Azure · andrewmathew1 · Feb 12, 2026 · Feb 12, 2026 · Feb 12, 2026 · Feb 12, 2026
@@ -0,0 +1,232 @@
+# Feed Ranges in the Python SDK for Azure Cosmos DB
+
+Feed ranges represent a scope within a container, defined by a range of partition key hash values. They enable sub-container-level operations such as parallel query processing, scoped change feed consumption, and workload distribution across multiple workers.
+
+For general information about partitioning, see:
+- [Partitioning overview](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cosmos-db/partitioning-overview)
+- [Partition Keys in the Python SDK](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/blob/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/docs/PartitionKeys.md)
+
+---
+
+## What Are Feed Ranges?
+
+A feed range is an opaque representation of a subset of data within a container.  Each feed range corresponds to a contiguous range of partition key hash values.  The set of all feed ranges returned by `read_feed_ranges()` covers the entire container without overlap, and every item belongs to exactly one feed range.
+
+> **Important:** Feed ranges are returned as `dict[str, Any]` values and must be treated as opaque.  
+> Do **not** manually construct, parse, or depend on the internal structure of a feed range dictionary.  
+> Use only the container methods described below to create, compare, and consume feed ranges.
+
+---
+
+## When to Use Feed Ranges
+
+| Scenario | Description |
+|----------|-------------|
+| **Parallel query processing** | Read all feed ranges, then query each range independently across multiple workers. Each worker processes a non-overlapping subset of the data. |
+| **Scoped change feed** | Consume the change feed for a specific feed range rather than the entire container, enabling fan-out architectures for change processing. |
+| **Workload distribution** | Assign feed ranges to different threads, processes, or machines to distribute work evenly across a container's data. |
+| **Session token management** | Track session tokens per feed range for fine-grained session consistency when managing your own session tokens across multiple clients. |
+| **Partition key to feed range mapping** | Convert partition key values to feed ranges to determine which worker or scope a specific partition key belongs to. |
+
+---
+
+## API Reference
+
+### `read_feed_ranges()`
+
+Returns all feed ranges for the container. The number of feed ranges corresponds to the number of physical partitions.
+
+```python
+# Sync
+feed_ranges = list(container.read_feed_ranges())
+
+# Async
+feed_ranges = [fr async for fr in container.read_feed_ranges()]
+```
+
+**Parameters:**
+- `force_refresh` *(bool, optional)* – When `True`, refreshes the cached partition key ranges before returning. Use this after a known partition split. Default: `False`.
+
+**Returns:** `Iterable[dict[str, Any]]` (sync) / `AsyncIterable[dict[str, Any]]` (async)
+
+---
+
+### `feed_range_from_partition_key()`
+
+Converts a partition key value to its corresponding feed range. Useful for determining which feed range a specific partition key belongs to.
+
+```python
+# Sync
+feed_range = container.feed_range_from_partition_key("Seattle")
+
+# Async
+feed_range = await container.feed_range_from_partition_key("Seattle")
+```
+
+**Parameters:**
+- `partition_key` *(PartitionKeyType)* – The partition key value. If set to `None`, returns the feed range for partition keys with JSON null. See [Partition Keys](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/blob/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/docs/PartitionKeys.md) for supported value types.
+
+**Returns:** `dict[str, Any]`
+
+---
+
+### `is_feed_range_subset()`
+
+Checks whether one feed range is fully contained within another.
+
+```python
+# Sync
+is_subset = container.is_feed_range_subset(
+    parent_feed_range=container_feed_range,
+    child_feed_range=pk_feed_range
+)
+
+# Async
+is_subset = await container.is_feed_range_subset(
+    parent_feed_range=container_feed_range,
+    child_feed_range=pk_feed_range
+)
+```
+
+**Parameters:**
+- `parent_feed_range` *(dict[str, Any])* – The feed range to test as the superset.
+- `child_feed_range` *(dict[str, Any])* – The feed range to test as the subset.
+
+**Returns:** `bool` – `True` if the child feed range is fully contained within the parent.
+
+---
+
+### `query_items()` with `feed_range`
+
+Scopes a SQL query to a specific feed range. This is useful for parallel query execution where each worker queries a different feed range.
+
+```python
+# Sync
+items = list(container.query_items(
+    query="SELECT * FROM c WHERE c.status = 'active'",
+    feed_range=feed_range
+))
+
+# Async
+items = [item async for item in container.query_items(
+    query="SELECT * FROM c WHERE c.status = 'active'",
+    feed_range=feed_range
+)]
+```
+
+> **Note:** `feed_range` and `partition_key` are **mutually exclusive** parameters.  
+> Providing both will raise a `ValueError`.
+
+---
+
+### `query_items_change_feed()` with `feed_range`
+
+Scopes change feed consumption to a specific feed range. This enables fan-out architectures where each worker processes changes for a non-overlapping subset of the container.
+
+```python
+# Sync
+response = container.query_items_change_feed(
+    feed_range=feed_range,
+    start_time="Beginning"
+)
+for item in response:
+    process(item)
+
+# Async
+response = container.query_items_change_feed(
+    feed_range=feed_range,
+    start_time="Beginning"
+)
+async for item in response:
+    process(item)
+```
+
+> **Note:** `feed_range`, `partition_key`, and `partition_key_range_id` are **mutually exclusive** parameters.
+
+---
+
+### `get_latest_session_token()`
+
