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supabase/apps/temp-docs/docs/guides/database/extensions/plv8.mdx
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---
id: plv8
title: "plv8: Javascript Language"
description: Javascript language for PostgreSQL.
---
# plv8: Javascript Language
The `plv8` extension allows you use Javascript within Postgres.
## Overview
While Postgres natively runs SQL, it can also run other "procedural languages".
`plv8` allows you to run Javascript code - specifically any code that runs on the [V8 Javascript engine](https://v8.dev).
It can be used for database functions, triggers, queries and more.
## Usage
### Enabling
<Tabs
defaultActiveId="UI"
>
<TabPanel id="UI" label="Dashboard UI">
```sh
1. Go to the Database page.
2. Click on "Extensions" in the sidebar.
3. Search for "plv8".
4. Click the toggle.
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="SQL" label="SQL">
```sql
-- Example: enable the "plv8" extension
create extension plv8;
-- Example: disable the "plv8" extension
drop extension if exists plv8;
```
Even though the SQL code is `create extension`, this is the equivalent of "enabling the extension".
To disable an extension you can call `drop extension`.
Procedural languages are automatically installed within `pg_catalog`, so you don't need to specify a schema.
</TabPanel>
</Tabs>
### Creating `plv8` functions
Functions written in `plv8` are written just like any other PostgreSQL functions, only
with the `language` identifier set to `plv8`.
```sql
create or replace function function_name()
returns void as $$
// V8 Javascript
// code
// here
$$ language plv8;
```
You can call `plv8` functions like any other Postgres function:
<Tabs
defaultActiveId="SQL"
>
<TabPanel id="SQL" label="SQL">
```sql
select function_name();
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="JS" label="Javascript">
```js
const { data, error } = supabase.rpc('function_name')
```
</TabPanel>
</Tabs>
## Examples
### Scalar Functions
A [scalar function](https://plv8.github.io/#scalar-function-calls) is anything that takes in some user input and returns a single result.
```sql
create or replace function hello_world(name text)
returns text as $$
let output = `Hello, ${name}!`;
return output;
$$ language plv8;
```
### Executing SQL
You can execute SQL within `plv8` code using the [`plv8.execute` function](https://plv8.github.io/#plv8-execute).
```sql
create or replace function update_user(id bigint, first_name text)
returns smallint as $$
var num_affected = plv8.execute(
'update profiles set first_name = $1 where id = $2',
[first_name, id]
);
return num_affected;
$$ language plv8;
```
### Set-returning Functions
A [set-returning function](https://plv8.github.io/#set-returning-function-calls) is anything that returns a full set of results - for example, rows in a table.
```sql
create or replace function get_messages()
returns setof messages as $$
var json_result = plv8.execute(
'select * from messages'
);
return json_result;
$$ language plv8;
```
## Resources
- Official [`plv8` documentation](https://plv8.github.io/).
- [plv8 Github Repository](https://github.com/plv8/plv8).