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Row Level Security (RLS) is PostgreSQL’s built-in authorization system that controls which rows users can access in database tables. Supabase leverages RLS to provide fine-grained access control.

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Why Use RLS?

RLS provides several advantages:
  • Security at the Database Level: Policies are enforced by PostgreSQL, not your application
  • Fine-Grained Control: Control access per row based on user identity
  • Automatic Enforcement: Works automatically with all Supabase client libraries
  • Zero Trust: Even compromised API keys can’t bypass RLS
Always enable RLS on tables containing user data. Without RLS, anyone with your anon key can access all data.

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Enable RLS

Enable Row Level Security on a table: 
alter table profiles enable row level security;
When RLS is enabled without any policies, no one (except service role) can access the table. You must create policies to allow access.

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Basic Policies

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Public Read Access

Allow anyone to read all rows: 
-- 1. Create table
create table profiles (
  id uuid primary key default gen_random_uuid(),
  username text,
  avatar_url text,
  created_at timestamp with time zone default now()
);

-- 2. Enable RLS
alter table profiles enable row level security;

-- 3. Create policy
create policy "Public profiles are viewable by everyone"
on profiles
for select
using ( true );

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User-Specific Access

Users can only read and update their own data: 
-- 1. Create table
create table profiles (
  id uuid primary key references auth.users(id),
  username text,
  bio text,
  updated_at timestamp with time zone
);

-- 2. Enable RLS
alter table profiles enable row level security;

-- 3. Users can view their own profile
create policy "Users can view their own profile"
on profiles
for select
using ( (select auth.uid()) = id );

-- 4. Users can update their own profile
create policy "Users can update their own profile"
on profiles
for update
using ( (select auth.uid()) = id );

-- 5. Users can insert their own profile
create policy "Users can insert their own profile"
on profiles
for insert
with check ( (select auth.uid()) = id );

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Helper Functions

Supabase provides helper functions for RLS policies:

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auth.uid()

Returns the current user’s ID: 
create policy "Users can access their own data"
on user_data
for all
using ( user_id = (select auth.uid()) );

​
auth.jwt()

Access the full JWT token: 
-- Check user role from JWT
create policy "Admins can access all data"
on admin_data
for all
using ( (select auth.jwt() ->> 'role') = 'admin' );

-- Check custom claims
create policy "Organization members only"
on org_data
for select
using ( 
  org_id = (select auth.jwt() -> 'app_metadata' ->> 'org_id')::uuid
);

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Policy Examples

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Authenticated Users Only

create policy "Authenticated users can read"
on posts
for select
using ( auth.role() = 'authenticated' );

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Owner-Based Access

create policy "Users can manage their own posts"
on posts
for all
using ( user_id = (select auth.uid()) );

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Team-Based Access

Users can access data belonging to their team: 
-- Teams table
create table teams (
  id uuid primary key default gen_random_uuid(),
  name text not null
);

-- Team members junction table
create table team_members (
  team_id uuid references teams(id),
  user_id uuid references auth.users(id),
  role text,
  primary key (team_id, user_id)
);

-- Projects table
create table projects (
  id uuid primary key default gen_random_uuid(),
  team_id uuid references teams(id),
  name text,
  description text
);

alter table teams enable row level security;
alter table team_members enable row level security;
alter table projects enable row level security;

-- Team members can view their teams
create policy "Users can view teams they belong to"
on teams
for select
using (
  id in (
    select team_id from team_members
    where user_id = (select auth.uid())
  )
);

-- Team members can view projects
create policy "Team members can view team projects"
on projects
for select
using (
  team_id in (
    select team_id from team_members
    where user_id = (select auth.uid())
  )
);

-- Only team admins can update projects
create policy "Team admins can update projects"
on projects
for update
using (
  team_id in (
    select team_id from team_members
    where user_id = (select auth.uid())
    and role = 'admin'
  )
);

​
Time-Based Access

create policy "Users can only view published posts"
on posts
for select
using (
  status = 'published'
  and published_at <= now()
);

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Hierarchical Access

-- Users can view their own data and data of users they manage
create policy "Managers can view subordinate data"
on employee_data
for select
using (
  user_id = (select auth.uid())
  or manager_id = (select auth.uid())
);

