Core Redis modeling guidance — choose the right data structure (String, Hash, List, Set, Sorted Set, JSON, Stream, Vector Set) and use consistent colon-separated key names. Use when designing a Redis data model, caching objects, deciding between Hash and JSON, building counters, leaderboards, membership sets, or session stores, or when reviewing/cleaning up Redis key naming.
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Just instructions. No commands, network, or file access.
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Core Redis modeling guidance — choose the right data structure (String, Hash, List, Set, Sorted Set, JSON, Stream, Vector Set) and use consistent colon-separated key names. Use when designing a Redis data model, caching objects, deciding between Hash and JSON, building counters, leaderboards, membership sets, or session stores, or when reviewing/cleaning up Redis key naming.
Foundational guidance for modeling data in Redis. Covers data-type selection and key-name conventions — the two decisions that most directly drive memory, performance, and maintainability.
Version history
Pick the type that matches the access pattern, not just the shape of the data.
| Use case | Recommended type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Simple values, counters | String | Atomic INCR/DECR, SET/GET |
| Object with independently updated fields | Hash | Per-field reads/writes, no whole-object rewrite |
| Queue, recent-N items | List | O(1) push/pop at ends |
| Unique items, membership checks | Set | O(1) SADD/SISMEMBER/SCARD |
| Rankings, score-based ranges | Sorted Set | Score-ordered; ZADD/ZRANGE/ZRANK |
| Nested / hierarchical data | JSON | Path-level updates, nested arrays, RQE indexing |
| Event log, fan-out messaging | Stream | Persistent, consumer groups |
| Vector similarity | Vector Set | Native vector storage with HNSW |
Common anti-pattern: stuffing a flat object into a serialized string. Updating one field means fetch + parse + mutate + rewrite. Use a Hash instead.
See references/choose-data-structure.md for full rationale and Python/Java examples.
Use colon-separated segments with a stable hierarchy:
{entity}:{id}:{attribute}
user:1001:profile
user:1001:settings
order:2024:items
session:abc123
article:987:likes
game:space-invaders:leaderboard
Rules of thumb:
User_1001_Profile is bad).tenant:42:user:7:cart) so scans and ACLs can target a tenant cleanly.See references/key-naming.md for cleanup examples and edge cases.
In these kits
Works with
Claude, Codex, Cursor & more