# SkillPatch skill: azure-storage-queue-ts

This skill provides comprehensive guidance for using the Azure Queue Storage TypeScript/JavaScript SDK (@azure/storage-queue). It covers authentication methods (Entra token, connection string, shared key, SAS token), queue management operations, and message operations including sending, receiving, peeking, and deleting. Designed to help agents implement message queue workflows on Azure using the 12.x SDK.

You (the agent) were given this URL and asked to use this skill. This is a **public** skill — no SkillPatch account, API key, or prior setup is required. Two ways to use it:

**1. Use it right now** — the skill's complete file tree (SKILL.md + all reference files) is inlined below; read `SKILL.md` first, then follow it, consulting the other files as it directs.

**2. Install the exact package onto disk** (recommended if you can run a shell — this reproduces the skill byte-for-byte, including any binary assets that can't be inlined):

```bash
mkdir -p .claude/skills/azure-storage-queue-ts
curl -sSL https://skillpatch.dev/install_skill/azure-storage-queue-ts | tar -xz -C .claude/skills/
```

(`.claude/skills/` is Claude Code's convention; use whatever directory your agent loads skills from.)


---

## Skill files (1)

- `SKILL.md`


### `SKILL.md`

````markdown
---
name: azure-storage-queue-ts
description: |
  Azure Queue Storage JavaScript/TypeScript SDK (@azure/storage-queue) for message queue operations. Use for sending, receiving, peeking, and deleting messages in queues. Supports visibility timeout, message encoding, and batch operations. Triggers: "queue storage", "@azure/storage-queue", "QueueServiceClient", "QueueClient", "send message", "receive message", "dequeue", "visibility timeout".
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: Microsoft
  version: "1.0.0"
  package: '@azure/storage-queue'
---

# @azure/storage-queue (TypeScript/JavaScript)

SDK for Azure Queue Storage operations — send, receive, peek, and manage messages in queues.

## Installation

```bash
npm install @azure/storage-queue @azure/identity
```

**Current Version**: 12.x  
**Node.js**: >= 18.0.0

## Environment Variables

```bash
AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_NAME=<account-name>
AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_KEY=<account-key>
# OR connection string
AZURE_STORAGE_CONNECTION_STRING=DefaultEndpointsProtocol=https;AccountName=...
AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod # Required only if DefaultAzureCredential is used in production
```

## Authentication

### Microsoft Entra Token Credential (Recommended)

```typescript
import { QueueServiceClient } from "@azure/storage-queue";
import { DefaultAzureCredential, ManagedIdentityCredential } from "@azure/identity";

// Local dev: DefaultAzureCredential. Production: set AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod or AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=<specific_credential>
const credential = new DefaultAzureCredential({requiredEnvVars: ["AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS"]});
// Or use a specific credential directly in production:
// See https://learn.microsoft.com/javascript/api/overview/azure/identity-readme?view=azure-node-latest#credential-classes
// const credential = new ManagedIdentityCredential();

const accountName = process.env.AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_NAME!;
const client = new QueueServiceClient(
  `https://${accountName}.queue.core.windows.net`,
  credential
);
```

### Connection String

```typescript
import { QueueServiceClient } from "@azure/storage-queue";

const client = QueueServiceClient.fromConnectionString(
  process.env.AZURE_STORAGE_CONNECTION_STRING!
);
```

### StorageSharedKeyCredential (Node.js only)

```typescript
import { QueueServiceClient, StorageSharedKeyCredential } from "@azure/storage-queue";

const accountName = process.env.AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_NAME!;
const accountKey = process.env.AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_KEY!;

const sharedKeyCredential = new StorageSharedKeyCredential(accountName, accountKey);
const client = new QueueServiceClient(
  `https://${accountName}.queue.core.windows.net`,
  sharedKeyCredential
);
```

### SAS Token

```typescript
import { QueueServiceClient } from "@azure/storage-queue";

const accountName = process.env.AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_NAME!;
const sasToken = process.env.AZURE_STORAGE_SAS_TOKEN!;

const client = new QueueServiceClient(
  `https://${accountName}.queue.core.windows.net${sasToken}`
);
```

## Client Hierarchy

```
QueueServiceClient (account level)
└── QueueClient (queue level)
    └── Messages (send, receive, peek, delete)
```

## Queue Operations

### Create Queue

```typescript
const queueClient = client.getQueueClient("my-queue");
await queueClient.create();

// Or create if not exists
await queueClient.createIfNotExists();
```

### List Queues

```typescript
for await (const queue of client.listQueues()) {
  console.log(queue.name);
}

// With prefix filter
for await (const queue of client.listQueues({ prefix: "task-" })) {
  console.log(queue.name);
}
```

### Delete Queue

```typescript
await queueClient.delete();

// Or delete if exists
await queueClient.deleteIfExists();
```

### Get Queue Properties

