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Every BullMQ queue stores metadata in Redis that contains important configuration and state information. You can retrieve this metadata to monitor and understand your queue’s current settings.

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Getting Queue Metadata

Use the getMeta method to retrieve all queue metadata:

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Method Signature

async getMeta(): Promise<QueueMetadata>

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Example

import { Queue } from 'bullmq';

const queue = new Queue('tasks');

const meta = await queue.getMeta();
console.log(meta);

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Metadata Fields

The metadata object contains the following fields:
​
concurrency
number | undefined
The global concurrency limit, if set. This determines the maximum number of jobs that can be processed simultaneously across all workers.See Global Concurrency for more details.
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max
number | undefined
The maximum number of jobs allowed in the rate limit window, if rate limiting is enabled.See Global Rate Limit for more details.
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duration
number | undefined
The duration (in milliseconds) of the rate limit window, if rate limiting is enabled.See Global Rate Limit for more details.
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paused
boolean
Whether the queue is currently paused. When paused, no new jobs will be processed.
​
maxLenEvents
number
The maximum length of the events stream. Default is 10,000 events.
​
version
string
The BullMQ library version that created or last updated the queue metadata, in the format bullmq:x.y.z.

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Example Output

import { Queue } from 'bullmq';

const queue = new Queue('tasks');

// Configure the queue
await queue.setGlobalConcurrency(5);
await queue.setGlobalRateLimit(100, 60000);

// Get metadata
const meta = await queue.getMeta();

console.log(meta);
// Output:
// {
//   concurrency: 5,
//   max: 100,
//   duration: 60000,
//   paused: false,
//   maxLenEvents: 10000,
//   version: 'bullmq:5.0.0'
// }

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Practical Examples

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Example 1: Health Check

Create a health check endpoint that includes queue metadata: 
import { Queue } from 'bullmq';
import express from 'express';

const app = express();
const queue = new Queue('tasks');

app.get('/health/queue', async (req, res) => {
  const meta = await queue.getMeta();
  const counts = await queue.getJobCounts();
  
  res.json({
    status: 'ok',
    metadata: meta,
    counts: counts,
    timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
  });
});

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Example 2: Monitoring Dashboard

import { Queue } from 'bullmq';

const queue = new Queue('tasks');

async function getQueueStatus() {
  const meta = await queue.getMeta();
  const waiting = await queue.getWaitingCount();
  const active = await queue.getActiveCount();
  const completed = await queue.getCompletedCount();
  const failed = await queue.getFailedCount();
  
  return {
    version: meta.version,
    paused: meta.paused,
    concurrency: meta.concurrency ?? 'unlimited',
    rateLimit: meta.max && meta.duration 
      ? `${meta.max} jobs per ${meta.duration}ms`
      : 'none',
    counts: {
      waiting,
      active,
      completed,
      failed,
      total: waiting + active + completed + failed
    }
  };
}

// Use it
const status = await getQueueStatus();
console.log(status);

​
Example 3: Configuration Validation

Verify queue configuration matches expectations: 
import { Queue } from 'bullmq';

const queue = new Queue('tasks');

async function validateQueueConfig() {
  const meta = await queue.getMeta();
  
  // Check concurrency
  if (meta.concurrency !== 10) {
    console.warn(`Expected concurrency: 10, got: ${meta.concurrency}`);
    await queue.setGlobalConcurrency(10);
  }
  
  // Check rate limit
  if (meta.max !== 100 || meta.duration !== 60000) {
    console.warn('Rate limit mismatch');
    await queue.setGlobalRateLimit(100, 60000);
  }
  
  // Check pause state
  if (meta.paused) {
    console.warn('Queue is paused!');
  }
  
  console.log('Queue configuration validated');
}

await validateQueueConfig();

​
Example 4: Version Checking

Ensure queue was created with a compatible BullMQ version: 
import { Queue } from 'bullmq';

const queue = new Queue('tasks');

async function checkVersion() {
  const meta = await queue.getMeta();
  const version = await queue.getVersion();
  
  console.log(`Queue version: ${version}`);
  console.log(`Meta version: ${meta.version}`);
  
  // Parse version
  const match = version.match(/bullmq:(\d+)\.(\d+)\.(\d+)/);
  if (match) {
    const [, major, minor, patch] = match;
    console.log(`Major: ${major}, Minor: ${minor}, Patch: ${patch}`);
    
    if (parseInt(major) < 5) {
      console.warn('Queue was created with an old version of BullMQ');
    }
  }
}

await checkVersion();

​
Example 5: Pause Status Monitor

import { Queue } from 'bullmq';

const queue = new Queue('tasks');

// Monitor pause status every 10 seconds
setInterval(async () => {
  const meta = await queue.getMeta();
  
  if (meta.paused) {
    console.log('⚠️  Queue is PAUSED');
  } else {
    console.log('✓ Queue is ACTIVE');
  }
}, 10000);

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Metadata vs Other Queue Methods

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Pause State

You can check pause state via metadata or a dedicated method: 
// Using metadata
const meta = await queue.getMeta();
const isPaused = meta.paused;

// Using dedicated method
const isPausedDirect = await queue.isPaused();

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Global Concurrency

// Using metadata
const meta = await queue.getMeta();
const concurrency = meta.concurrency;

// Using dedicated method
const concurrencyDirect = await queue.getGlobalConcurrency();

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Global Rate Limit

// Using metadata
const meta = await queue.getMeta();
const rateLimit = { max: meta.max, duration: meta.duration };

// Using dedicated method
const rateLimitDirect = await queue.getGlobalRateLimit();

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Metadata Storage

Queue metadata is stored in Redis under a hash key: 
// Redis key pattern: {prefix}:{queueName}:meta
// Default: bull:{queueName}:meta

// You can view it directly in Redis CLI:
// HGETALL bull:tasks:meta
The metadata is automatically updated when you:
  • Call setGlobalConcurrency()
  • Call setGlobalRateLimit()
  • Call pause() or resume()
  • Create a new queue instance

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Configuration Options

You can configure the events stream length when creating a queue: 
import { Queue } from 'bullmq';

const queue = new Queue('tasks', {
  streams: {
    events: {
      maxLen: 5000  // Keep last 5000 events instead of default 10000
    }
  }
});

const meta = await queue.getMeta();
console.log(meta.maxLenEvents); // 5000

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