# pyquickbase API reference: Retries

This describes version 1.0.0rc13. Other pages: [Quickbase](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/quickbase.txt), [App](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/app.txt), [Table](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/table.txt), [Report](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/report.txt), [Operation](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/operation.txt), [SchemaOperation](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/schema-operation.txt), [Queries](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/queries.txt), [Records and results](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/records.txt), [Metadata](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/metadata.txt), [Schema changes](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/schema-changes.txt), [Policies](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/policies.txt), [Rules](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/rules.txt), [Tools for models](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/tools.txt), [Errors](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/errors.txt).

A [`RetryPolicy`](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/retries/#RetryPolicy) says how a client retries a request that hit a rate limit or a connection failure, and how long it waits. Pass one to [`Quickbase`](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/quickbase/) as `retry`.

Each example makes its own client from the environment, with `bqtasks123` standing for the ID of the `Job Tasks` table. A live test runs every example with both clients and checks its output.

## Retrying requests

For the full picture, see [Configuring clients](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/guides/clients/).

### `RetryPolicy`

How to retry rate limits, connection failures, and reads that failed on the way.

```python
RetryPolicy(
    *,
    max_retries: int = 4,
    base_delay: float = 1.0,
    max_delay: float = 30.0,
    max_retry_after: float = 60.0,
)
```

**Parameters**

- **`max_retries`** `int`, default `4`  
  Retries after the first attempt. Use 0 to disable retrying.
- **`base_delay`** `float`, default `1.0`  
  Starting backoff in seconds, when Quickbase doesn't specify a wait or says to wait 0 seconds.
- **`max_delay`** `float`, default `30.0`  
  Longest backoff in seconds.
- **`max_retry_after`** `float`, default `60.0`  
  Raise [`RateLimitError`](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/errors/#RateLimitError) rather than obey a longer `Retry-After`.

#### `RetryPolicy.backoff()`

Exponential backoff with jitter, so parallel clients don't retry in lockstep.

```python
backoff(attempt: int) -> float
```

**Parameters**

- **`attempt`** `int`, required  
  Which retry this is, starting from 0.

**Returns** `float`

The seconds to wait.

#### `RetryPolicy.rate_limit_delay()`

Seconds to wait after a 429, or None if the wait is too long to be worth it.

Quickbase can send a wait of 0 while it's still limiting, so an immediate retry could use up the retries, and that's treated like no wait at all.

```python
rate_limit_delay(
    attempt: int, retry_after: float | None
) -> float | None
```

**Parameters**

- **`attempt`** `int`, required  
  Which retry this is, starting from 0.
- **`retry_after`** `float | None`, required  
  The wait Quickbase asked for, in seconds, if it did.

**Returns** `float | None`

The seconds to wait, or None to stop retrying and raise [`RateLimitError`](https://matthew-williams-solutions.github.io/pyquickbase/reference/errors/#RateLimitError).

Sync example:

```python
from pyquickbase import Quickbase, RetryPolicy

patient = RetryPolicy(max_retries=6, max_delay=60)
with Quickbase.from_env(retry=patient) as qb:
    tasks = qb.app("bq1234567").table("bqtasks123")
    print(tasks.count())
```

Async example:

```python
from pyquickbase import AsyncQuickbase, RetryPolicy

patient = RetryPolicy(max_retries=6, max_delay=60)
async with AsyncQuickbase.from_env(retry=patient) as qb:
    tasks = qb.app("bq1234567").table("bqtasks123")
    print(await tasks.count())
```

Output:

```text
3
```