```typescript
const properties = await queueClient.getProperties();
console.log("Approximate message count:", properties.approximateMessagesCount);
console.log("Metadata:", properties.metadata);
```

### Set Queue Metadata

```typescript
await queueClient.setMetadata({
  department: "engineering",
  priority: "high",
});
```

## Message Operations

### Send Message

```typescript
const queueClient = client.getQueueClient("my-queue");

// Simple message
await queueClient.sendMessage("Hello, World!");

// With options
await queueClient.sendMessage("Delayed message", {
  visibilityTimeout: 60, // Hidden for 60 seconds
  messageTimeToLive: 3600, // Expires in 1 hour
});

// JSON message (must be string)
const task = { type: "process", data: { id: 123 } };
await queueClient.sendMessage(JSON.stringify(task));
```

### Receive Messages

```typescript
// Receive up to 32 messages (default: 1)
const response = await queueClient.receiveMessages({
  numberOfMessages: 10,
  visibilityTimeout: 30, // 30 seconds to process
});

for (const message of response.receivedMessageItems) {
  console.log("Message ID:", message.messageId);
  console.log("Content:", message.messageText);
  console.log("Dequeue Count:", message.dequeueCount);
  console.log("Pop Receipt:", message.popReceipt);
  
  // Process the message...
  
  // Delete after processing
  await queueClient.deleteMessage(message.messageId, message.popReceipt);
}
```

### Peek Messages

Peek without removing from queue (no visibility timeout).

```typescript
const response = await queueClient.peekMessages({
  numberOfMessages: 5,
});

for (const message of response.peekedMessageItems) {
  console.log("Message ID:", message.messageId);
  console.log("Content:", message.messageText);
  // Note: No popReceipt - cannot delete peeked messages
}
```

### Update Message

Extend visibility timeout or update content.

```typescript
// Receive a message
const response = await queueClient.receiveMessages();
const message = response.receivedMessageItems[0];

if (message) {
  // Update content and extend visibility
  const updateResponse = await queueClient.updateMessage(
    message.messageId,
    message.popReceipt,
    "Updated content",
    60 // New visibility timeout in seconds
  );
  
  // Use new popReceipt for subsequent operations
  console.log("New pop receipt:", updateResponse.popReceipt);
}
```

### Delete Message

```typescript
// After receiving
const response = await queueClient.receiveMessages();
const message = response.receivedMessageItems[0];

if (message) {
  await queueClient.deleteMessage(message.messageId, message.popReceipt);
}
```

### Clear All Messages

```typescript
await queueClient.clearMessages();
```

## Message Processing Patterns

### Basic Worker Pattern

```typescript
async function processQueue(queueClient: QueueClient): Promise<void> {
  while (true) {
    const response = await queueClient.receiveMessages({
      numberOfMessages: 10,
      visibilityTimeout: 30,
    });

    if (response.receivedMessageItems.length === 0) {
      // No messages, wait before polling again
      await sleep(5000);
      continue;
    }

    for (const message of response.receivedMessageItems) {
      try {
        await processMessage(message.messageText);
        await queueClient.deleteMessage(message.messageId, message.popReceipt);
      } catch (error) {
        console.error(`Failed to process message ${message.messageId}:`, error);
        // Message will become visible again after timeout
      }
    }
  }
}

async function processMessage(content: string): Promise<void> {
  const task = JSON.parse(content);
  // Process task...
}

function sleep(ms: number): Promise<void> {
  return new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
}
```

### Poison Message Handling

```typescript
const MAX_DEQUEUE_COUNT = 5;

async function processWithPoisonHandling(
  queueClient: QueueClient,
  poisonQueueClient: QueueClient
): Promise<void> {
  const response = await queueClient.receiveMessages({
    numberOfMessages: 10,
    visibilityTimeout: 30,
  });

  for (const message of response.receivedMessageItems) {
    if (message.dequeueCount > MAX_DEQUEUE_COUNT) {
      // Move to poison queue
      await poisonQueueClient.sendMessage(message.messageText);
      await queueClient.deleteMessage(message.messageId, message.popReceipt);
      console.log(`Moved message ${message.messageId} to poison queue`);
      continue;
    }

    try {
      await processMessage(message.messageText);
      await queueClient.deleteMessage(message.messageId, message.popReceipt);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(`Processing failed (attempt ${message.dequeueCount}):`, error);
    }
  }
}
```

### Batch Processing with Visibility Extension

```typescript
async function processBatchWithExtension(queueClient: QueueClient): Promise<void> {
  const response = await queueClient.receiveMessages({
    numberOfMessages: 1,
    visibilityTimeout: 60,
  });

  const message = response.receivedMessageItems[0];
  if (!message) return;

  let popReceipt = message.popReceipt;

