Server functions

Not everything in an app can safely or efficiently happen on the user’s device. Some tasks need extra security, reliability, or processing power. That’s where server functions (sometimes called edge functions) come in. Server functions handle important work behind the scenes, like talking to your database, checking permissions, or processing payments. Instead of running this logic directly in a user’s browser or mobile app, where it could be slower or less secure, the function runs on a server. This keeps sensitive information safe and makes sure your app behaves consistently for every user. Common use cases include:

• Handling payments, authentication, or other sensitive logic
• Receiving webhooks from third-party services like Stripe or GitHub
• Generating images or social preview cards on demand
• Calling external AI APIs like OpenAI
• Sending transactional emails
• Building messaging bots for Slack, Discord, or other platforms

Watch the video below for an introduction to using APIs and server functions in your app:

​

View server functions

To open the server functions settings for your project’s database:

1. Open your Bolt project.
2. In the top center of the screen, click the database icon.
3. Click Server Functions.

The Server Functions screen displays all server-side (edge) functions that exist in your project. You can use the list to track and debug the backend logic that runs alongside your database.

​

View logs

To view logs for a server function, click View Logs: To view details for an individual record, click View Log Details to see its JSON record:

​

Delete server functions

To delete a server function:

1. Open your Bolt project.
2. In the top center of the screen, click the database icon, then click Server Functions.
3. Find the function you want to delete, then click the trash can icon.
4. Click Delete to confirm.