How to import Sanity client in Sanity Studio v3 document files?
In Sanity v3, the old import client from 'part:@sanity/base/client' pattern has been replaced with the useClient hook for React components and context-based access for schema functions.
For React Components
When you need the client in a React component (like custom tools, form components, or document actions), use the useClient hook:
import { useClient } from 'sanity'
function MyComponent() {
const client = useClient({ apiVersion: '2023-05-24' })
// Use the client
const data = await client.fetch(query)
return <div>{/* ... */}</div>
}For Schema Files (prepare, initialValue, isUnique, etc.)
When you need the client inside schema functions like prepare, initialValue, or isUnique, you access it through the context parameter that's passed to these functions:
In prepare function:
export default defineType({
name: 'myDoc',
type: 'document',
preview: {
select: {
title: 'title',
id: '_id'
},
prepare: async (selection, context) => {
const { getClient } = context
const client = getClient({ apiVersion: '2023-05-24' })
const parentData = await client.fetch('*[_type == "parent"][0]')
return {
title: `${parentData.title} - ${selection.title}`
}
}
}
})In initialValue:
defineField({
name: 'author',
type: 'reference',
to: { type: 'author' },
initialValue: async (props, context) => {
const { getClient } = context
const client = getClient({ apiVersion: '2023-05-24' })
return await client.fetch(`
*[_type == "author"][0]{
"_type": "reference",
"_ref": _id
}
`)
}
})In isUnique for slugs:
const isSlugUnique = async (value, context) => {
const { client } = context // Note: client is directly available here
const slugs = await client.fetch(`*[defined(slug.current)].slug.current`)
return !slugs.includes(value)
}
// In your schema:
{
name: 'slug',
type: 'slug',
options: {
source: 'title',
isUnique: isSlugUnique
}
}Handling Multiple Environments
For multiple environments (different datasets), the client obtained through useClient or getClient is already configured with your current Studio environment settings. It automatically uses the correct dataset, project ID, and API version based on your sanity.config.ts configuration.
If you need to explicitly target a different dataset:
const client = useClient({ apiVersion: '2023-05-24' })
const productionClient = client.withConfig({ dataset: 'production' })Important Notes
- Don't use
getCliClientfrom 'sanity/cli' in schema files or Studio components - this was causing your "Buffer is not defined" error. That method is meant for CLI scripts only. - The
hiddenproperty doesn't support async functions or receive context, so you'll need to use a custom field component if you need client access for conditional visibility. - Different schema functions receive context differently -
isUniqueprovidesclientdirectly, whileprepareandinitialValueprovidegetClient.
This approach ensures your client is properly configured for the current Studio environment without manual configuration.
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