# db sign (/docs/cli/db-sign) Sign a database with the current Prisma ORM contract. Location: CLI > db sign `db sign` verifies that the live database satisfies the emitted contract and, if so, writes or updates the database signature. The signature records that this database instance matches a specific contract version. It is idempotent and safe to run in CI or a deployment pipeline. Use it after importing or inferring an existing schema, or after a deployment flow that already applied the required database changes. After a successful signature, `db sign` also stores the signed contract as a snapshot and points the [ref](/guides/migration-migration-ref) named `db` at it, so the next [`migration plan`](/guides/migration-migration-plan) starts from the state you just signed instead of from an empty database. Unlike `db init` and `db update`, passing `--db` does not turn this off, because you normally sign the real database. Pass `--no-advance-ref` when you do not want the command to write a ref or a snapshot, for example in a deployment pipeline. ## Usage #### bun ```bash bunx prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### pnpm ```bash pnpm prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### yarn ```bash yarn prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### npm ```bash npx prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` ## Options | Argument or option | What it does | | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `[contract]` | Signs against a specific contract reference (hash, prefix, ref name, or migration directory name) instead of the emitted contract. | | `--db ` | Connects to the database. | | `--contract ` | The contract reference as a flag. Also accepts the `^` and `./path` forms that the positional argument does not. | | `--advance-ref ` | Advances this ref instead of `db` after a successful signature. | | `--no-advance-ref` | Signs without writing any ref or snapshot. Cannot be combined with `--advance-ref`. | | `--config ` | Read this config file instead of `./prisma.config.ts`. | | `--json` | Prints a machine-readable result. It includes `advancedRef` with the ref name and contract hash, or `null` when no ref was written. | ## Exit codes | Code | Meaning | | ---- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `0` | The database was signed. | | `2` | The command could not run: unresolvable contract reference, no emitted contract, or unreachable database. | | `4` | Schema verification failed and no signature was written. | ## Example #### bun ```bash bunx prisma contract emit bunx prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" bunx prisma db verify --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### pnpm ```bash pnpm prisma contract emit pnpm prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" pnpm prisma db verify --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### yarn ```bash yarn prisma contract emit yarn prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" yarn prisma db verify --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### npm ```bash npx prisma contract emit npx prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" npx prisma db verify --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` ## Adopting an existing database After [`contract infer`](/guides/orm-contract-infer) and `contract emit`, one `db sign` is enough to hand the database over to Prisma ORM: #### bun ```bash bunx prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" bunx prisma migration plan --name add-users-bio ``` #### pnpm ```bash pnpm prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" pnpm prisma migration plan --name add-users-bio ``` #### yarn ```bash yarn prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" yarn prisma migration plan --name add-users-bio ``` #### npm ```bash npx prisma db sign --db "$DATABASE_URL" npx prisma migration plan --name add-users-bio ``` The plan starts from the signed contract, so it contains only the change you made after signing. Because `migrations/app/` is still empty, that first plan also writes a baseline package that records the schema you adopted; see [the automatic baseline](/guides/migration-migration-plan#the-automatic-baseline). ## When to use it Use `db sign` only after you believe the live database already matches the emitted contract. It is common after: - `contract infer` for a brownfield database - a manually reviewed migration flow - a database restore that you need to mark as matching the current contract Do not use `db sign` to hide drift. If verification fails, fix the contract or database first. ## Related pages - [`auth`](/guides/platform-auth): Sign in to your Prisma account from the CLI, sign out, and manage workspace sessions. - [`branch`](/guides/platform-branch): List platform branches for a project. - [`bucket`](/guides/platform-bucket): Create and manage object-store buckets. - [`Configuration`](/guides/introduction-6-configuration): Configure Prisma ORM CLI commands with prisma.config.ts and global flags. - [`contract emit`](/guides/orm-contract-emit): Emit Prisma ORM contract artifacts. ## 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) # Agent Instructions Cite this page’s canonical URL and keep its documentation version. 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