# SolidStart

## [Introduction](#introduction)

SolidStart is a full-stack framework for building reactive web apps with SolidJS. Its API routes run on the server, which is where you call Prisma ORM to read from a Prisma Postgres database.

In this guide, you'll learn how to integrate Prisma ORM with a Prisma Postgres database in a SolidStart project from scratch. You can find a complete example of this guide on [GitHub](https://github.com/prisma/prisma-examples/tree/latest/orm/solid-start).

## [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)

- [Node.js 20+](https://nodejs.org/)

## [1. Set up your project](#1-set-up-your-project)

Begin by creating a new SolidStart app. In your terminal, run:

:::code-group
```title="bun"
bunx create-solid
```

```bash title="pnpm"
pnpm create solid
```

```bash title="yarn"
yarn create solid
```

```bash title="npm"
npm init solid@latest
```
:::

Use the following options when prompted:

:::callout{intent="note"}
- _Project name:_ `my-solid-prisma-app`
- _Is this a SolidStart project:_ `Yes`
- _Template:_ `bare`
- _Use TypeScript:_ `Yes`
:::

Next, navigate into your new project, install dependencies, and start the development server:

::::tabs
:::tab{title="bun"}
```
cd my-solid-prisma-app

bun install

bun run dev
```
:::

:::tab{title="pnpm"}
```bash
cd my-solid-prisma-app
pnpm install
pnpm run dev
```
:::

:::tab{title="yarn"}
```bash
cd my-solid-prisma-app
yarn install
yarn dev
```
:::

:::tab{title="npm"}
```bash
cd my-solid-prisma-app
npm install
npm run dev
```

Once the dev server is running, open `http://localhost:3000` in your browser. You should see the SolidStart welcome screen.

Clean up the default UI by editing the `app.tsx` file and replacing its content with the following code:

```typescript title="src/app.tsx"
import "./app.css";

export default function App() {
  return (
    <main>
      <h1>SolidStart + Prisma</h1>
    </main>
  );
}
```
:::
::::

Once the dev server is running, open `http://localhost:3000` in your browser. You should see the SolidStart welcome screen.

Clean up the default UI by editing the `app.tsx` file and replacing its content with the following code:

```title="src/app.tsx"
import "./app.css";

export default function App() {

  return (

    <main>

      <h1>SolidStart + Prisma</h1>

    </main>

  );

}
```

## [2. Install and Configure Prisma](#2-install-and-configure-prisma)

### [2.1. Install dependencies](#21-install-dependencies)

To get started with Prisma, you'll need to install a few dependencies:

:::code-group
```title="bun"
bun add prisma@prev tsx @types/pg --dev
```

```bash title="pnpm"
pnpm add prisma@prev tsx @types/pg --save-dev
```

```bash title="yarn"
yarn add prisma@prev tsx @types/pg --dev
```

```bash title="npm"
npm install prisma@prev tsx @types/pg --save-dev
```
:::

::::tabs
:::tab{title="bun"}
```
bun add @prisma/client@7 @prisma/adapter-pg dotenv pg
```
:::

:::tab{title="pnpm"}
```bash
pnpm add @prisma/client@7 @prisma/adapter-pg dotenv pg
```
:::

:::tab{title="yarn"}
```bash
yarn add @prisma/client@7 @prisma/adapter-pg dotenv pg
```
:::

:::tab{title="npm"}
```bash
npm install @prisma/client@7 @prisma/adapter-pg dotenv pg
```

> \[!NOTE]
> If you are using a different database provider (MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite), install the corresponding driver adapter package instead of `@prisma/adapter-pg`. For more information, see [Database drivers](/guides/core-concepts-v7-supported-databases-database-drivers).

Once installed, initialize Prisma in your project:
:::
::::

:::callout{intent="note"}
If you are using a different database provider (MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite), install the corresponding driver adapter package instead of `@prisma/adapter-pg`. For more information, see [Database drivers](/guides/core-concepts-v7-supported-databases-database-drivers).
:::

Once installed, initialize Prisma in your project:

::::tabs
:::tab{title="bun"}
```
bunx --bun prisma init --output ../src/generated/prisma
```
:::

:::tab{title="pnpm"}
```bash
pnpm prisma init --output ../src/generated/prisma
```
:::

:::tab{title="yarn"}
```bash
yarn prisma init --output ../src/generated/prisma
```
:::

:::tab{title="npm"}
```bash
npx prisma init --output ../src/generated/prisma
```

> \[!NOTE]
> `prisma init` creates the Prisma scaffolding and a local `DATABASE_URL`. In the next step, you will create a Prisma Postgres database and replace that value with a direct `postgres://...` connection string.

This will create:

- A `prisma` directory with a `schema.prisma` file.
- A `prisma.config.ts` file for configuring Prisma
- A `.env` file containing a local `DATABASE_URL` at the project root.
- An `output` directory for the generated Prisma Client as `src/generated/prisma`.

