# SvelteKit (/docs/guides/frameworks/sveltekit)

Set up Prisma ORM in a SvelteKit app with create-prisma, from scaffold to rendered data.

Location: Guides > Frameworks > SvelteKit

## Introduction

This guide shows you how to use Prisma ORM in a SvelteKit app. You scaffold a project where a server load function queries your database, initialize the schema, and see your data render.

Every command below was run end to end against a live [Prisma Postgres](/guides/introduction-2-postgres) database.

## Quick start

One command scaffolds the project with Prisma ORM wired in:

#### bun

```bash
bun create prisma@latest my-app --template svelte --provider postgres --no-deploy
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm create prisma@latest my-app --template svelte --provider postgres --no-deploy
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn create prisma@latest my-app --template svelte --provider postgres --no-deploy
```

#### npm

```bash
npm create prisma@latest -- my-app --template svelte --provider postgres --no-deploy
```

Answer the prompts, then export `DATABASE_URL` in your shell before running the database scripts. If you do not have a database yet, `npx create-db@latest` prints a Prisma Postgres connection string.

## Prerequisites

- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org) 22.18 or newer (on the 24 line, 24.11 or newer; 24 recommended)
- A PostgreSQL connection string, or nothing at all: `npx create-db@latest` can create a Prisma Postgres database for you

## Use with your agent

To delegate this guide to your coding agent, copy the prompt below and hand it over:

```text
Create a new SvelteKit app with Prisma ORM, seed it, and verify the page renders.

1. Scaffold: `npm create prisma@latest -- my-app --template svelte --provider postgres --yes`. Then run `npx prisma@latest init` in `my-app` so the Prisma agent skills are installed and stay current, and use them. Get a database connection string: use the one I give you, or create a Prisma Postgres database with `npx create-db@latest` and show me the claim URL it prints. Export it as `DATABASE_URL` in the shell; the generated scripts read the environment variable, not `.env`.
2. In `my-app`, run `npm run db:init` with `DATABASE_URL` exported. Sample users are seeded automatically on the app's first query; there is no separate seed script.
3. Do not deploy to Prisma Compute; it does not support SvelteKit yet. Start `npm run dev` in the background, wait until it reports ready, verify http://localhost:5173 lists the three seeded users, then stop the dev server, following https://www.prisma.io/docs/guides/frameworks/sveltekit.md.

Use the installed Prisma ORM skills.
```

## 1. Scaffold and enter the project

#### bun

```bash
bun create prisma@latest my-app --template svelte --provider postgres --no-deploy
cd my-app
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm create prisma@latest my-app --template svelte --provider postgres --no-deploy
cd my-app
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn create prisma@latest my-app --template svelte --provider postgres --no-deploy
cd my-app
```

#### npm

```bash
npm create prisma@latest -- my-app --template svelte --provider postgres --no-deploy
cd my-app
```

The scaffold generates the SvelteKit app with Prisma ORM wired in, installs dependencies, and emits the contract your queries are type-checked against.

Next, set the database connection. Use your own PostgreSQL connection string, or create a Prisma Postgres database with `npx create-db@latest`; it prints a connection string and a claim URL you can open to keep the database. Export the variable in the shell you work in; the generated scripts read the environment variable, not `.env`:

```bash
export DATABASE_URL="<your connection string>"
```

## 2. Initialize the database

#### bun

```bash
bun run db:init
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm run db:init
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn db:init
```

#### npm

```bash
npm run db:init
```

```text no-copy
"summary": "Applied 5 operation(s) across 1 space(s), database signed"
```

If `db:init` stops with `Connection terminated unexpectedly`, a database you just created is still starting; wait a few seconds and run it again. The command is safe to repeat and reports `Applied 0 operation(s)` when there is nothing left to do.

`db:init` applies your schema (`src/prisma/contract.prisma`) to the database and signs it. With TypeScript authoring (`--authoring typescript`) the schema is `src/prisma/contract.ts` and the emitted files land in `src/prisma/generated/`. Sample users are seeded automatically the first time the app queries the database.

## 3. Run and verify

#### bun

```bash
bun run dev
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm run dev
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn dev
```

#### npm

```bash
npm run dev
```

Open http://localhost:5173. The page lists the seeded users, loaded on the server by the `+page.server.ts` load function.

## Where things live

- `src/routes/+page.server.ts`: the server `load` function that fetches users
- `src/routes/+page.svelte`: the page that renders them
- `src/prisma/users.ts`: the `listUsers` query helper the load function imports
- `src/prisma/db.ts`: the Prisma ORM client behind that helper

Model access is namespace-qualified on PostgreSQL: `db.orm.public.User`. The [Prisma ORM overview](/guides/introduction-2-orm) covers the contract-first model behind it.

[Prisma Compute](/guides/deploy-compute) does not support SvelteKit deployments yet; see [Deploy your first app](/guides/start-prisma-compute-deploy) for what is currently supported. In the meantime, the app deploys to SvelteKit's usual hosts through its standard adapters.

## Next steps

- Change the schema in `src/prisma/contract.prisma`, then run `npm run contract:emit` and `npm run db:update`.
- [Learn the fundamentals](/guides/fundamentals-reading-data): filtering, sorting, pagination, and writes.
- [Read the Prisma ORM overview](/guides/introduction-2-orm) for the concepts behind contracts and typed queries.

## Related pages

- [`Astro`](/guides/guides-3-frameworks-astro): Set up Prisma ORM in an Astro app with create-prisma, from scaffold to rendered data, and deploy it to Prisma Compute.
- [`Elysia`](/guides/guides-3-frameworks-elysia): Build an Elysia API on Prisma ORM with the elysia template and deploy it to Prisma Compute.
- [`Hono`](/guides/guides-3-frameworks-hono): Build a Hono API on Prisma ORM with the hono template, add your own routes, and deploy it to Prisma Compute.
- [`NestJS`](/guides/guides-3-frameworks-nestjs): Set up Prisma ORM in a NestJS app with create-prisma, from scaffold to seeded API to a live deploy on Prisma Compute.
- [`Next.js`](/guides/guides-3-frameworks-nextjs): Set up Prisma ORM in a Next.js app with create-prisma, from scaffold to rendered data, and deploy it to Prisma Compute.

## 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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