---
title: DataObject operation permissions
summary: A look at how permissions work for DataObject queries and mutations
---

# Working with DataObjects

[CHILDREN asList]

[alert]
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Docs for the current stable version (3.x) can be found
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[/alert]

## DataObject operation permissions

Any of the operations that come pre-configured for DataObjects are secured by the appropriate permissions
by default.
Please see [Model-Level Permissions](/model/permissions/#model-level-permissions) for more information.

### Mutation permssions

[info]
When mutations fail due to permission checks, they throw a `PermissionsException`.
[/info]

For `create`, if a singleton instance of the record being created doesn't pass a `canCreate($member)` check,
the mutation will throw.

For `update`, if the record matching the given ID doesn't pass a `canEdit($member)` check, the mutation will
throw.

For `delete`, if any of the given IDs don't pass a `canDelete($member)` check, the mutation will throw.

### Query permissions

Query permissions are a bit more complicated, because they can either be in list form, (paginated or not),
or a single item. Rather than throw, these permission checks work as filters.

[notice]
It is critical that you have a `canView()` method defined on your dataobjects. Without this, only admins are
assumed to have permission to view a record.
[/notice]


For `read` and `readOne` a plugin called `canView` will filter the result set by the `canView($member)` check.

[notice]
When paginated items fail a `canView()` check, the `pageInfo` field is not affected.
Limits and pages are determined through database queries,
it would be too inefficient to perform in-memory checks on large data sets. 
This can result in pages
showing a smaller number of items than what the page should contain, but keeps the pagination calls consistent
for `limit` and `offset` parameters.
[/notice]

### Disabling query permissions

Though not recommended, you can disable query permissions by setting their plugins to `false`.

*app/_graphql/models.yml*
```yaml
  Page:
    operations:
      read:
        plugins:
          canView: false
      readOne:
        plugins:
          canView: false
```

### Further reading

[CHILDREN]