Inconsistent query results from Airtable - How to handle?

Other Questions Airtable
1

I’m having trouble with Airtable’s Node.js library. The filterByFormula doesn’t always return results when I know they exist. Here’s my setup:

async function findReservation(externalID) {
  const records = await bookingTable('Bookings').select({
    view: 'Primary View',
    filterByFormula: `{Booking ID} = "${externalID}"`,
    maxRecords: 1,
  }).all();

  return records.length ? records[0] : null;
}

// Usage
const existingBooking = await findReservation(booking.id);
if (!existingBooking) {
  addNewBooking(booking);
} else {
  modifyBooking(booking);
}

This sometimes leads to duplicate entries with the same external ID. I need to reliably fetch records if they exist. Am I missing something? Is there a known issue with Airtable queries? Any tips to make this more consistent would be great!

2

I’ve found that Airtable’s API can be finicky at times, especially with complex queries. One approach that’s worked well for me is to use the ‘fields’ parameter to explicitly specify which fields you want returned. This can sometimes improve query performance and reliability.

Consider modifying your code like this:

async function findReservation(externalID) {
  const records = await bookingTable('Bookings').select({
    fields: ['Booking ID'],
    filterByFormula: `{Booking ID} = '${externalID}'`,
    maxRecords: 1,
  }).firstPage();

  return records.length ? records[0] : null;
}

Also, double-check that ‘Booking ID’ is the exact field name in your Airtable base. Field names are case-sensitive. If inconsistencies persist, implementing a short delay before querying might help ensure the data has propagated fully across Airtable’s systems.

3

hey, i’ve run into this too. sometimes airtable’s just wonky like that. have you tried using the REST API instead of the node library? it might be more reliable. also, double-check your field names and make sure they’re exact. if all else fails, maybe add a small delay before querying? good luck!

4

I’ve experienced similar challenges with Airtable’s Node.js library, and in my case, the inconsistency appears linked to Airtable’s eventual consistency model. My solution was to implement a retry mechanism with exponential backoff. I wrap the query in a function that retries several times using increasing delays and use a more robust querying approach by calling firstPage() instead of all(). I also verify the accuracy of field names in filterByFormula. In some circumstances, caching results locally for a short period has helped reduce duplicate entries. If the issues remain, it may be worth contacting Airtable support.