> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.larksh.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Reading data

> Read data from your Lark database

# Reading data

Sometimes you just need to fetch data once without subscribing to ongoing changes. The Lark SDK provides two equivalent methods for this.

## `once(eventType)`

Reads data at a reference and returns a promise that resolves with a `DataSnapshot`:

```typescript theme={null}
import { LarkDatabase } from "@lark-sh/client";

const db = new LarkDatabase("my-project/my-database", { anonymous: true });

const snapshot = await db.ref("users/alice").once("value");

console.log(snapshot.val());
// { name: "Alice", score: 42, online: true }
```

## `get()`

An alias for `once('value')`. Same behavior, shorter syntax:

```typescript theme={null}
const snapshot = await db.ref("users/alice").get();

console.log(snapshot.val());
// { name: "Alice", score: 42, online: true }
```

## Working with snapshots

Both methods return a `DataSnapshot`. Here are the key properties and methods:

### `snapshot.val()`

Returns the data as a JavaScript value (object, array, string, number, boolean, or `null`):

```typescript theme={null}
const snapshot = await db.ref("users/alice").get();
const user = snapshot.val(); // { name: "Alice", score: 42 }
```

### `snapshot.exists()`

Returns `true` if data exists at this location, `false` if it's `null`:

```typescript theme={null}
const snapshot = await db.ref("users/nonexistent").get();

if (snapshot.exists()) {
  console.log(snapshot.val());
} else {
  console.log("No data here");
}
```

### `snapshot.key`

The key (last path segment) of the location this snapshot represents:

```typescript theme={null}
const snapshot = await db.ref("users/alice").get();
console.log(snapshot.key); // "alice"
```

<Tip>
  If you need data that stays up to date as it changes, use [real-time subscriptions](/lark-sdk/subscriptions) instead. `once()` and `get()` fetch a single point-in-time snapshot and don't update afterward.
</Tip>