# SQLite [SQLite](https://sqlite.org/) is a lightweight, file-based database suited to development, prototyping, and small applications. It requires no setup and stores data in a local file. In this guide, you will learn how to add Prisma ORM to an existing TypeScript project, connect it to SQLite, introspect your existing database schema, and start querying with type-safe Prisma Client. ## [Prerequisites](#prerequisites) ## [1. Set up Prisma ORM](#1-set-up-prisma-orm) Navigate to your existing project directory and install the required dependencies: :::code-group ```title="bun" bun add prisma@prev @types/node @types/better-sqlite3 --dev bun add @prisma/client@7 @prisma/adapter-better-sqlite3 dotenv ``` ```bash title="pnpm" pnpm add prisma@prev @types/node @types/better-sqlite3 --save-dev pnpm add @prisma/client@7 @prisma/adapter-better-sqlite3 dotenv ``` ```bash title="yarn" yarn add prisma@prev @types/node @types/better-sqlite3 --dev yarn add @prisma/client@7 @prisma/adapter-better-sqlite3 dotenv ``` ```bash title="npm" npm install prisma@prev @types/node @types/better-sqlite3 --save-dev npm install @prisma/client@7 @prisma/adapter-better-sqlite3 dotenv ``` ::: Here's what each package does: - **`prisma`** - The Prisma CLI for running commands like `prisma init`, `prisma db pull`, and `prisma generate` - **`@prisma/client`** - The Prisma Client library for querying your database - **`@prisma/adapter-better-sqlite3`** - The SQLite driver adapter that connects Prisma Client to your database - **`@types/better-sqlite3`** - TypeScript type definitions for better-sqlite3 - **`dotenv`** - Loads environment variables from your `.env` file ## [2. Initialize Prisma ORM](#2-initialize-prisma-orm) Set up your Prisma ORM project by creating your [Prisma Schema](/guides/prisma-schema-v7-overview) file with the following command: :::code-group ```title="bun" bunx --bun prisma init --datasource-provider sqlite --output ../generated/prisma ``` ```bash title="pnpm" pnpm prisma init --datasource-provider sqlite --output ../generated/prisma ``` ```bash title="yarn" yarn prisma init --datasource-provider sqlite --output ../generated/prisma ``` ```bash title="npm" npx prisma init --datasource-provider sqlite --output ../generated/prisma ``` ::: This command does a few things: - Creates a `prisma/` directory with a `schema.prisma` file containing your database connection configuration - Creates a `.env` file in the root directory for environment variables - Creates a `prisma7.config.ts` file for Prisma configuration The generated `prisma7.config.ts` file looks like this: ```title="prisma7.config.ts" // This file was generated by Prisma, and assumes you have installed the following: // npm install --save-dev prisma dotenv import "dotenv/config"; import { defineConfig } from "prisma/config"; export default defineConfig({ schema: "prisma/schema.prisma", migrations: { path: "prisma/migrations", }, datasource: { url: process.env["DATABASE_URL"], }, }); ``` :::callout{intent="note"} Prisma ORM 7.10 and later name this file `prisma7.config.ts` so that it does not clash with the Prisma 8 config format, which only accepts `prisma.config.ts`. The Prisma 7 CLI discovers either name, so a project that already has a `prisma.config.ts` keeps working. ::: The generated schema uses [the ESM-first `prisma-client` generator](/guides/prisma-schema-v7-overview-generators#prisma-client) with a custom output path: ```title="prisma/schema.prisma" generator client { provider = "prisma-client" output = "../generated/prisma" } datasource db { provider = "sqlite" } ``` A `.env` file should be created with the following value: ```title=".env" DATABASE_URL="file:./dev.db" ``` ## [3. Connect your database](#3-connect-your-database) Update the `.env` file to point to your existing SQLite database file: ```title=".env" DATABASE_URL="file:./path/to/your/database.db" ``` ## [4. Introspect your database](#4-introspect-your-database) Run