feat(codecs): explicit context argument, additive to key

`encode`/`decode` overloaded a single `key` dict with two unrelated things: primary key values, and connection context (`_schema`, `_table`, `_field`, `_config`). The underscore convention separating them is unenforced, and `_config` -- functionally required for correct store resolution in any multi-connection process -- arrived as an optional dict key a codec author had to remember to read out and thread through by hand. Forgetting did not fail loudly: it fell back to the global config and resolved a different store silently. That happened twice independently, in dj-figpack-codecs#6 and dj-canvasxpress-codecs#3, both following the SchemaCodec docstring. Adds `context` as a separate keyword carrying schema, table, field and config, leaving `key` to mean what it means everywhere else in DataJoint. Nothing breaks: - DataJoint passes `context` only to codecs whose signature declares it, reusing the introspection already used for `store_name`. A codec written before this keeps its old signature and is called exactly as before. - The underscore keys stay in `key` and are still populated, so a codec reading `key["_config"]` directly keeps working. - `_extract_context(key)` still accepts one argument. It warns only when it has to fall back to underscore keys, so a codec passing context is quiet and one that never needed context is never nagged. Verified against all four third-party codecs in the ecosystem (dj-figpack, dj-canvasxpress, dj-zarr, dj-photon): every one declares the old signature, so none is passed `context` and none needs changing. `Codec._codec_config(key, context)` replaces the hand-rolled `(key or {}).get("_config")` at eleven sites across the built-ins, preferring context and falling back to the legacy key. The breaking half of #1550 -- `key` reverting to primary-key-only and `config` becoming a required parameter on `_build_path`/`_get_backend` -- is deliberately not done here. It belongs in 2.4, after the deprecation window this opens.
dimitri-yatsenko · Oct 2, 2026 · Sep 30, 2026 · Sep 30, 2026 · Sep 30, 2026 · Oct 2, 2026
commit f264d413d59707c9bc367abf295de863fe7b8aca
diff --git a/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/attach.py b/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/attach.py
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ def get_dtype(self, is_store: bool) -> str:
         """Return bytes for in-table, <hash> for in-store storage."""
         return "<hash>" if is_store else "bytes"
 
-    def encode(self, value: Any, *, key: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None = None) -> bytes:
+    def encode(
+        self, value: Any, *, key: dict | None = None, context: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None = None
+    ) -> bytes:
         """
         Read file and encode as filename + contents.
 
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ def encode(self, value: Any, *, key: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None
         contents = path.read_bytes()
         return filename.encode("utf-8") + b"\x00" + contents
 
-    def decode(self, stored: bytes, *, key: dict | None = None) -> str:
+    def decode(self, stored: bytes, *, key: dict | None = None, context: dict | None = None) -> str:
         """
         Extract file to download path and return local path.
 
@@ -104,7 +106,7 @@ def decode(self, stored: bytes, *, key: dict | None = None) -> str:
         contents = stored[null_pos + 1 :]
 
         # Write to download path
-        config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+        config = self._codec_config(key, context)
         if config is None:
             from ..settings import config  # type: ignore[assignment]
         assert config is not None

diff --git a/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/filepath.py b/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/filepath.py
@@ -74,7 +74,9 @@ def get_dtype(self, is_store: bool) -> str:
             )
         return "json"
 
-    def encode(self, value: Any, *, key: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None = None) -> dict:
+    def encode(
+        self, value: Any, *, key: dict | None = None, context: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None = None
+    ) -> dict:
         """
         Store path reference as JSON metadata.
 
@@ -104,7 +106,7 @@ def encode(self, value: Any, *, key: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None
 
         from ..hash_registry import get_store_backend
 
-        config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+        config = self._codec_config(key, context)
         if config is None:
             from ..settings import config  # type: ignore[assignment]
         assert config is not None
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ def encode(self, value: Any, *, key: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None
             "timestamp": datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
         }
 
-    def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None) -> Any:
+    def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None, context: dict | None = None) -> Any:
         """
         Create ObjectRef handle for lazy access.
 
