microsoft/azure-storage-queue-py
| Azure Queue Storage SDK for Python. Use for reliable message queuing, task distribution, and asynchronous processing.
npx skills add https://github.com/microsoft/skills --skill azure-storage-queue-py
Simple, cost-effective message queuing for asynchronous communication.
pip install azure-storage-queue azure-identity
AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_URL=https://<account>.queue.core.windows.net # Required for all auth methods
AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod # Required only if DefaultAzureCredential is used in production
> 🔑 Two rules apply to every code sample below:
>
> 1. Prefer DefaultAzureCredential. It works locally (Azure CLI / VS Code / Developer CLI) and in Azure (managed identity, workload identity) with no code change. Avoid connection strings, account/API keys — they bypass Entra audit and rotation.
> - Local dev: DefaultAzureCredential works as-is.
> - Production: set AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod (or AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=<specific_credential>) to constrain the credential chain to production-safe credentials.
> 2. Wrap every client in a context manager so HTTP transports, sockets, and token caches are released deterministically:
> - Sync: with <Client>(...) as client:
> - Async: async with <Client>(...) as client: and async with DefaultAzureCredential() as credential: (from azure.identity.aio)
>
> Snippets may abbreviate this setup, but production code should always follow both rules.
from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential, ManagedIdentityCredential
from azure.storage.queue import QueueServiceClient, QueueClient
# Local dev: DefaultAzureCredential. Production: set AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod or AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=<specific_credential>
credential = DefaultAzureCredential(require_envvar=True)
# Or use a specific credential directly in production:
# See https://learn.microsoft.com/python/api/overview/azure/identity-readme?view=azure-python#credential-classes
# credential = ManagedIdentityCredential()
account_url = "https://<account>.queue.core.windows.net"
# Service client
with QueueServiceClient(account_url=account_url, credential=credential) as service_client:
# Use service_client here (see following sections for operations)
...
# Queue client
with QueueClient(account_url=account_url, queue_name="myqueue", credential=credential) as queue_client:
# Use queue_client here (see following sections for operations)
...
# 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 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 (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 without hiding (doesn't affect visibility)
messages = queue_client.peek_messages(max_messages=5)
for message in messages:
print(message.content)
# 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 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
# Delete all messages
queue_client.clear_messages()
# 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)
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())
from azure.storage.queue import QueueClient, BinaryBase64EncodePolicy, BinaryBase64DecodePolicy
# For binary data
with QueueClient(
account_url=account_url,
queue_name="myqueue",
credential=credential,
message_encode_policy=BinaryBase64EncodePolicy(),
message_decode_policy=BinaryBase64DecodePolicy()
) as queue_client:
# Send bytes
queue_client.send_message(b"Binary content")
azure.xxx sync clients with azure.xxx.aio async clients in the same call path. Choose one mode per module.with Client(...) as client: (sync) or async with Client(...) as client: (async). For async DefaultAzureCredential from azure.identity.aio, also use async with credential: so tokens and transports are cleaned up.DefaultAzureCredential for portable auth across local dev and Azure (avoid connection strings / API keys when possible).dequeue_count for poison message detectionpeek_messages for monitoring without affecting queuetime_to_live to prevent stale messages10. Consider Service Bus for advanced features (sessions, topics)
| File | Contents |
|------|----------|
| references/capabilities.md | Additional non-hero capabilities, operation-group coverage, and production checklists. |
| references/non-hero-scenarios.md | Dedicated non-hero examples for secondary/advanced scenarios. |
Take microsoft/azure-storage-queue-py from the repository into ~/.claude/skills for personal
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