the following command to introspect your existing database: ::::tabs :::tab{title="bun"} ``` bunx prisma db pull ``` ::: :::tab{title="pnpm"} ```bash pnpm prisma db pull ``` ::: :::tab{title="yarn"} ```bash yarn prisma db pull ``` ::: :::tab{title="npm"} ```bash npx prisma db pull ``` This command reads the `DATABASE_URL` environment variable, connects to your database, and introspects the database schema. It then translates the database schema from SQL into a data model in your Prisma schema. Introspect your database with Prisma ORM After introspection, your Prisma schema will contain models that represent your existing database tables. ::: :::: This command reads the `DATABASE_URL` environment variable, connects to your database, and introspects the database schema. It then translates the database schema from SQL into a data model in your Prisma schema. Introspect your database with Prisma ORM After introspection, your Prisma schema will contain models that represent your existing database tables. ## [5. Baseline your database](#5-baseline-your-database) To use Prisma Migrate with your existing database, you need to [baseline your database](/guides/prisma-migrate-v7-getting-started). First, create a `migrations` directory: ``` mkdir -p prisma/migrations/0_init ``` Next, generate the migration file with `prisma migrate diff`: :::code-group ```title="bun" bunx prisma migrate diff --from-empty --to-schema prisma/schema.prisma --script > prisma/migrations/0_init/migration.sql ``` ```bash title="pnpm" pnpm prisma migrate diff --from-empty --to-schema prisma/schema.prisma --script > prisma/migrations/0_init/migration.sql ``` ```bash title="yarn" yarn prisma migrate diff --from-empty --to-schema prisma/schema.prisma --script > prisma/migrations/0_init/migration.sql ``` ```bash title="npm" npx prisma migrate diff --from-empty --to-schema prisma/schema.prisma --script > prisma/migrations/0_init/migration.sql ``` ::: Review the generated migration file to ensure it matches your database schema. Then, mark the migration as applied: :::code-group ```title="bun" bunx prisma migrate resolve --applied 0_init ``` ```bash title="pnpm" pnpm prisma migrate resolve --applied 0_init ``` ```bash title="yarn" yarn prisma migrate resolve --applied 0_init ``` ```bash title="npm" npx prisma migrate resolve --applied 0_init ``` ::: You now have a baseline for your current database schema. ## [6. Generate Prisma ORM types](#6-generate-prisma-orm-types) Generate Prisma Client based on your introspected schema: :::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 ``` ::: This creates a type-safe Prisma Client tailored to your database schema in the `generated/prisma` directory. ## [7. Instantiate Prisma Client](#7-instantiate-prisma-client) Create a utility file to instantiate Prisma Client. You need to pass an instance of the Prisma ORM driver adapter adapter to the `PrismaClient` constructor: ```title="lib/prisma.ts" import "dotenv/config"; import { PrismaBetterSqlite3 } from "@prisma/adapter-better-sqlite3"; import { PrismaClient } from "../generated/prisma/client"; const connectionString = `${process.env.DATABASE_URL}`; const adapter = new PrismaBetterSqlite3({ url: connectionString }); const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter }); export { prisma }; ``` ### [Using SQLite with Bun](#using-sqlite-with-bun) Bun doesn't support the native SQLite driver that `better-sqlite3` relies on (see the [`node:sqlite` reference](https://bun.com/reference/node/sqlite)). When targeting Bun, use the `@prisma/adapter-libsql` adapter instead: ``` import "dotenv/config"; import { PrismaLibSql } from "@prisma/adapter-libsql"; import { PrismaClient } from "../generated/prisma/client"; const adapter = new PrismaLibSql({ url: process.env.DATABASE_URL ?? "", }); const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter }); export { prisma }; ``` ## [8. Query your database](#8-query-your-database) Now you can use Prisma Client to query your database. Create a `script.ts` file: ```title="script.ts" import { prisma } from "./lib/prisma"; async function main() { // Example: Fetch all records from a table // Replace 'user' with your actual model name const allUsers = await prisma.user.findMany(); console.log("All users:", JSON.stringify(allUsers, null, 2)); } main() .then(async () => { await prisma.