@@ -187,7 +189,7 @@ def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None) -> Any:
         from ..objectref import ObjectRef
         from ..hash_registry import get_store_backend
 
-        config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+        config = self._codec_config(key, context)
         store_name = stored.get("store")
         backend = get_store_backend(store_name, config=config)
         return ObjectRef.from_json(stored, backend=backend)

diff --git a/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/hash.py b/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/hash.py
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ def get_dtype(self, is_store: bool) -> str:
             raise DataJointError("<hash> requires @ (in-store storage only)")
         return "json"
 
-    def encode(self, value: bytes, *, key: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None = None) -> dict:
+    def encode(
+        self, value: bytes, *, key: dict | None = None, context: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None = None
+    ) -> dict:
         """
         Store content and return metadata.
 
@@ -78,10 +80,10 @@ def encode(self, value: bytes, *, key: dict | None = None, store_name: str | Non
         from ..hash_registry import put_hash
 
         schema_name = (key or {}).get("_schema", "unknown")
-        config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+        config = self._codec_config(key, context)
         return put_hash(value, schema_name=schema_name, store_name=store_name, config=config)
 
-    def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None) -> bytes:
+    def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None, context: dict | None = None) -> bytes:
         """
         Retrieve content using stored metadata.
 
@@ -99,7 +101,7 @@ def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None) -> bytes:
         """
         from ..hash_registry import get_hash
 
-        config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+        config = self._codec_config(key, context)
         return get_hash(stored, config=config)
 
     def validate(self, value: Any) -> None:

diff --git a/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/npy.py b/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/npy.py
@@ -312,6 +312,7 @@ def encode(
         value: Any,
         *,
         key: dict | None = None,
+        context: dict | None = None,
         store_name: str | None = None,
     ) -> dict:
         """
@@ -337,8 +338,8 @@ def encode(
         import numpy as np
 
         # Extract context using inherited helper
-        schema, table, field, primary_key = self._extract_context(key)
-        config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+        schema, table, field, primary_key = self._extract_context(key, context)
+        config = self._codec_config(key, context)
 
         # Build schema-addressed storage path
         path, _ = self._build_path(schema, table, field, primary_key, ext=".npy", store_name=store_name, config=config)
@@ -360,7 +361,7 @@ def encode(
             "shape": list(value.shape),
         }
 
-    def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None) -> NpyRef:
+    def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None, context: dict | None = None) -> NpyRef:
         """
         Create lazy NpyRef from stored metadata.
 
@@ -376,6 +377,6 @@ def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None) -> NpyRef:
         NpyRef
             Lazy array reference with metadata access and numpy integration.
         """
-        config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+        config = self._codec_config(key, context)
         backend = self._get_backend(stored.get("store"), config=config)
         return NpyRef(stored, backend)
diff --git a/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/object.py b/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/object.py
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ def encode(
         value: Any,
         *,
         key: dict | None = None,
+        context: dict | None = None,
         store_name: str | None = None,
     ) -> dict:
         """
@@ -105,8 +106,8 @@ def encode(
         from pathlib import Path
 
         # Extract context using inherited helper
-        schema, table, field, primary_key = self._extract_context(key)
-        config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+        schema, table, field, primary_key = self._extract_context(key, context)
+        config = self._codec_config(key, context)
 
         # Check for pre-computed metadata (from staged insert)
         if isinstance(value, dict) and "path" in value:
@@ -177,7 +178,7 @@ def encode(
 
         return metadata
 
-    def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None) -> Any:
+    def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None, context: dict | None = None) -> Any:
         """
         Create ObjectRef handle for lazy access.
 
