# SQL Server (Prisma ORM v7) (/docs/orm/v7/core-concepts/supported-databases/sql-server)

Use Prisma ORM with Microsoft SQL Server databases

Location: ORM > v7 > Core Concepts > Supported databases > SQL Server

Prisma ORM supports Microsoft SQL Server (2017+) databases.

## Setup

Configure the SQL Server provider in your Prisma schema:

```prisma title="schema.prisma"
datasource db {
  provider = "sqlserver"
}
```

Set the connection URL in `prisma.config.ts`:

```typescript title="prisma.config.ts"
import { defineConfig, env } from "prisma/config";

export default defineConfig({
  schema: "prisma/schema.prisma",
  datasource: {
    url: env("DATABASE_URL"), // sqlserver://host:1433;database=db;...
  },
});
```

## Using driver adapters

Use the `node-mssql` JavaScript database driver via [driver adapters](/guides/core-concepts-v7-supported-databases-database-drivers#driver-adapters):

#### bun

```bash
bun add @prisma/adapter-mssql
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm add @prisma/adapter-mssql
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn add @prisma/adapter-mssql
```

#### npm

```bash
npm install @prisma/adapter-mssql
```

```ts
import { PrismaMssql } from "@prisma/adapter-mssql";
import { PrismaClient } from "./generated/prisma";

const config = {
  server: "localhost",
  port: 1433,
  database: "mydb",
  user: "sa",
  password: "mypassword",
  options: {
    encrypt: true,
    trustServerCertificate: true, // For self-signed certificates
  },
};

const adapter = new PrismaMssql(config);
const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter });
```

## Connection details

SQL Server uses JDBC-style connection strings:

```
sqlserver://HOST[:PORT];database=DATABASE;user=USER;password=PASSWORD;encrypt=true
```

**Escaping special characters:**

If your credentials contain `: \ = ; / [ ] { }`, wrap values in curly braces:

```
sqlserver://host:1433;user={MyServer/User};password={Pass:Word;};database=db
```

### Connection string arguments

| Argument                       | Default  | Description                                                          |
| ------------------------------ | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `database` / `initial catalog` | `master` | Database name                                                        |
| `user` / `username` / `uid`    |          | SQL Server login or Windows username (if using `integratedSecurity`) |
| `password` / `pwd`             |          | Password for user                                                    |
| `encrypt`                      | `true`   | Use TLS: `true` (always), `false` (login only)                       |
| `integratedSecurity`           |          | Windows authentication: `true`, `false`, `yes`, `no`                 |
| `schema`                       | `dbo`    | Schema prefix for all queries                                        |
| `connectTimeout`               | `5`      | Seconds to wait for connection                                       |
| `socketTimeout`                |          | Seconds to wait for each query                                       |
| `poolTimeout`                  | `10`     | Seconds to wait for connection from pool                             |
| `trustServerCertificate`       | `false`  | Trust server certificate without validation                          |
| `trustServerCertificateCA`     |          | Path to CA certificate file (`.pem`, `.crt`, `.der`)                 |
| `ApplicationName`              |          | Application name for the connection                                  |

> \[!WARNING]
> Prisma ORM v7: Connection pool defaults changed
>
> Driver adapters use `mssql` driver defaults which differ from v6:
>
> - **Connection timeout:** `15s` (vs v6's `5s`)
> - **Idle timeout:** `30s` (vs v6's `300s`)
>
> See [connection pool guide](/guides/prisma-client-v7-setup-and-configuration-databases-connections-connection-pool#sql-server-using-the-mssql-driver) for configuration.

