwrap();
+        conn.drop_secret("openai-prod", &[]).await.unwrap();
+    }
+
+    /// A namespace path is sent when there is one and omitted when there is
+    /// not, so a root request stays byte identical to one from a client that
+    /// predates namespace addressing -- which is what lets the parameter ship
+    /// before every server implements it.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_a_namespace_path_is_sent_only_when_it_is_not_root() {
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(|request| {
+            let body: serde_json::Value =
+                serde_json::from_slice(request.body().unwrap().as_bytes().unwrap()).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(
+                body,
+                serde_json::json!({
+                    "name": "openai-prod",
+                    "namespace_path": ["prod", "vision"],
+                })
+            );
+            http::Response::builder().status(200).body("{}").unwrap()
+        });
+        conn.drop_secret("openai-prod", &["prod".to_string(), "vision".to_string()])
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(|request| {
+            let body: serde_json::Value =
+                serde_json::from_slice(request.body().unwrap().as_bytes().unwrap()).unwrap();
+            assert!(body.get("namespace_path").is_none(), "{body}");
+            http::Response::builder().status(200).body("{}").unwrap()
+        });
+        conn.drop_secret("openai-prod", &[]).await.unwrap();
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]

rust/lancedb/tests/first_class_function_slice1.rs

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 use lancedb::function::{
     FunctionApplication, FunctionBinding, FunctionVersion, RefreshColumnResult, SecretBinding,
+    SecretReference,
 };
 use serde_json::Value;
 
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ fn function_version_job_result_matches_shared_canonical_golden() {
         version.secret_bindings(),
         [SecretBinding::Env {
             variable: "HF_TOKEN".to_string(),
-            secret_ref: "hf-prod".to_string(),
+            secret_ref: SecretReference::new("hf-prod"),
         }]
     );
     assert_eq!(
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ fn canonical_client_values_carry_bindings_and_no_credentials() {
 
     assert_eq!(
         canonical["secret_bindings"],
-        serde_json::json!([{"kind": "env", "variable": "HF_TOKEN", "secret_ref": "hf-prod"}])
+        serde_json::json!([{"kind": "env", "variable": "HF_TOKEN", "secret_ref": {"name": "hf-prod"}}])
     );
     assert_no_secret_values(&canonical);
 }
@@ -198,8 +199,8 @@ fn canonical_client_values_carry_bindings_and_no_credentials() {
 fn an_unknown_binding_kind_is_forward_decodable() {
     let mut result = job_result("remote_function_job.json");
     result["secret_bindings"] = serde_json::json!([
-        {"kind": "env", "variable": "HF_TOKEN", "secret_ref": "hf-prod"},
+        {"kind": "env", "variable": "HF_TOKEN", "secret_ref": {"name": "hf-prod"}},
-        {"kind": "file", "path": "/run/secrets/tok", "secret_ref": "hf-prod"},
+        {"kind": "file", "path": "/run/secrets/tok", "secret_ref": {"name": "hf-prod"}},
     ]);
 
     let version = FunctionVersion::from_json(&result.to_string()).expect("future binding kind");

rust/lancedb/tests/first_class_function_slice2.rs

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use std::fs;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 use lancedb::Error;
-use lancedb::function::{FunctionRegistrationRequest, SecretBinding};
+use lancedb::function::{FunctionRegistrationRequest, SecretBinding, SecretReference};
 use serde_json::Value;
 
 fn fixture(name: &str) -> String {
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ fn secret_bound_registration_request_matches_shared_canonical_golden() {
         request.secret_bindings,
         [SecretBinding::Env {
             variable: "OPENAI_API_KEY".to_string(),
-            secret_ref: "openai-prod".to_string(),
+            secret_ref: SecretReference::new("openai-prod"),
         }]
     );
     assert_eq!(

rust/lancedb/tests/fixtures/first_class_functions/v1/remote_function_job.json

@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@
       {
         "kind": "env",
         "variable": "HF_TOKEN",
-        "secret_ref": "hf-prod"
+        "secret_ref": {
+          "name": "hf-prod"
+        }
       }
     ]
   },

rust/lancedb/tests/fixtures/first_class_functions/v1/remote_function_secret_registration_request.canonical.json

