# SQL ORMs (Prisma ORM v7) (/docs/guides/v7/switch-to-prisma-orm/from-sql-orms)

Learn how to migrate from Sequelize or TypeORM to Prisma ORM

Location: Guides > v7 > Switch to Prisma ORM > SQL ORMs

## Introduction

This guide shows you how to migrate your application from Sequelize or TypeORM to Prisma ORM.

You can learn how Prisma ORM compares to these ORMs on the comparison pages:

- [Prisma ORM vs Sequelize](/guides/more-4-v7-more-comparisons-prisma-and-sequelize)
- [Prisma ORM vs TypeORM](/guides/more-4-v7-more-comparisons-prisma-and-typeorm)

## Prerequisites

Before starting this guide, make sure you have:

- A Sequelize or TypeORM project you want to migrate
- Node.js installed ([a supported version](/guides/reference-6-v7-reference-system-requirements))
- PostgreSQL, MySQL, or another [supported database](/guides/reference-6-v7-reference-supported-databases)

## Overview of the migration process

The steps for migrating from Sequelize or TypeORM to Prisma ORM are always the same:

1. Install the Prisma CLI
2. Introspect your database
3. Create a baseline migration
4. Install and generate Prisma Client
5. Gradually replace your ORM queries with Prisma Client

Prisma ORM supports **incremental adoption**, so you can migrate your project step-by-step rather than all at once.

## Step 1. Install the Prisma CLI

#### bun

```bash
bun add prisma@prev --dev
bun add @prisma/client@7
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm add prisma@prev --save-dev
pnpm add @prisma/client@7
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn add prisma@prev --dev
yarn add @prisma/client@7
```

#### npm

```bash
npm install prisma@prev --save-dev
npm install @prisma/client@7
```

## Step 2. Introspect your database

Run the following command to create a basic Prisma setup:

#### bun

```bash
bunx --bun prisma init
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma init
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma init
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma init
```

This creates a `prisma` directory with a `schema.prisma` file and a `.env` file. Update the `DATABASE_URL` in `.env` with your connection string:

```bash
DATABASE_URL="postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/mydb?schema=public"
```

Then introspect your database to generate Prisma models:

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma db pull
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma db pull
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma db pull
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma db pull
```

To create a baseline migration, run:

#### bun

```bash
mkdir -p prisma/migrations/0_init
bunx prisma migrate diff --from-empty --to-schema prisma/schema.prisma --script > prisma/migrations/0_init/migration.sql
bunx prisma migrate resolve --applied 0_init
```

#### pnpm

```bash
mkdir -p prisma/migrations/0_init
pnpm prisma migrate diff --from-empty --to-schema prisma/schema.prisma --script > prisma/migrations/0_init/migration.sql
pnpm prisma migrate resolve --applied 0_init
```

#### yarn

```bash
mkdir -p prisma/migrations/0_init
yarn prisma migrate diff --from-empty --to-schema prisma/schema.prisma --script > prisma/migrations/0_init/migration.sql
yarn prisma migrate resolve --applied 0_init
```

#### npm

```bash
mkdir -p prisma/migrations/0_init
npx prisma migrate diff --from-empty --to-schema prisma/schema.prisma --script > prisma/migrations/0_init/migration.sql
npx prisma migrate resolve --applied 0_init
```

## Step 3. Install and generate Prisma Client

#### bun

```bash
bunx prisma generate
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm prisma generate
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn prisma generate
```

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma generate
```

Create a file to instantiate Prisma Client (e.g., `db/prisma.ts`):

```typescript
import { PrismaClient } from "@prisma/client";

export const prisma = new PrismaClient();
```

## Step 4. Replace your ORM queries with Prisma Client

#### Sequelize

```typescript
// Find records
const user = await User.findOne({ where: { id: 1 } });
const users = await User.findAll({
  where: { active: true },
  limit: 10,
  order: [['createdAt', 'DESC']]
});

// Create
const user = await User.create({
  name: 'Alice',
  email: 'alice@example.com'
});

// Update
await User.update(
  { name: 'Alicia' },
  { where: { id: 1 } }
);

// Delete
await User.destroy({ where: { id: 1 } });

// With relations
const posts = await Post.findAll({
  include: [{ model: User }],
  limit: 10
});

// Transaction
const result = await sequelize.transaction(async (t) => {
  const user = await User.create({ name: 'Alice' }, { transaction: t });
  const post = await Post.create({ title: 'Hello', userId: user.id }, { transaction: t });
  return { user, post };
});
```

#### TypeORM

```typescript
// Find records
const user = await userRepository.findOne({ where: { id: 1 } });
const users = await userRepository.find({
  where: { active: true },
  take: 10,
  order: { createdAt: 'DESC' }
});

// Create
const user = userRepository.create({
  name: 'Alice',
  email: 'alice@example.com'
});
await userRepository.save(user);

// Update
await userRepository.update(1, { name: 'Alicia' });

// Delete
await userRepository.delete(1);

// With relations
const posts = await postRepository.find({
  relations: ['author'],
  take: 10
});

// Transaction
await connection.transaction(async (manager) => {
  const user = manager.create(User, { name: 'Alice' });
  await manager.save(user);
  const post = manager.create(Post, { title: 'Hello', author: user });
  await manager.save(post);
});
```

#### Prisma

```typescript
// Find records
const user = await prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { id: 1 } });
const users = await prisma.user.findMany({
  where: { active: true },
  take: 10,
  orderBy: { createdAt: 'desc' }
});

// Create
const user = await prisma.user.create({
  data: {
    name: 'Alice',
    email: 'alice@example.com'
  }
});

// Update
await prisma.user.update({
  where: { id: 1 },
  data: { name: 'Alicia' }
});

// Delete
await prisma.user.delete({ where: { id: 1 } });

// With relations
const posts = await prisma.post.findMany({
  include: { author: true },
  take: 10
});

// Transaction
const result = await prisma.$transaction(async (tx) => {
  const user = await tx.user.create({
    data: {
      name: 'Alice',
      posts: { create: { title: 'Hello' } }
    },
    include: { posts: true }
  });
  return user;
});
```

## Migration tips

- **Incremental adoption**: Start by replacing read operations, then gradually move to write operations
- **Schema naming**: Use `@map` and `@@map` to map Prisma model names to existing table/column names
- **Type safety**: Run `npx prisma generate` after any schema changes
- **Performance**: Use `select` to fetch only needed fields and avoid N+1 issues with `include`

## Next steps

- [Prisma Client API Reference](/guides/reference-6-v7-reference-prisma-client-reference)
- [Schema Reference](/guides/reference-6-v7-reference-prisma-schema-reference)
- [Prisma ORM vs Sequelize](/guides/more-4-v7-more-comparisons-prisma-and-sequelize)
- [Prisma ORM vs TypeORM](/guides/more-4-v7-more-comparisons-prisma-and-typeorm)

## Related pages

- [`Drizzle`](/guides/guides-v7-switch-to-prisma-orm-from-drizzle): Learn how to migrate from Drizzle to Prisma ORM
- [`Mongoose`](/guides/guides-v7-switch-to-prisma-orm-from-mongoose): Learn how to migrate from Mongoose to Prisma ORM

## 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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