# db update (/docs/cli/db-update) Update a database to match the current Prisma ORM contract. Location: CLI > db update `db update` compares the live database with the emitted contract and applies the changes that close the gap, whether or not the database was bootstrapped with `db init`. Use it for direct reconciliation when you do not need a checked-in migration package. ## Usage #### bun ```bash bunx prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### pnpm ```bash pnpm prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### yarn ```bash yarn prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### npm ```bash npx prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` ## Options | Option | What it does | | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `--db ` | Connects to the database. | | `--dry-run` | Shows planned operations without applying them. | | `--to ` | Updates to a specific contract (hash, prefix, ref name, migration directory name, or `./path`). | | `--advance-ref ` | Advances the named [ref](/guides/migration-migration-ref) to the post-command contract hash. Without it, `db update` advances `db` when `--db` is omitted, and advances nothing when `--db` is passed. | | `--config ` | Read this config file instead of `./prisma.config.ts`. | | `--json` | Prints a machine-readable result. | ## How the db ref moves Run without `--db`, `db update` takes the connection from `db.connection` in `prisma.config.ts` and advances the [ref](/guides/migration-migration-ref) named `db` to the contract it just applied. Pass `--db` and that advancement is suppressed, even when the URL is the same one the config holds. Pass `--advance-ref db` alongside `--db` to get it back. The `db` ref is what [`migration plan`](/guides/migration-migration-plan) uses as its starting point when you do not pass `--from`. Passing `--db` only suppresses the advancement; it never removes a `db` ref that already exists. So a loop that always passes `--db` without `--advance-ref db` leaves the ref wherever it was last set, and the next `migration plan` starts from that stale contract. If the ref was never created, `migration plan` plans from an empty database while `migrations/app/` is empty, and refuses with `MIGRATION.PLAN_ORIGIN_UNKNOWN` once migrations exist on disk. ## Destructive changes need consent An operation that would destroy data is applied only with your consent: the command asks you to type the database name. In a CI job or a run with `--no-interactive`, where the command cannot ask, pass the consent as `--confirm ` instead: #### bun ```bash bunx prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --no-interactive --confirm appdb ``` #### pnpm ```bash pnpm prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --no-interactive --confirm appdb ``` #### yarn ```bash yarn prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --no-interactive --confirm appdb ``` #### npm ```bash npx prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --no-interactive --confirm appdb ``` ## Recommended flow #### bun ```bash bunx prisma contract emit bunx prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --dry-run bunx prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --advance-ref db bunx prisma db verify --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### pnpm ```bash pnpm prisma contract emit pnpm prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --dry-run pnpm prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --advance-ref db pnpm prisma db verify --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### yarn ```bash yarn prisma contract emit yarn prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --dry-run yarn prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --advance-ref db yarn prisma db verify --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` #### npm ```bash npx prisma contract emit npx prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --dry-run npx prisma db update --db "$DATABASE_URL" --advance-ref db npx prisma db verify --db "$DATABASE_URL" ``` Use `--dry-run` before applying changes in shared environments. ## When to use migrations instead For reviewable database changes in version control, use [`migration plan`](/guides/migration-migration-plan) and [`db migrate`](/guides/orm-db-migrate). Use `db update` for local development, preview environments, and workflows where direct reconciliation is acceptable. ## 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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