Apache CouchDB

Apache CouchDB is an open-source distributed document-oriented NoSQL database governed by the Apache Software Foundation. It uses JSON for data storage, a RESTful HTTP/JSON API for all database operations, and the Couch Replication Protocol for multi-primary synchronization across servers, mobile devices, and browsers. CouchDB supports Mango queries, MapReduce views, and offline-first application architectures.

1 APIs 8 Features

ApacheDatabaseDocument StoreJSONNoSQLOpen SourceReplicationREST

APIs

Apache CouchDB HTTP API

CouchDB exposes a complete RESTful HTTP/JSON API covering server and database management, document CRUD operations, bulk operations, design documents with MapReduce views, Mango...

Pricing Plans

Apache Couchdb Plans Pricing

3 plans

PLANS

Rate Limits

Apache Couchdb Rate Limits

5 limits

RATE LIMITS

FinOps

Apache Couchdb Finops

FINOPS

Features

RESTful HTTP/JSON API

All database operations are performed via a clean HTTP API using JSON, making it accessible from any HTTP-capable client.

Multi-Primary Replication

The Couch Replication Protocol enables seamless bidirectional synchronization across servers, mobile, and browser environments.

Offline-First Architecture

Applications can operate fully offline and sync changes when connectivity is restored, enabled by conflict-aware replication.

Mango Query Language

Declarative JSON-based query language for ad-hoc document queries with index support, similar to MongoDB query syntax.

MapReduce Views

Persistent, incrementally updated secondary indexes defined via JavaScript MapReduce functions stored as design documents.

Changes Feed

Real-time notification feed of all database changes, supporting long-polling, continuous, and event-source modes.

Cluster Support

Built-in clustering with consistent hashing for horizontal scaling and high availability across multiple nodes.

MVCC and ACID

Multi-Version Concurrency Control ensures non-blocking reads; document updates are ACID-compliant at the document level.

Use Cases

Mobile Sync Applications

Sync data between a CouchDB server and PouchDB in mobile/browser apps, supporting offline-first user experiences.

Content Management

Store and retrieve rich JSON documents for CMS, blogs, catalogs, and document management systems.

IoT Data Collection

Edge devices write data locally to CouchDB and replicate to central servers when connected.

Multi-Region Replication

Replicate database contents across geographic regions for low-latency reads and disaster recovery.

User Data Storage

Per-user database pattern for storing isolated user data with built-in CouchDB authentication.

Event Sourcing

Use the changes feed as an event stream for event-driven architectures and audit logging.

Integrations

PouchDB

Browser and Node.js database that syncs with CouchDB via the Couch Replication Protocol.

IBM Cloudant

IBM Cloudant is a fully managed cloud database service based on Apache CouchDB, API-compatible.

Docker

Official CouchDB Docker images for container-based deployments.

Kubernetes / Helm

Official Helm chart for deploying CouchDB clusters on Kubernetes.

Apache Kafka

CouchDB changes feed can be consumed and bridged to Kafka for event streaming pipelines.

Nginx / Load Balancers

CouchDB clusters are typically fronted by Nginx or HAProxy for SSL termination and load balancing.

Event Specifications

Apache CouchDB _changes Feed

AsyncAPI 2.6 description of the Apache CouchDB database `_changes` feed. CouchDB exposes a per-database, append-only stream of document mutations at `GET /{db}/_changes` (and `P...

