docs(sa_column): consolidate into Advanced page; add encrypted + uniqueness tutorials; remove deprecated encrypted-type page; update nav and run notes

Author: ravishan16

docs/advanced/sa-column.md

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+# Use SQLAlchemy columns with `sa_column`
+
+Sometimes you need full control over how a database column is defined — beyond what `Field()` options provide.
+
+SQLModel lets you pass a fully configured SQLAlchemy `Column(...)` using the `sa_column` parameter.
+
+This allows you to use advanced SQLAlchemy features and third‑party column types directly while keeping the simplicity of SQLModel models.
+
+/// info
+`sa_column` provides a low-level hook to supply a complete SQLAlchemy `Column(...)` object for a field. SQLModel will use the column's type, options, and constraints as-is.
+///
+
+## What `sa_column` enables
+
+- Fine‑grained control over column definitions (e.g. `ForeignKey`, `CheckConstraint`, `UniqueConstraint`, `Index`, `server_default`, `server_onupdate`).
+- Custom/third‑party SQLAlchemy types (for example, encrypted strings, PostgreSQL `JSONB`, etc.).
+- Easier migration from or integration with existing SQLAlchemy models.
+
+## Use case: encrypted field with a custom type
+
+Use a third‑party SQLAlchemy type from `sqlalchemy-utils` to encrypt a string field. The key idea is that the field uses a full SQLAlchemy `Column(...)` via `sa_column`.
+
+/// warning | Deprecation
+
+`EncryptedType` is deprecated in SQLAlchemy‑Utils since version `0.36.6`. Use `StringEncryptedType` instead.
+
+<a href="https://sqlalchemy-utils.readthedocs.io/en/latest/data_types.html#encryptedtype" class="external-link" target="_blank">See the upstream deprecation note</a>.
+
+///
+
+Note: `StringEncryptedType` provides explicit string type handling and better compatibility with SQLAlchemy 2.x.
+
+{* ./docs_src/advanced/sa_column/tutorial001.py *}
+
+### Key points
+
+- The field uses `sa_column=Column(StringEncryptedType(...))`, which gives full control over the SQLAlchemy column while keeping a SQLModel model.
+- `EncryptedType` is deprecated; the example uses `StringEncryptedType` instead.
+- The type is initialized with keyword args (`key=...`, `engine=...`, `padding=...`) to match the installed package signature and avoid runtime errors.
+- The key is read from an environment variable. Don’t hard‑code secrets; use a secrets manager or environment variables, and ensure the same key is available for decryption.
+- In the DB, the value is stored encrypted (you’ll see ciphertext in the SQL echo and database); in Python it’s transparently decrypted when you access the field.
+- Indexing or filtering on encrypted ciphertext is typically not useful; design queries accordingly.
+
+### Run it
+
+To try the encrypted type example locally:
+
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
+pip install sqlmodel sqlalchemy-utils cryptography
+export SQLMODEL_ENCRYPTION_KEY="change-me"
+
+# Copy the code from docs_src/advanced/sa_column/tutorial001.py into app.py
+python app.py
+```
+
+After running, you should see "Database and tables created." and a `database_encrypted.db` SQLite file created in your working directory.
+
+/// tip
+If you change the encryption key between runs, delete `database_encrypted.db` first so existing ciphertext doesn’t fail to decrypt with the new key.
+///
+
+## Use case: enforcing uniqueness
+
+- Single‑column unique: You can express this using `Field(unique=True)` in SQLModel or directly on the SQLAlchemy `Column(...)` when using `sa_column` for full control (e.g., to set a specific SQL type or name).
+- Composite unique (multiple columns): Prefer the idiomatic SQLAlchemy approach with `__table_args__` and `UniqueConstraint`.
+
+{* ./docs_src/advanced/sa_column/tutorial002.py *}
+
+### Key points
+
+- Single‑column unique can be declared with `Field(unique=True)` (simple case) or on the SQLAlchemy `Column(..., unique=True)` via `sa_column` when you need full control over type/nullable/name. `Field(unique=True)` is shorthand for setting `unique=True` on the underlying SQLAlchemy column.
+- Composite unique constraints across multiple columns use `__table_args__ = (UniqueConstraint(...),)`. Naming the constraint helps during migrations and debugging.
+- Nullability matters: a unique, nullable column can usually store multiple NULLs (DB‑specific). Set `nullable=False` for strict uniqueness.
+- The example uses a separate DB file (`database_unique.db`) to avoid colliding with other tutorials.
+- Attempting to insert a duplicate `email` or the same `(name, secret_name)` pair will raise an integrity error.
+
+### Run it
+
+To try the unique constraints example locally on macOS with bash:
+
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
+pip install sqlmodel
+
+# Copy the code from docs_src/advanced/sa_column/tutorial002.py into app.py
+python app.py
+```
+
+After running, you should see the selected rows printed, with a database created at `database_unique.db`. Attempting to insert a duplicate `email` (single‑column unique) or a duplicate pair of `(name, secret_name)` (composite unique) would raise an integrity error.
+
+## Important considerations
+
+- **Prefer** built‑in `Field()` parameters (like `unique=True`, `index=True`, `default=...`) when they are sufficient.
+- **Use** `sa_column` only when you need full SQLAlchemy control over the column.
+- **Avoid conflicts** between `sa_column` and other `Field()` arguments that also affect the underlying column.
+- **Match your backend**: ensure the SQLAlchemy `Column(...)` you pass is compatible with your target database.
+- **PostgreSQL**: import and use types like `JSONB`, `ARRAY`, or `UUID` from `sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql` when appropriate.
+
+## See also
+
+- SQLAlchemy Column docs: <a href="https://docs.sqlalchemy.org/en/20/core/metadata.html#sqlalchemy.schema.Column" class="external-link" target="_blank">`Column`</a>
+ - Advanced SQLModel topics: <a href="./index.md" class="internal-link">Advanced User Guide</a>