## Windows authentication

**Using current Windows user:**

```
sqlserver://localhost:1433;database=sample;integratedSecurity=true;trustServerCertificate=true;
```

**Using specific Active Directory user:**

```
sqlserver://localhost:1433;database=sample;integratedSecurity=true;username=prisma;password=aBcD1234;trustServerCertificate=true;
```

**Named instance:**

```
sqlserver://mycomputer\sql2019;database=sample;integratedSecurity=true;trustServerCertificate=true;
```

## Type mappings

| Prisma     | SQL Server       |
| ---------- | ---------------- |
| `String`   | `NVARCHAR(1000)` |
| `Boolean`  | `BIT`            |
| `Int`      | `INT`            |
| `BigInt`   | `BIGINT`         |
| `Float`    | `FLOAT(53)`      |
| `Decimal`  | `DECIMAL(32,16)` |
| `DateTime` | `DATETIME2`      |
| `Json`     | Not supported    |
| `Bytes`    | `VARBINARY(MAX)` |

See [full type mapping reference](/guides/reference-6-v7-reference-prisma-schema-reference#model-field-scalar-types) for complete details.

## Common considerations

**UNIQUE constraints:**

SQL Server [allows only one `NULL` value per `UNIQUE` constraint](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/tables/unique-constraints-and-check-constraints). Use filtered indexes to work around this, but note they cannot be used as foreign keys.

**Cyclic references:**

With circular model references, you must use [`NoAction` referential actions](/guides/prisma-schema-v7-data-model-relations-referential-actions#special-rules-for-sql-server-and-mongodb) to avoid validation errors.

**Raw queries with `VARCHAR` columns:**

`String` parameters in raw queries are encoded as `NVARCHAR(4000)` or `NVARCHAR(MAX)`. When querying `VARCHAR(N)` columns, manually cast to avoid index performance issues:

```ts
// ❌ Causes implicit conversion
await prisma.$queryRaw`SELECT * FROM user WHERE name = ${"John"}`;

// ✅ Enables index seek
await prisma.$queryRaw`SELECT * FROM user WHERE name = CAST(${"John"} AS VARCHAR(40))`;
```

## Prisma Migrate caveats

**Schema names:**

SQL Server doesn't have `SET search_path`. Ensure your connection URL schema parameter matches production (typically `dbo`):

```
sqlserver://host:1433;database=db;schema=dbo;...
```

**Destructive changes:**

Some operations require table recreation:

- Adding/removing `autoincrement()`
- Dropping all columns from a table

**Shared default values:**

Prisma doesn't support SQL Server's `sp_bindefault`. Use per-column defaults instead.

## Local setup

**Windows:**

1. Install [SQL Server 2019 Developer](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-downloads)
2. Install [SQL Server Management Studio](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms)
3. Enable TCP/IP in SQL Server Configuration Manager → **Protocols for MSSQLSERVER**
4. (Optional) Enable SQL authentication: **Properties** → **Security** → **SQL Server and Windows Authentication Mode**

**Docker:**

```bash
docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-latest

docker run --name sql_container \
  -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y' \
  -e 'SA_PASSWORD=myPassword' \
  -p 1433:1433 \
  -d mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-latest
```

Connect with: Username `sa`, password `myPassword`, port `1433`

## Related pages

- [`Database drivers`](/guides/core-concepts-v7-supported-databases-database-drivers): Learn how Prisma connects to your database using driver adapters
- [`MongoDB`](/guides/core-concepts-v7-supported-databases-mongodb): How Prisma ORM connects to MongoDB databases
- [`MySQL`](/guides/core-concepts-v7-supported-databases-mysql): Use Prisma ORM with MySQL databases including self-hosted MySQL/MariaDB and serverless PlanetScale
- [`PostgreSQL`](/guides/core-concepts-v7-supported-databases-postgresql): Use Prisma ORM with PostgreSQL databases including self-hosted, serverless (Neon, Supabase), and CockroachDB
- [`SQLite`](/guides/core-concepts-v7-supported-databases-sqlite): Use Prisma ORM with SQLite databases including local SQLite, Turso (libSQL), and Cloudflare D1

## Related pages

- [Authentication & Tools](./authentication-tools-index.md)
- [Build](./build-index.md)
- [Changelog](../changelog.md)
- [Concepts](./concepts-index.md)
- [Console commands](./console-commands-index.md)
- [Contract Authoring](./contract-authoring-index.md)
- [Core Concepts](./core-concepts-index.md)
- [Data Modeling](./data-modeling-index.md)
- [Database](./database-index.md)
- [DB commands](./db-commands-index.md)

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