ASYNCAPI

Semantic Vocabularies

Apache Couchdb Http Api Context

26 classes · 62 properties

JSON-LD

API Governance Rules

Apache CouchDB API Rules

28 rules · 11 errors 15 warnings 2 info

3 properties

3 fields

EXAMPLE

Resources

GitHubOrganization

Sources

aid: apache-couchdb
name: Apache CouchDB
description: Apache CouchDB is an open-source distributed document-oriented NoSQL database governed by the Apache Software
  Foundation. It uses JSON for data storage, a RESTful HTTP/JSON API for all database operations, and the Couch Replication
  Protocol for multi-primary synchronization across servers, mobile devices, and browsers. CouchDB supports Mango queries,
  MapReduce views, and offline-first application architectures.
type: Index
position: Consumer
access: 3rd-Party
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
tags:
- Apache
- Database
- Document Store
- JSON
- NoSQL
- Open Source
- Replication
- REST
created: '2026-03-16'
modified: '2026-05-29'
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/apache-couchdb/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
specificationVersion: '0.19'
apis:
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  name: Apache CouchDB HTTP API
  description: CouchDB exposes a complete RESTful HTTP/JSON API covering server and database management, document CRUD operations,
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    authentication, and cluster administration.
  humanURL: https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/api/index.html
  tags:
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  - Database
  - Document
  - HTTP
  - JSON
  - Mango
  - NoSQL
  - Replication
  - REST
  - Views
  properties:
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  - type: SDKs
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  - type: SDKs
    url: https://pypi.org/project/couchdb/
    title: Python SDK
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://pypi.org/project/aiocouch/
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  - type: Tools
    url: https://github.com/apache/couchdb-fauxton
    title: Fauxton Web UI
  - type: Tools
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  - type: Tools
    url: https://github.com/apache/couchdb-helm
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maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: info@apievangelist.com
common:
- type: LinkedIn
  url: https://www.linkedin.com/company/apache-couchdb
- type: Portal
  url: https://couchdb.apache.org/
- type: Documentation
  url: https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/
- type: GettingStarted
  url: https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/intro/
- type: Blog
  url: https://blog.couchdb.org/
- type: ReleaseNotes
  url: https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/whatsnew/
- type: Support
  url: https://couchdb.apache.org/#mailing-list
- type: GitHubOrganization
  url: https://github.com/apache
- type: StackOverflow
  url: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/couchdb
- type: Features
  data:
  - name: RESTful HTTP/JSON API
    description: All database operations are performed via a clean HTTP API using JSON, making it accessible from any HTTP-capable
      client.
  - name: Multi-Primary Replication
    description: The Couch Replication Protocol enables seamless bidirectional synchronization across servers, mobile, and
      browser environments.
  - name: Offline-First Architecture
    description: Applications can operate fully offline and sync changes when connectivity is restored, enabled by conflict-aware
      replication.
  - name: Mango Query Language
    description: Declarative JSON-based query language for ad-hoc document queries with index support, similar to MongoDB
      query syntax.
  - name: MapReduce Views
    description: Persistent, incrementally updated secondary indexes defined via JavaScript MapReduce functions stored as
      design documents.
  - name: Changes Feed
    description: Real-time notification feed of all database changes, supporting long-polling, continuous, and event-source
      modes.
  - name: Cluster Support
    description: Built-in clustering with consistent hashing for horizontal scaling and high availability across multiple
      nodes.
  - name: MVCC and ACID
    description: Multi-Version Concurrency Control ensures non-blocking reads; document updates are ACID-compliant at the
      document level.
- type: UseCases
  data:
  - name: Mobile Sync Applications
    description: Sync data between a CouchDB server and PouchDB in mobile/browser apps, supporting offline-first user experiences.
  - name: Content Management
    description: Store and retrieve rich JSON documents for CMS, blogs, catalogs, and document management systems.
  - name: IoT Data Collection
    description: Edge devices write data locally to CouchDB and replicate to central servers when connected.
  - name: Multi-Region Replication
    description: Replicate database contents across geographic regions for low-latency reads and disaster recovery.
  - name: User Data Storage
    description: Per-user database pattern for storing isolated user data with built-in CouchDB authentication.
  - name: Event Sourcing
    description: Use the changes feed as an event stream for event-driven architectures and audit logging.
- type: Integrations
  data:
  - name: PouchDB
    description: Browser and Node.js database that syncs with CouchDB via the Couch Replication Protocol.
  - name: IBM Cloudant
    description: IBM Cloudant is a fully managed cloud database service based on Apache CouchDB, API-compatible.
  - name: Docker
    description: Official CouchDB Docker images for container-based deployments.
  - name: Kubernetes / Helm
    description: Official Helm chart for deploying CouchDB clusters on Kubernetes.
  - name: Apache Kafka
    description: CouchDB changes feed can be consumed and bridged to Kafka for event streaming pipelines.
  - name: Nginx / Load Balancers
    description: CouchDB clusters are typically fronted by Nginx or HAProxy for SSL termination and load balancing.
- type: SpectralRules
  url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/apache-couchdb/refs/heads/main/rules/apache-couchdb-spectral-rules.yml
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