$disconnect(); }) .catch(async (e) => { console.error(e); await prisma.$disconnect(); process.exit(1); }); ``` Run the script: :::code-group ```title="bun" bunx tsx script.ts ``` ```bash title="pnpm" pnpm dlx tsx script.ts ``` ```bash title="yarn" yarn dlx tsx script.ts ``` ```bash title="npm" npx tsx script.ts ``` ::: ## [9. Evolve your schema](#9-evolve-your-schema) To make changes to your database schema: ### [9.1. Update your Prisma schema file](#91-update-your-prisma-schema-file) Update your Prisma schema file to reflect the changes you want to make to your database schema. For example, add a new model: ```title="prisma/schema.prisma" model Post { id Int @id @default(autoincrement()) title String content String? published Boolean @default(false) authorId Int author User @relation(fields: [authorId], references: [id]) } model User { id Int @id @default(autoincrement()) email String @unique name String? posts Post[] } ``` ### [9.2. Create and apply a migration:](#92-create-and-apply-a-migration) :::code-group ```title="bun" bunx prisma migrate dev --name your_migration_name ``` ```bash title="pnpm" pnpm prisma migrate dev --name your_migration_name ``` ```bash title="yarn" yarn prisma migrate dev --name your_migration_name ``` ```bash title="npm" npx prisma migrate dev --name your_migration_name ``` ::: This command will: - Create a new SQL migration file - Apply the migration to your database - Regenerate Prisma Client ## [10. Explore your data with Prisma Studio](#10-explore-your-data-with-prisma-studio) - File paths must have a `file:` protocol right now in the database URL for SQLite - **Node.js 22.5+**: Works out of the box with the built-in `node:sqlite` module - May require `NODE_OPTIONS=--experimental-sqlite` environment variable - **Node.js 20**: Requires installing `better-sqlite3` as a dependency - If using pnpm 10+ with `pnpx`, you'll need the [`--allow-build=better-sqlite3`](https://pnpm.io/cli/dlx#--allow-build) flag - **Deno >= 2.2**: Supported via [built-in SQLite module](https://docs.deno.com/api/node/sqlite/) - **Bun**: Support for Prisma Studio with SQLite is coming soon and is not available yet ### [Using `npx` with `better-sqlite3`](#using-npx-with-better-sqlite3) If you don't have `node:sqlite` available in your runtime or prefer not to install `better-sqlite3` as a hard dependency (it adds \~10MB), you can use `npx` to temporarily install the required packages: :::code-group ```title="bun" bunx -p better-sqlite3 -p prisma prisma studio --url file:./path/to/your/database.db ``` ```bash title="pnpm" pnpm dlx -p better-sqlite3 -p prisma prisma studio --url file:./path/to/your/database.db ``` ```bash title="yarn" yarn dlx -p better-sqlite3 -p prisma prisma studio --url file:./path/to/your/database.db ``` ```bash title="npm" npx -p better-sqlite3 -p prisma prisma studio --url file:./path/to/your/database.db ``` ::: This command: - Temporarily installs `better-sqlite3` without adding it to your project dependencies - Runs Prisma Studio with the specified SQLite database file - Avoids the 10MB overhead of `better-sqlite3` in your project ## [Next steps](#next-steps) - [SQLite database connector](/guides/core-concepts-v7-supported-databases-sqlite) - [Prisma Config reference](/guides/reference-6-v7-reference-prisma-config-reference) - [Database introspection](/guides/prisma-schema-v7-introspection) - [Prisma Migrate](/guides/prisma-migrate-v7-prisma-migrate) ## 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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