docs_src/advanced/sa_column/tutorial001.py

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+import os
+from typing import Optional
+
+from sqlalchemy import Column
+from sqlalchemy_utils.types.encrypted.encrypted_type import (
+    AesEngine,
+    StringEncryptedType,
+)
+from sqlmodel import Field, Session, SQLModel, create_engine, select
+
+# In a real application, load this from a secure source (e.g., environment variable or secrets manager)
+ENCRYPTION_KEY = os.getenv("SQLMODEL_ENCRYPTION_KEY", "a-super-secret-key")
+
+
+class Hero(SQLModel, table=True):
+    id: Optional[int] = Field(default=None, primary_key=True)
+    name: str
+    # Because the secret name should stay a secret
+    secret_name: str = Field(
+        sa_column=Column(
+            StringEncryptedType(
+                key=ENCRYPTION_KEY,
+                engine=AesEngine,
+                padding="pkcs5",
+            )
+        )
+    )
+    age: Optional[int] = None
+
+
+sqlite_file_name = "database_encrypted.db"
+sqlite_url = f"sqlite:///{sqlite_file_name}"
+engine = create_engine(sqlite_url, echo=True)
+
+
+def create_db_and_tables() -> None:
+    SQLModel.metadata.create_all(engine)
+
+
+def create_heroes() -> None:
+    hero_1 = Hero(name="Ted Lasso", secret_name="Coach")
+    hero_2 = Hero(name="Roy Kent", secret_name="Roy")
+    hero_3 = Hero(name="Keeley Jones", secret_name="Keeley", age=29)
+
+    with Session(engine) as session:
+        session.add(hero_1)
+        session.add(hero_2)
+        session.add(hero_3)
+        session.commit()
+
+
+def select_heroes() -> None:
+    with Session(engine) as session:
+        statement = select(Hero).where(Hero.name == "Ted Lasso")
+        hero_1 = session.exec(statement).one()
+        print("Hero 1:", hero_1)
+        print("Hero 1 secret_name (decrypted in Python):", hero_1.secret_name)
+
+        statement = select(Hero).where(Hero.name == "Roy Kent")
+        hero_2 = session.exec(statement).one()
+        print("Hero 2:", hero_2)
+        print("Hero 2 secret_name (decrypted in Python):", hero_2.secret_name)
+
+
+def main() -> None:
+    create_db_and_tables()
+    create_heroes()
+    select_heroes()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()

docs_src/advanced/sa_column/tutorial002.py

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+from typing import Optional
+
+from sqlalchemy import Column, String, UniqueConstraint
+from sqlmodel import Field, Session, SQLModel, create_engine, select
+
+
+class Hero(SQLModel, table=True):
+    id: Optional[int] = Field(default=None, primary_key=True)
+    # Single-column unique using sa_column for full control (e.g., explicit SQL type and nullability)
+    email: str = Field(sa_column=Column(String(255), unique=True, nullable=False))
+    name: str
+    secret_name: str
+    age: Optional[int] = None
+
+    # Composite (multi-column) unique constraint using the idiomatic SQLAlchemy approach
+    __table_args__ = (
+        UniqueConstraint("name", "secret_name", name="uq_hero_name_secret"),
+    )
+
+
+sqlite_file_name = "database_unique.db"
+sqlite_url = f"sqlite:///{sqlite_file_name}"
+engine = create_engine(sqlite_url, echo=True)
+
+
+def create_db_and_tables() -> None:
+    SQLModel.metadata.create_all(engine)
+
+
+def create_heroes() -> None:
+    hero_1 = Hero(email="[email protected]", name="Ted Lasso", secret_name="Coach")
+    hero_2 = Hero(email="[email protected]", name="Roy Kent", secret_name="Roy")
+    hero_3 = Hero(
+        email="[email protected]", name="Keeley Jones", secret_name="Keeley"
+    )
+
+    with Session(engine) as session:
+        session.add(hero_1)
+        session.add(hero_2)
+        session.add(hero_3)
+        session.commit()
+
+
+def select_heroes() -> None:
+    with Session(engine) as session:
+        statement = select(Hero).where(Hero.email == "[email protected]")
+        hero_1 = session.exec(statement).one()
+        print("Hero 1:", hero_1)
+
+        statement = select(Hero).where(
+            (Hero.name == "Roy Kent") & (Hero.secret_name == "Roy")
+        )
+        hero_2 = session.exec(statement).one()
+        print("Hero 2:", hero_2)
+
+
+def main() -> None:
+    create_db_and_tables()
+    create_heroes()
+    select_heroes()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()

mkdocs.yml

@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ nav:
       - advanced/index.md
       - advanced/decimal.md
       - advanced/uuid.md
+      - advanced/sa-column.md
   - Resources:
     - resources/index.md
     - help.md