@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"artifact":{"adapter":{"kind":"scalar_to_arrow_batch","version":1},"content":{"data":"ZnJvbSBfX2Z1dHVyZV9fIGltcG9ydCBhbm5vdGF0aW9ucwoKZGVmIGFuYWx5emVfY2FwdGlvbihjYXB0aW9uOiBzdHIpIC0+IHN0cjoKICAgIHJldHVybiBjYXB0aW9uLnN0cmlwKCkK","encoding":"base64"},"digest":"sha256:800462c9ad15151a80f83f85b8912ff149300c1563e07f58448f099afcd0d077","entrypoint":"analyze_caption","kind":"python_callable"},"name":"analyze_caption","runtime":{"env":{"MODE":"test"},"environment":{"kind":"pip","packages":["openai==3.7.0"]},"kind":"python","python_version":"3.12"},"secret_bindings":[{"kind":"env","secret_ref":"openai-prod","variable":"OPENAI_API_KEY"}],"signature":{"inputs":[{"arrow_type":"utf8","name":"caption","nullable":false}],"output":{"arrow_type":"utf8","kind":"scalar","nullable":false}}}
+{"artifact":{"adapter":{"kind":"scalar_to_arrow_batch","version":1},"content":{"data":"ZnJvbSBfX2Z1dHVyZV9fIGltcG9ydCBhbm5vdGF0aW9ucwoKZGVmIGFuYWx5emVfY2FwdGlvbihjYXB0aW9uOiBzdHIpIC0+IHN0cjoKICAgIHJldHVybiBjYXB0aW9uLnN0cmlwKCkK","encoding":"base64"},"digest":"sha256:800462c9ad15151a80f83f85b8912ff149300c1563e07f58448f099afcd0d077","entrypoint":"analyze_caption","kind":"python_callable"},"name":"analyze_caption","runtime":{"env":{"MODE":"test"},"environment":{"kind":"pip","packages":["openai==3.7.0"]},"kind":"python","python_version":"3.12"},"secret_bindings":[{"kind":"env","secret_ref":{"name":"openai-prod"},"variable":"OPENAI_API_KEY"}],"signature":{"inputs":[{"arrow_type":"utf8","name":"caption","nullable":false}],"output":{"arrow_type":"utf8","kind":"scalar","nullable":false}}}

rust/lancedb/tests/fixtures/first_class_functions/v1/remote_function_secret_registration_request.json

@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@
     {
       "kind": "env",
       "variable": "OPENAI_API_KEY",
-      "secret_ref": "openai-prod"
+      "secret_ref": {
+        "name": "openai-prod"
+      }
     }
   ]
 }

rust/lancedb/tests/fixtures/first_class_functions/v1/remote_function_version.canonical.json

@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"artifact":{"digest":"sha256:code","entrypoint":"embed","kind":"python_callable"},"created_at":"2026-08-21T00:00:00Z","environment_digest":"sha256:environment","name":"embed","runtime":{"env":{"TOKENIZERS_PARALLELISM":"false"},"environment":{"kind":"pip","packages":["sentence-transformers>=3"]},"kind":"python","python_version":"3.12"},"runtime_digest":"sha256:runtime","secret_bindings":[{"kind":"env","secret_ref":"hf-prod","variable":"HF_TOKEN"}],"signature":{"inputs":[{"arrow_type":"utf8","name":"text","nullable":true}],"output":{"arrow_type":"list<float32>","kind":"scalar","nullable":false}},"version":"fv_01K3EXACT"}
+{"artifact":{"digest":"sha256:code","entrypoint":"embed","kind":"python_callable"},"created_at":"2026-08-21T00:00:00Z","environment_digest":"sha256:environment","name":"embed","runtime":{"env":{"TOKENIZERS_PARALLELISM":"false"},"environment":{"kind":"pip","packages":["sentence-transformers>=3"]},"kind":"python","python_version":"3.12"},"runtime_digest":"sha256:runtime","secret_bindings":[{"kind":"env","secret_ref":{"name":"hf-prod"},"variable":"HF_TOKEN"}],"signature":{"inputs":[{"arrow_type":"utf8","name":"text","nullable":true}],"output":{"arrow_type":"list<float32>","kind":"scalar","nullable":false}},"version":"fv_01K3EXACT"}