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Advanced Policies

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Policy with Joins

create policy "Team members can update team details"
on teams
for update
using (
  (select auth.uid()) in (
    select user_id from team_members
    where team_id = id
  )
);

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Multiple Conditions

create policy "Complex access control"
on documents
for select
using (
  -- Owner can always access
  owner_id = (select auth.uid())
  -- OR document is public
  or is_public = true
  -- OR user is in shared_with list
  or (select auth.uid()) = any(shared_with)
  -- OR user is team member and doc is team-visible
  or (
    team_visible = true
    and team_id in (
      select team_id from team_members
      where user_id = (select auth.uid())
    )
  )
);

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Separate Policies by Operation

-- Read policy
create policy "Anyone can read published posts"
on posts
for select
using ( status = 'published' or owner_id = (select auth.uid()) );

-- Insert policy
create policy "Users can create posts"
on posts
for insert
with check ( (select auth.uid()) = owner_id );

-- Update policy
create policy "Users can update own posts"
on posts
for update
using ( owner_id = (select auth.uid()) )
with check ( owner_id = (select auth.uid()) );

-- Delete policy
create policy "Users can delete own posts"
on posts
for delete
using ( owner_id = (select auth.uid()) );

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Bypass RLS

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Service Role

The service role key bypasses RLS: 
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'

// This client bypasses RLS - use carefully!
const supabaseAdmin = createClient(
  process.env.SUPABASE_URL,
  process.env.SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY
)

// Use for admin operations only
const { data, error } = await supabaseAdmin
  .from('users')
  .select('*')
Never expose the service role key in client-side code. Only use it in secure server environments.

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Security Definer Functions

Create functions that run with elevated privileges: 
create or replace function get_user_stats()
returns json
language plpgsql
security definer -- Run with function creator's privileges
set search_path = public
as $$
declare
  result json;
begin
  select json_build_object(
    'total_users', count(*),
    'active_users', count(*) filter (where last_seen > now() - interval '7 days')
  ) into result
  from auth.users;
  
  return result;
end;
$$;

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Testing RLS Policies

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Test as Different User

-- Switch to specific user for testing
set local role authenticated;
set local request.jwt.claims.sub = 'user-uuid-here';

-- Test your queries
select * from profiles;

-- Reset
reset role;

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Using Supabase Client

// Sign in as test user
const { data: { user } } = await supabase.auth.signInWithPassword({
  email: 'test@example.com',
  password: 'password',
})

// Test RLS policies
const { data, error } = await supabase
  .from('profiles')
  .select('*')

// Should only return data allowed by RLS policies
console.log(data)

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Debugging RLS

Check which policies apply: 
-- List all policies on a table
select 
  schemaname,
  tablename,
  policyname,
  permissive,
  roles,
  cmd,
  qual,
  with_check
from pg_policies
where tablename = 'profiles';
Enable query logging to see RLS in action: 
-- Show query plans (admin only)
explain (analyze, verbose, buffers)
select * from profiles;

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Common Patterns

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Public Read, Authenticated Write

-- Anyone can read
create policy "Public read access"
on posts
for select
using ( true );

-- Only authenticated users can insert
create policy "Authenticated users can create"
on posts
for insert
with check ( auth.role() = 'authenticated' );

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Soft Deletes with RLS

alter table posts add column deleted_at timestamp with time zone;

create policy "Hide deleted posts"
on posts
for select
using ( deleted_at is null );

create policy "Users can soft delete own posts"
on posts
for update
using ( owner_id = (select auth.uid()) )
with check ( owner_id = (select auth.uid()) );

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Admin Override

create policy "Users access own data, admins access all"
on user_data
for all
using (
  user_id = (select auth.uid())
  or (select auth.jwt() ->> 'role') = 'admin'
);

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Performance Considerations

Always index columns used in RLS policies:
create index on posts(user_id);
create index on team_members(user_id);
Complex subqueries in policies can slow down queries. Consider denormalizing data or using materialized views.
Security definer functions bypass RLS and can be security risks if not carefully written.

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Best Practices

Enable RLS Always

Enable RLS on all tables with user data

Test Thoroughly

Test policies as different users and roles

Keep Policies Simple

Simple policies are easier to understand and debug

Document Policies

Add comments explaining complex policy logic

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Next Steps

Storage Security

Apply RLS concepts to file storage

Database Guide

Learn more about PostgreSQL features