Collection Alias

Milvus supports specifying a unique alias for a collection.

A collection alias is globally unique, hence you cannot assign the same alias to different collections. However, you can assign multiple aliases to one collection.

The following example is based on the alias publication.

Create a collection alias

Specify an an alias for a collection.

Python Node.js CLI

from pymilvus import utility
utility.create_alias(
collection_name = "book",
alias = "publication"
)

await milvusClient.collectionManager.createAlias({
  collection_name: "book",
  alias: "publication",
});

create alias -c book -a publication

Parameter	Description
`collection_name`	Name of the collection to create alias on.
`alias`	Collection alias to create.

Parameter	Description
`collection_name`	Name of the collection to create alias on.
`alias`	Collection alias to create.

Option	Description
-c	Name of the collection to create alias on.
-a	Collection alias to create.
-A (Optional)	Flag to transfer the alias to a specified collection.

Drop a collection alias

Drop a specified alias.

Python Node.js CLI

from pymilvus import utility
utility.drop_alias(
alias = "publication"
)

await milvusClient.collectionManager.dropAlias({
  alias: "publication",
});

delete alias -c book -a publication

Parameter	Description
`alias`	Collection alias to drop.

Parameter	Description
`alias`	Collection alias to drop.

Option	Description
-c	Name of the collection to drop alias on.
-a	Collection alias to drop.

Alter a collection alias

Alter an existing alias to another collection.

Python Node.js CLI

from pymilvus import utility
utility.alter_alias(
collection_name = "book",
alias = "publication"
)

await milvusClient.collectionManager.alterAlias({
  collection_name: "book",
  alias: "publication",
});

create alias -c book -A -a publication

Parameter	Description
`collection_name`	Name of the collection to alter alias to.
`alias`	Collection alias to alter.

Parameter	Description
`collection_name`	Name of the collection to alter alias to.
`alias`	Collection alias to alter.

Option	Description
-c	Name of the collection to alter alias to.
-a	Collection alias to alter.
-A	Flag to transfer the alias to a specified collection.

Limits

Feature	Maximum limit
Length of an alias	255 characters

What's next

Learn more basic operations of Milvus:
Explore API references for Milvus SDKs:
- PyMilvus API reference
- Node.js API reference