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ def decode(self, stored: dict, *, key: dict | None = None) -> Any:
         """
         from ..objectref import ObjectRef
 
-        config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+        config = self._codec_config(key, context)
         backend = self._get_backend(stored.get("store"), config=config)
         return ObjectRef.from_json(stored, backend=backend)
 

diff --git a/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/schema.py b/src/datajoint/builtin_codecs/schema.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import warnings
+
 from ..codecs import Codec
 from ..errors import DataJointError
 
@@ -24,14 +26,22 @@ class SchemaCodec(Codec, register=False):
         - ``validate()``: Validate input values
 
     Helper Methods:
-        - ``_extract_context()``: Parse key dict into schema/table/field/pk
+        - ``_extract_context()``: Parse key/context into schema/table/field/pk
+        - ``_codec_config()``: Read the calling connection's config
         - ``_build_path()``: Construct storage path from context
         - ``_get_backend()``: Get storage backend by name
 
-    Both helpers take a ``config`` and fall back to the global ``dj.config``
-    without one. Read it off ``key["_config"]`` and pass it through, as below: it
-    is the calling connection's config, and in a process holding connections for
-    several users the global one belongs to none of them.
+    ``_build_path`` and ``_get_backend`` take a ``config`` and fall back to the
+    global ``dj.config`` without one. Always pass the calling connection's
+    config: in a process holding connections for several users, the global one
+    belongs to none of them, and the fallback resolves a different store
+    silently rather than raising.
+
+    Since 2.3.4 that config arrives in an explicit ``context`` argument rather
+    than hidden among the primary key values. Accept ``context=None`` in
+    ``encode``/``decode`` and pass it to the helpers. The old underscore keys in
+    ``key`` still work and are still populated, with a ``DeprecationWarning``
+    when ``_extract_context`` has to fall back to them; they are removed in 2.4.
 
     Comparison with Hash-addressed:
         - **Schema-addressed** (this): Path from schema structure, no dedup
@@ -42,9 +52,9 @@ class SchemaCodec(Codec, register=False):
         class MyCodec(SchemaCodec):
             name = "my"
 
-            def encode(self, value, *, key=None, store_name=None):
-                schema, table, field, pk = self._extract_context(key)
-                config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+            def encode(self, value, *, key=None, context=None, store_name=None):
+                schema, table, field, pk = self._extract_context(key, context)
+                config = self._codec_config(key, context)
                 path, _ = self._build_path(
                     schema, table, field, pk, ext=".dat",
                     store_name=store_name, config=config,
@@ -53,8 +63,8 @@ def encode(self, value, *, key=None, store_name=None):
                 backend.put_buffer(serialize(value), path)
                 return {"path": path, "store": store_name, ...}
 
-            def decode(self, stored, *, key=None):
-                config = (key or {}).get("_config")
+            def decode(self, stored, *, key=None, context=None):
+                config = self._codec_config(key, context)
                 backend = self._get_backend(stored.get("store"), config=config)
                 return MyRef(stored, backend)
 
@@ -88,25 +98,41 @@ def get_dtype(self, is_store: bool) -> str:
             raise DataJointError(f"<{self.name}> requires @ (store only)")
         return "json"
 
-    def _extract_context(self, key: dict | None) -> tuple[str, str, str, dict]:
+    def _extract_context(self, key: dict | None, context: dict | None = None) -> tuple[str, str, str, dict]:
         """
-        Extract schema, table, field, and primary key from context dict.
+        Extract schema, table, field, and primary key.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         key : dict or None
-            Context dict with ``_schema``, ``_table``, ``_field``,
-            and primary key values.
+            Primary key values. Before 2.3.4 this also carried connection
+            context under ``_schema``, ``_table``, ``_field`` and ``_config``;
+            those keys are still populated and still read, with a
+            ``DeprecationWarning``, when ``context`` is not supplied.
+        context : dict or None
+            Connection context with ``schema``, ``table``, ``field`` and
+            ``config``. Pass the ``context`` argument your ``encode``/``decode``
+            received.
 
