> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.internetobject.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.internetobject.org/collections/data-streaming.md). # Data Streaming Because a collection is a sequence of independent records, it is naturally **streamable**: a producer can emit records over time and a consumer can process each as it arrives, without waiting for the whole document. ```ruby ~ $schema: { name: string, address: { street, city, state }, active: bool } --- ~ John Doe, { Red Street, Phoenix, AZ }, T ~ Alex, { Carnival Street, San Francisco, CA }, T ``` Further records for the same collection can be sent later in additional batches; a processor merges them into the same collection. Each record is validated on its own, so a malformed record does not interrupt the stream. > **The full protocol lives in its own chapter.** Framing, the stream-item model, schema and state, the error model, and reader and writer obligations are specified normatively in the [Streaming](/streaming/streaming.md) chapter. This page only shows why a collection is streamable; the contract is there. ## See Also * [Streaming](/streaming/streaming.md) — the normative, platform-agnostic streaming protocol * [Collection](/collections/collection.md) · [Collection Rules](/collections/collection-rules.md) * [Creating Collections](/collections/creating-collection.md) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.internetobject.org/collections/data-streaming.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.