Azure Queue Storage SDK for Python

Simple, cost-effective message queuing for asynchronous communication.

Installation

bash
pip install azure-storage-queue azure-identity

Environment Variables

bash
AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_URL=https://<account>.queue.core.windows.net

Authentication

python
from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
from azure.storage.queue import QueueServiceClient, QueueClient

credential = DefaultAzureCredential()
account_url = "https://<account>.queue.core.windows.net"

# Service client
service_client = QueueServiceClient(account_url=account_url, credential=credential)

# Queue client
queue_client = QueueClient(account_url=account_url, queue_name="myqueue", credential=credential)

Queue Operations

python
# Create queue
service_client.create_queue("myqueue")

# Get queue client
queue_client = service_client.get_queue_client("myqueue")

# Delete queue
service_client.delete_queue("myqueue")

# List queues
for queue in service_client.list_queues():
    print(queue.name)

Send Messages

python
# Send message (string)
queue_client.send_message("Hello, Queue!")

# Send with options
queue_client.send_message(
    content="Delayed message",
    visibility_timeout=60,  # Hidden for 60 seconds
    time_to_live=3600       # Expires in 1 hour
)

# Send JSON
import json
data = {"task": "process", "id": 123}
queue_client.send_message(json.dumps(data))

Receive Messages

python
# Receive messages (makes them invisible temporarily)
messages = queue_client.receive_messages(
    messages_per_page=10,
    visibility_timeout=30  # 30 seconds to process
)

for message in messages:
    print(f"ID: {message.id}")
    print(f"Content: {message.content}")
    print(f"Dequeue count: {message.dequeue_count}")
    
    # Process message...
    
    # Delete after processing
    queue_client.delete_message(message)

Peek Messages

python
# Peek without hiding (doesn't affect visibility)
messages = queue_client.peek_messages(max_messages=5)

for message in messages:
    print(message.content)

Update Message

python
# Extend visibility or update content
messages = queue_client.receive_messages()
for message in messages:
    # Extend timeout (need more time)
    queue_client.update_message(
        message,
        visibility_timeout=60
    )
    
    # Update content and timeout
    queue_client.update_message(
        message,
        content="Updated content",
        visibility_timeout=60
    )

Delete Message

python
# Delete after successful processing
messages = queue_client.receive_messages()
for message in messages:
    try:
        # Process...
        queue_client.delete_message(message)
    except Exception:
        # Message becomes visible again after timeout
        pass

Clear Queue

python
# Delete all messages
queue_client.clear_messages()

Queue Properties

python
# Get queue properties
properties = queue_client.get_queue_properties()
print(f"Approximate message count: {properties.approximate_message_count}")

# Set/get metadata
queue_client.set_queue_metadata(metadata={"environment": "production"})
properties = queue_client.get_queue_properties()
print(properties.metadata)

Async Client

python
from azure.storage.queue.aio import QueueServiceClient, QueueClient
from azure.identity.aio import DefaultAzureCredential

async def queue_operations():
    credential = DefaultAzureCredential()
    
    async with QueueClient(
        account_url="https://<account>.queue.core.windows.net",
        queue_name="myqueue",
        credential=credential
    ) as client:
        # Send
        await client.send_message("Async message")
        
        # Receive
        async for message in client.receive_messages():
            print(message.content)
            await client.delete_message(message)

import asyncio
asyncio.run(queue_operations())

Base64 Encoding

python
from azure.storage.queue import QueueClient, BinaryBase64EncodePolicy, BinaryBase64DecodePolicy

# For binary data
queue_client = QueueClient(
    account_url=account_url,
    queue_name="myqueue",
    credential=credential,
    message_encode_policy=BinaryBase64EncodePolicy(),
    message_decode_policy=BinaryBase64DecodePolicy()
)

# Send bytes
queue_client.send_message(b"Binary content")

Best Practices

1. Delete messages after processing to prevent reprocessing
2. Set appropriate visibility timeout based on processing time
3. Handle dequeue_count for poison message detection
4. Use async client for high-throughput scenarios
5. Use peek_messages for monitoring without affecting queue
6. Set time_to_live to prevent stale messages
7. Consider Service Bus for advanced features (sessions, topics)

When to Use

This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.