Create a Prisma Postgres database and replace the generated `DATABASE_URL` in your `.env` file with the `postgres://...` connection string from the CLI output:
:::
::::

:::callout{intent="note"}
`prisma init` creates the Prisma scaffolding and a local `DATABASE_URL`. In the next step, you will create a Prisma Postgres database and replace that value with a direct `postgres://...` connection string.
:::

This will create:

- A `prisma` directory with a `schema.prisma` file.
- A `prisma.config.ts` file for configuring Prisma
- A `.env` file containing a local `DATABASE_URL` at the project root.
- An `output` directory for the generated Prisma Client as `src/generated/prisma`.

Create a Prisma Postgres database and replace the generated `DATABASE_URL` in your `.env` file with the `postgres://...` connection string from the CLI output:

:::code-group
```title="bun"
bunx create-db
```

```bash title="pnpm"
pnpm dlx create-db
```

```bash title="yarn"
yarn dlx create-db
```

```bash title="npm"
npx create-db
```
:::

### [2.2. Define your Prisma Schema](#22-define-your-prisma-schema)

In the `prisma/schema.prisma` file, add the following models and change the generator to use the `prisma-client` provider:

```title="prisma/schema.prisma"
generator client {

  provider = "prisma-client"

  output   = "../src/generated/prisma"

}

datasource db {

  provider = "postgresql"

}

model User { 

  id    Int     @id @default(autoincrement()) 

  email String  @unique

  name  String?

  posts Post[]

} 

model Post { 

  id        Int     @id @default(autoincrement()) 

  title     String

  content   String?

  published Boolean @default(false) 

  authorId  Int

  author    User    @relation(fields: [authorId], references: [id]) 

} 
```

This creates two models: `User` and `Post`, with a one-to-many relationship between them.

### [2.3 Add `dotenv` to `prisma.config.ts`](#23-add-dotenv-to-prismaconfigts)

To get access to the variables in the `.env` file, they can either be loaded by your runtime, or by using `dotenv`. Include an import for `dotenv` at the top of the `prisma.config.ts`

```
import "dotenv/config"; 

import { defineConfig, env } from "prisma/config";

export default defineConfig({

  schema: "prisma/schema.prisma",

  migrations: {

    path: "prisma/migrations",

  },

  datasource: {

    url: env("DATABASE_URL"),

  },

});
```

### [2.4. Configure the Prisma Client generator](#24-configure-the-prisma-client-generator)

Now, run the following command to create the database tables and generate the Prisma Client:

:::code-group
```title="bun"
bunx prisma migrate dev --name init
```

```bash title="pnpm"
pnpm prisma migrate dev --name init
```

```bash title="yarn"
yarn prisma migrate dev --name init
```

```bash title="npm"
npx prisma migrate dev --name init
```
:::

:::code-group
```title="bun"
bunx prisma generate
```

```bash title="pnpm"
pnpm prisma generate
```

```bash title="yarn"
yarn prisma generate
```

```bash title="npm"
npx prisma generate
```
:::

### [2.5. Seed the database](#25-seed-the-database)

Add some seed data to populate the database with sample users and posts.

Create a new file called `seed.ts` in the `prisma/` directory:

```title="prisma/seed.ts"
import { PrismaClient, Prisma } from "../src/generated/prisma/client.js";

import { PrismaPg } from "@prisma/adapter-pg";

const adapter = new PrismaPg({

  connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL!,

});

const prisma = new PrismaClient({

  adapter,

});

const userData: Prisma.UserCreateInput[] = [

  {

    name: "Alice",

    email: "alice@prisma.io",

    posts: {

      create: [

        {

          title: "Join the Prisma Discord",

          content: "https://pris.ly/discord",

          published: true,

        },

        {

          title: "Prisma on YouTube",

          content: "https://pris.ly/youtube",

        },

      ],

    },

  },

  {

    name: "Bob",

    email: "bob@prisma.io",

    posts: {

      create: [

        {

          title: "Follow Prisma on Twitter",

          content: "https://www.twitter.com/prisma",

          published: true,

        },

      ],

    },

  },

];

export async function main() {

  for (const u of userData) {

    await prisma.user.create({ data: u });

  }

}

main();
```

Now, tell Prisma how to run this script by updating your `prisma.config.ts`:

```title="prisma.config.ts"
import "dotenv/config";

import { defineConfig, env } from "prisma/config";

export default defineConfig({

  schema: "prisma/schema.prisma",

  migrations: {

    path: "prisma/migrations",

    seed: `tsx prisma/seed.ts`, 

  },

  datasource: {

    url: env("DATABASE_URL"),

  },

});
```

Run the seed script:

:::code-group
```title="bun"
bunx prisma db seed
```

```bash title="pnpm"
pnpm prisma db seed
```

```bash title="yarn"
yarn prisma db seed
```

```bash title="npm"
npx prisma db seed
```
:::

And open Prisma Studio to inspect your data:

:::code-group
```title="bun"
bunx prisma studio
```

```bash title="pnpm"
pnpm prisma studio
```

```bash title="yarn"
yarn prisma studio
```

```bash title="npm"
npx prisma studio
```
:::

## [3. Integrate Prisma into SolidStart](#3-integrate-prisma-into-solidstart)

### [3.1. Create a Prisma Client](#31-create-a-prisma-client)

At the root of your project, create a new `lib` folder and a `prisma.ts` file inside it:

```
mkdir -p lib && touch lib/prisma.ts
```

Add the following code to create a Prisma Client instance:

```title="lib/prisma.ts"
import { PrismaClient } from "../src/generated/prisma/client.js";

import { PrismaPg } from "@prisma/adapter-pg";

const adapter = new PrismaPg({

  connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL!,

});

const prisma = new PrismaClient({

  adapter,

});

export default prisma;
```

:::callout{intent="warning"}
We recommend using a connection pooler (like [Prisma Accelerate](https://www.prisma.io/accelerate)) to manage database connections efficiently.

