# EVAL_RO

```json metadata
{
  "schema_version": 2,
  "title": "EVAL_RO",
  "description": "Executes a read-only server-side Lua script.",
  "categories": ["docs","develop","stack","oss","rs","rc","oss","kubernetes","clients"],
  "arguments": [{"display_text":"script","name":"script","type":"string"},{"display_text":"numkeys","name":"numkeys","type":"integer"},{"display_text":"key","key_spec_index":0,"multiple":true,"name":"key","optional":true,"type":"key"},{"display_text":"arg","multiple":true,"name":"arg","optional":true,"type":"string"}],
  "syntax_fmt": "EVAL_RO script numkeys [key [key ...]] [arg [arg ...]]",
  "complexity": "Depends on the script that is executed.",
  "group": "scripting",
  "command_flags": ["readonly","noscript","stale","skip_monitor","no_mandatory_keys","movablekeys"],
  "acl_categories": ["@slow","@scripting"],
  "since": "7.0.0",
  "arity": -3,
  "key_specs": [{"RO":true,"access":true,"begin_search":{"spec":{"index":2},"type":"index"},"find_keys":{"spec":{"firstkey":1,"keynumidx":0,"keystep":1},"type":"keynum"},"notes":"We cannot tell how the keys will be used so we assume the worst, RO and ACCESS"}],
  "tableOfContents": {"sections":[{"id":"required-arguments","title":"Required arguments"},{"id":"optional-arguments","title":"Optional arguments"},{"id":"examples","title":"Examples"},{"id":"redis-software-and-redis-cloud-compatibility","title":"Redis Software and Redis Cloud compatibility"},{"id":"return-information","title":"Return information"}]}

,
  "codeExamples": []
}
```


Runs a read-only Lua script. Unlike EVAL, this command can’t run commands that modify data.

For more information about when to use this command versus [`EVAL`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/eval), please refer to [Read-only scripts](https://redis.io/docs/latest/develop/programmability#read-only-scripts).

For more information about [`EVAL`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/eval) scripts please refer to [Introduction to Eval Scripts](https://redis.io/docs/latest/develop/programmability/eval-intro).

## Required arguments

<details open><summary><code>script</code></summary>

The Lua script to evaluate. It must not modify data.

</details>

<details open><summary><code>numkeys</code></summary>

The number of key names that follow. Arguments after the keys are passed as regular arguments.

</details>

## Optional arguments

<details open><summary><code>key [key ...]</code></summary>

The key names the script accesses, provided to it via the Lua `KEYS` global variable. There must be exactly `numkeys` of them.

</details>

<details open><summary><code>arg [arg ...]</code></summary>

Additional arguments provided to the script via the Lua `ARGV` variable.

</details>

## Examples

```
> SET mykey "Hello"
OK
> EVAL_RO "return redis.call('GET', KEYS[1])" 1 mykey
"Hello"
> EVAL_RO "return redis.call('DEL', KEYS[1])" 1 mykey
(error) ERR Error running script (call to b0d697da25b13e49157b2c214a4033546aba2104): @user_script:1: @user_script: 1: Write commands are not allowed from read-only scripts.
```

## Redis Software and Redis Cloud compatibility

| Redis<br />Software | Redis<br />Cloud | <span style="min-width: 9em; display: table-cell">Notes</span> |
|:----------------------|:-----------------|:------|
| <span title="Supported">&#x2705; Standard</span><br /><span title="Supported"><nobr>&#x2705; Active-Active</nobr></span> | <span title="Supported">&#x2705; Standard</span><br /><span title="Supported"><nobr>&#x2705; Active-Active</nobr></span> |  |

## Return information

**RESP2:**

The return value depends on the script that was executed.

**RESP3:**

The return value depends on the script that was executed.