  // Start visibility extension timer
  const extensionInterval = setInterval(async () => {
    try {
      const updateResponse = await queueClient.updateMessage(
        message.messageId,
        popReceipt,
        message.messageText,
        60 // Extend by another 60 seconds
      );
      popReceipt = updateResponse.popReceipt;
    } catch (error) {
      console.error("Failed to extend visibility:", error);
    }
  }, 45000); // Extend every 45 seconds

  try {
    await longRunningProcess(message.messageText);
    await queueClient.deleteMessage(message.messageId, popReceipt);
  } finally {
    clearInterval(extensionInterval);
  }
}
```

## Message Encoding

By default, messages are Base64 encoded. You can customize this:

```typescript
import { QueueClient } from "@azure/storage-queue";

// Custom encoder/decoder for plain text
const queueClient = new QueueClient(
  `https://${accountName}.queue.core.windows.net/my-queue`,
  credential,
  {
    messageEncoding: "text", // "base64" (default) or "text"
  }
);

// Or with custom encoder
const customQueueClient = new QueueClient(
  `https://${accountName}.queue.core.windows.net/my-queue`,
  credential,
  {
    messageEncoding: {
      encode: (message: string) => Buffer.from(message).toString("base64"),
      decode: (message: string) => Buffer.from(message, "base64").toString(),
    },
  }
);
```

## SAS Token Generation (Node.js only)

### Generate Queue SAS

```typescript
import {
  QueueSASPermissions,
  generateQueueSASQueryParameters,
  StorageSharedKeyCredential,
} from "@azure/storage-queue";

const sharedKeyCredential = new StorageSharedKeyCredential(accountName, accountKey);

const sasToken = generateQueueSASQueryParameters(
  {
    queueName: "my-queue",
    permissions: QueueSASPermissions.parse("raup"), // read, add, update, process
    startsOn: new Date(),
    expiresOn: new Date(Date.now() + 3600 * 1000), // 1 hour
  },
  sharedKeyCredential
).toString();

const sasUrl = `https://${accountName}.queue.core.windows.net/my-queue?${sasToken}`;
```

### Generate Account SAS

```typescript
import {
  AccountSASPermissions,
  AccountSASResourceTypes,
  AccountSASServices,
  generateAccountSASQueryParameters,
} from "@azure/storage-queue";

const sasToken = generateAccountSASQueryParameters(
  {
    services: AccountSASServices.parse("q").toString(), // queue
    resourceTypes: AccountSASResourceTypes.parse("sco").toString(),
    permissions: AccountSASPermissions.parse("rwdlacupi"),
    expiresOn: new Date(Date.now() + 24 * 3600 * 1000),
  },
  sharedKeyCredential
).toString();
```

## Error Handling

```typescript
import { RestError } from "@azure/storage-queue";

try {
  await queueClient.sendMessage("test");
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof RestError) {
    switch (error.statusCode) {
      case 404:
        console.log("Queue not found");
        break;
      case 400:
        console.log("Bad request - message too large or invalid");
        break;
      case 403:
        console.log("Access denied");
        break;
      case 409:
        console.log("Queue already exists or being deleted");
        break;
      default:
        console.error(`Storage error ${error.statusCode}: ${error.message}`);
    }
  }
  throw error;
}
```

## TypeScript Types Reference

```typescript
import {
  // Clients
  QueueServiceClient,
  QueueClient,

  // Authentication
  StorageSharedKeyCredential,
  AnonymousCredential,

  // SAS
  QueueSASPermissions,
  AccountSASPermissions,
  AccountSASServices,
  AccountSASResourceTypes,
  generateQueueSASQueryParameters,
  generateAccountSASQueryParameters,

  // Messages
  DequeuedMessageItem,
  PeekedMessageItem,
  QueueSendMessageResponse,
  QueueReceiveMessageResponse,
  QueueUpdateMessageResponse,

  // Queue
  QueueItem,
  QueueGetPropertiesResponse,

  // Errors
  RestError,
} from "@azure/storage-queue";
```

## Message Limits

| Limit | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Max message size | 64 KB |
| Max visibility timeout | 7 days |
| Max time-to-live | 7 days (or -1 for infinite) |
| Max messages per receive | 32 |
| Default visibility timeout | 30 seconds |

## Best Practices

1. **Use `DefaultAzureCredential` for local development; use `ManagedIdentityCredential` or `WorkloadIdentityCredential` for production**
2. **Always delete after processing** — Prevent duplicate processing
3. **Handle poison messages** — Move failed messages to a dead-letter queue
4. **Use appropriate visibility timeout** — Set based on expected processing time
5. **Extend visibility for long tasks** — Update message to prevent timeout
6. **Use JSON for structured data** — Serialize objects to JSON strings
7. **Check dequeueCount** — Detect repeatedly failing messages
8. **Use batch receive** — Receive multiple messages for efficiency

## Platform Differences

| Feature | Node.js | Browser |
|---------|---------|---------|
| `StorageSharedKeyCredential` | ✅ | ❌ |
| SAS generation | ✅ | ❌ |
| DefaultAzureCredential | ✅ | ❌ |
| Anonymous/SAS access | ✅ | ✅ |
| All message operations | ✅ | ✅ |

````