If you choose not to use one, **avoid** instantiating `PrismaClient` globally in long-lived environments. Instead, create and dispose of the client per request to prevent exhausting your database connections.
:::

### [3.2. Create an API Route](#32-create-an-api-route)

Next, fetch data from the database through an API route.

Create a new file at `src/routes/api/users.ts`:

```title="src/routes/api/users.ts"
import prisma from "../../../lib/prisma";

export async function GET() {

  const users = await prisma.user.findMany({

    include: {

      posts: true,

    },

  });

  return new Response(JSON.stringify(users), {

    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },

  });

}
```

### [3.3. Fetch data in your component](#33-fetch-data-in-your-component)

In your `app.tsx` file, use `createResource` to fetch data from your new API route:

```title="src/app.tsx"
import "./app.css";

import { createResource } from "solid-js"; 

import { User, Post } from "./generated/prisma/client"; 

type UserWithPosts = User & { 

  posts: Post[]; 

}; 

const fetchUsers = async () => { 

  const res = await fetch("http://localhost:3000/api/users"); 

  return res.json(); 

}; 

export default function App() {

  const [users, { mutate, refetch }] = createResource<UserWithPosts[]>(fetchUsers); 

  return (

    <main>

      <h1>SolidStart + Prisma</h1>

    </main>

  );

}
```

:::callout{intent="note"}
`createResource` is a SolidJS hook for managing async data. It tracks loading and error states automatically. Learn more about [SolidJS `createResource`](https://docs.solidjs.com/reference/basic-reactivity/create-resource#createresource).
:::

### [3.4. Display the Data](#34-display-the-data)

To show the users and their posts, use SolidJS's `<For>` component:

```title="src/app.tsx"
import "./app.css";

import { createResource, For } from "solid-js"; 

import { User, Post } from "./generated/prisma/client";

type UserWithPosts = User & {

  posts: Post[];

};

const fetchUsers = async () => {

  const res = await fetch("http://localhost:3000/api/users");

  return res.json();

};

export default function App() {

  const [users, { mutate, refetch }] =

    createResource<UserWithPosts[]>(fetchUsers);

  return (

    <main>

      <h1>SolidJS + Prisma</h1>

      <For each={users() ?? []}>

        {(user) => ( 

          <div> 

            <h3>{user.name}</h3>

            <For each={user.posts}>{(post) => <p>{post.title}</p>}</For>

          </div>

        )} 

      </For>

    </main>

  );

}
```

:::callout{intent="note"}
`<For>` loops through an array reactively. Think of it like `.map()` in React. Learn more about [SolidJS `<For>`](https://docs.solidjs.com/reference/components/for)
:::

### [3.5. Add Loading and Error States](#35-add-loading-and-error-states)

Use SolidJS's `<Show>` component to handle loading and error conditions:

```title="src/app.tsx"
import "./app.css";

import { createResource, For, Show } from "solid-js"; 

import { User, Post } from "./generated/prisma/client";

type UserWithPosts = User & {

  posts: Post[];

};

const fetchUsers = async () => {

  const res = await fetch("http://localhost:3000/api/users");

  return res.json();

};

export default function App() {

  const [users, { mutate, refetch }] =

    createResource<UserWithPosts[]>(fetchUsers);

  return (

    <main>

      <h1>SolidJS + Prisma</h1>

      <Show when={!users.loading} fallback={<p>Loading...</p>}>

        <Show when={!users.error} fallback={<p>Error loading data</p>}>

          <For each={users()}>

            {(user) => (

              <div>

                <h3>{user.name}</h3>

                <For each={user.posts}>{(post) => <p>{post.title}</p>}</For>

              </div>

            )}

          </For>

        </Show>

      </Show>

    </main>

  );

}
```

:::callout{intent="note"}
`<Show>` conditionally renders content. It's similar to an `if` statement. Learn more about [SolidJS `<Show>`](https://docs.solidjs.com/reference/components/show)
:::

Your SolidStart app now reads users and their posts from a Prisma Postgres database through the API route.

## [Next Steps](#next-steps)

Now that you have a working SolidStart app connected to a Prisma Postgres database, you can:

- Extend your Prisma schema with more models and relationships
- Add create/update/delete routes and forms
- Explore authentication, validation, and optimistic updates

## [More Info](#more-info)

- [Prisma ORM Docs](/guides/introduction-7-v7)
- [SolidStart Documentation](https://start.solidjs.com/)

## 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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