         Returns
         -------
         tuple[str, str, str, dict]
             ``(schema, table, field, primary_key)``
         """
         key = dict(key) if key else {}
-        schema = key.pop("_schema", "unknown")
-        table = key.pop("_table", "unknown")
-        field = key.pop("_field", "data")
+        if context is None and any(k.startswith("_") for k in key):
+            warnings.warn(
+                "Reading connection context from the `key` dict is deprecated and will "
+                "be removed in DataJoint 2.4. Accept a `context` argument in encode()/decode() "
+                "and pass it to _extract_context(key, context). See "
+                "https://github.com/datajoint/datajoint-python/issues/1550",
+                DeprecationWarning,
+                stacklevel=2,
+            )
+        context = context or {}
+        schema = context.get("schema", key.pop("_schema", "unknown"))
+        table = context.get("table", key.pop("_table", "unknown"))
+        field = context.get("field", key.pop("_field", "data"))
         primary_key = {k: v for k, v in key.items() if not k.startswith("_")}
         return schema, table, field, primary_key
 

diff --git a/src/datajoint/codecs.py b/src/datajoint/codecs.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class MyTable(dj.Manual):
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import inspect
 import json
 import logging
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
@@ -176,6 +177,13 @@ def encode(self, value: Any, *, key: dict | None = None, store_name: str | None
         -------
         any
             Value in the format expected by the dtype.
+
+        Notes
+        -----
+        Implementations may also accept ``context`` (a dict carrying ``schema``,
+        ``table``, ``field`` and ``config``); DataJoint passes it only to codecs
+        whose signature declares it, so adding it is optional and omitting it
+        keeps a codec working unchanged. See :meth:`_codec_config`.
         """
         ...
 
@@ -195,9 +203,41 @@ def decode(self, stored: Any, *, key: dict | None = None) -> Any:
         -------
         any
             The reconstructed Python object.
+
+        Notes
+        -----
+        Implementations may also accept ``context``; see :meth:`encode`.
         """
         ...
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _codec_config(key: dict | None = None, context: dict | None = None):
+        """
+        Return the calling connection's config, or None.
+
+        Always thread the result into ``_build_path`` and ``_get_backend``. Those
+        helpers fall back to the global ``dj.config`` without it, which in a
+        process holding connections for several users belongs to none of them and
+        resolves a different store silently rather than raising.
+
+        Prefers ``context["config"]``. Falls back to ``key["_config"]``, the
+        pre-2.3.4 location, which DataJoint still populates.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        key : dict, optional
+            The ``key`` argument the codec received.
+        context : dict, optional
+            The ``context`` argument the codec received, if it declares one.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        Config or None
+        """
+        if context and context.get("config") is not None:
+            return context["config"]
+        return (key or {}).get("_config")
+
     def validate(self, value: Any) -> None:
         """
         Validate a value before encoding.
@@ -617,14 +657,21 @@ def decode_attribute(attr, data, squeeze: bool = False, connection=None):
         elif final_dtype.lower() == "binary(16)":
             data = uuid_module.UUID(bytes=data)
 
-        # Build decode key with config if connection is available
+        # Build decode key with config if connection is available. The
+        # underscore key stays for codecs written against it; `context` carries
+        # the same config to codecs that declare one -- see #1550.
         decode_key = None
+        decode_context = None
         if connection is not None:
             decode_key = {"_config": connection._config}
+            decode_context = {"config": connection._config}
 
         # Apply decoders in reverse order: innermost first, then outermost
         for codec in reversed(type_chain):
-            data = codec.decode(data, key=decode_key)
+            if "context" in inspect.signature(codec.decode).parameters:
+                data = codec.decode(data, key=decode_key, context=decode_context)
+            else:
+                data = codec.decode(data, key=decode_key)
 
         # Squeeze arrays if requested
         if squeeze and isinstance(data, np.ndarray):