Built-in Functions

KalamDB provides several built-in functions for ID generation, user context, and timestamps.

ID Generation

SNOWFLAKE_ID()

Generate a unique 64-bit snowflake ID (time-ordered, globally unique):


SELECT SNOWFLAKE_ID();
-- Returns: 7302451094528000001

Commonly used as the default for primary keys:


CREATE TABLE app.messages (
  id BIGINT PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT SNOWFLAKE_ID(),
  content TEXT NOT NULL
);

UUID_V7()

Generate a UUIDv7 (time-ordered UUID):


SELECT UUID_V7();
-- Returns: 0193a5e0-7a1b-7000-8000-000000000001

ULID()

Generate a ULID (Universally Unique Lexicographically Sortable Identifier):


SELECT ULID();
-- Returns: 01HQJK5M5R3YJQWXHN4QWXYN01

Context Functions

CURRENT_USER()

Returns the username of the currently authenticated user:


SELECT CURRENT_USER();
-- Returns: 'alice'

Useful for audit columns:


CREATE TABLE app.audit_log (
  id BIGINT PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT SNOWFLAKE_ID(),
  action TEXT NOT NULL,
  performed_by TEXT DEFAULT CURRENT_USER(),
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW()
);

Date & Time

NOW()

Returns the current timestamp:


SELECT NOW();
-- Returns: 2026-02-18T10:30:00.000Z

Commonly used as a default for timestamp columns:


CREATE TABLE app.events (
  id BIGINT PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT SNOWFLAKE_ID(),
  event_type TEXT NOT NULL,
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW()
);

Function Summary

Function	Return Type	Description
`SNOWFLAKE_ID()`	`BIGINT`	Time-ordered 64-bit unique ID
`UUID_V7()`	`TEXT`	Time-ordered UUID v7
`ULID()`	`TEXT`	Lexicographically sortable unique ID
`CURRENT_USER()`	`TEXT`	Authenticated username
`NOW()`	`TIMESTAMP`	Current server timestamp