+Gets the most up-to-date session token for a specific feed range from a list of session token and feed range pairs. This is a **provisional** API intended for advanced session token management scenarios.
+
+```python
+# Sync
+session_token = container.get_latest_session_token(
+    feed_ranges_to_session_tokens=[(feed_range, token), ...],
+    target_feed_range=target_feed_range
+)
+
+# Async (must be awaited)
+session_token = await container.get_latest_session_token(
+    feed_ranges_to_session_tokens=[(feed_range, token), ...],
+    target_feed_range=target_feed_range
+)
+```
+
+> **Note:** In the async client, `get_latest_session_token()` is a coroutine and **must be awaited**.
+
+See the [session_token_management.py](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/tree/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/samples/session_token_management.py) (sync) and [session_token_management_async.py](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/tree/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/samples/session_token_management_async.py) (async) samples for complete examples.
+
+---
+
+## Feed Ranges vs. Partition Keys
+
+Feed ranges and partition keys both define a scope within a container, but they operate at different levels:
+
+| | Partition Key | Feed Range |
+|---|---|---|
+| **Granularity** | A single logical partition (one partition key value) | Zero, one, or many logical partitions (a hash range) |
+| **Source** | Defined by your data model; you supply the value | Returned by `read_feed_ranges()` or derived from a partition key |
+| **Relationship** | A partition key maps to exactly one feed range | A feed range can contain multiple partition keys |
+| **Use case** | Point reads, single-partition queries | Parallel processing, scoped change feed, workload distribution |
+
+You can convert between them:
+```python
+# Partition key → Feed range
+feed_range = container.feed_range_from_partition_key("my_partition_key")
+
+# Check which container feed range contains a partition key's feed range
+for container_fr in container.read_feed_ranges():
+    if container.is_feed_range_subset(container_fr, feed_range):
+        print("Partition key belongs to this feed range")
+        break
+```
+
+---
+
+## Important Considerations
+
+### Feed Ranges Are Opaque
+Feed ranges are returned as `dict[str, Any]`. Their internal structure may change between SDK versions. Always use the provided API methods rather than constructing or parsing feed range dictionaries.
+
+### Serialization for Storage
+If you need to persist feed ranges (e.g., to assign ranges to workers across restarts), you can safely serialize them with `json.dumps()` and deserialize with `json.loads()`:
+
+```python
+import json
+
+# Serialize for storage
+serialized = json.dumps(feed_range)
+
+# Deserialize for later use
+feed_range = json.loads(serialized)
+```
+
+### Partition Splits and Stale Feed Ranges
+As your container's data grows, physical partitions may split, changing the set of feed ranges. The SDK handles stale feed ranges gracefully:
+
+- **Queries with `feed_range`**: The SDK automatically resolves stale feed ranges and routes the query correctly.
+- **Change feed with `feed_range`**: The SDK detects "feed range gone" conditions and transparently handles the split.
+- **To get updated feed ranges**: Call `container.read_feed_ranges(force_refresh=True)`.
+
+### Mutual Exclusivity
+When using feed ranges with `query_items()` or `query_items_change_feed()`, the `feed_range` parameter is mutually exclusive with `partition_key` (and `partition_key_range_id` for change feed). Providing both will raise a `ValueError`.
+
+---
+
+## Samples
+
+For complete, runnable examples, see:
+- [feed_range_management.py](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/tree/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/samples/feed_range_management.py) – Sync sample covering all feed range operations
+- [feed_range_management_async.py](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/tree/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/samples/feed_range_management_async.py) – Async sample with `asyncio.gather()` for parallel processing
+- [session_token_management.py](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/tree/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/samples/session_token_management.py) – Session token management using feed ranges
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ The following are code samples that show common scenario operations with the Azu
 
 * [change_feed_management.py](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/tree/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/samples/change_feed_management.py) - Example demontrating how to consume the Change Feed and iterate on the results.
 
+* [feed_range_management.py](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/tree/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/samples/feed_range_management.py) - Example demonstrating feed range operations including:
+    * Reading feed ranges from a container
+    * Getting a feed range for a specific partition key
+    * Checking feed range subset relationships
+    * Querying items scoped to a feed range
+    * Comparing queries scoped to feed ranges with `partition_key`-based queries
+    * Consuming change feed scoped to a feed range
+    * Parallel change feed processing using feed ranges
 
 * [access_cosmos_with_resource_token.py](https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-python/tree/main/sdk/cosmos/azure-cosmos/samples/access_cosmos_with_resource_token.py) - Example demontrating how to get and use resource token that allows restricted access to data.