--- layout: integration title: Prisma with managed PostgreSQL and MySQL description: Use Prisma ORM, Prisma Migrate, and Prisma Client with an Appwrite native PostgreSQL or MySQL database date: 2026-11-06 featured: false isPartner: false isNew: true cover: /images/integrations/sql-prisma/cover.avif category: databases product: vendor: Prisma description: 'Prisma ORM is an open-source TypeScript ORM with a declarative schema, generated type-safe client, and Prisma Migrate.' platform: - 'Cloud' --- [Prisma ORM](https://www.prisma.io/) is a TypeScript ORM. You describe your models in a Prisma schema, Prisma Migrate turns schema changes into SQL migrations, and Prisma Client gives you a generated, type-safe query API. # How does the integration work? Appwrite native PostgreSQL and MySQL databases are standard engines that Appwrite provisions in your project's region, each with its own hostname, credentials, and TLS. Prisma treats them as regular `postgresql` and `mysql` datasources, and Prisma 7 connects at runtime through a driver adapter, `@prisma/adapter-pg` for PostgreSQL or `@prisma/adapter-mariadb` for MySQL. Prisma Client sends runtime traffic through the database's connection pooler, while the Prisma CLI runs migrations and introspection over a direct connection to the engine. **Available on Appwrite Cloud** Native PostgreSQL and MySQL databases run in every Appwrite Cloud region and are available on paid plans. # How to implement To use Prisma with an Appwrite native database, there are several steps you must complete: ## Step 1: Create a native database [Create an account on Appwrite Cloud](/sign-up) if you haven't already. In your project, go to **Databases**, click **Create database**, and select **PostgreSQL** or **MySQL** from the **Native databases** group. Pick a specification and click **Create database**. The database becomes `ready` within a few minutes. For PostgreSQL, open the database, click **Credentials**, and copy the connection string from the **Prisma** or **DSN** tab. For MySQL, read `connectionString` from the database object with `mysql.get()` and an API key that has the `databases.read` scope. ## Step 2: Initialize Prisma **PostgreSQL** ```bash npm install -D prisma typescript tsx @types/node @types/pg npm install @prisma/client @prisma/adapter-pg dotenv pg npx prisma init --datasource-provider postgresql --output ../generated/prisma ``` **MySQL** ```bash npm install -D prisma typescript tsx @types/node npm install @prisma/client @prisma/adapter-mariadb dotenv mariadb npx prisma init --datasource-provider mysql --output ../generated/prisma ``` Prisma 7 generates `prisma.config.ts` and `prisma/schema.prisma`. Set `"type": "module"` in `package.json` if your project doesn't already use ECMAScript modules. ## Step 3: Configure the connection strings Point `DATABASE_URL` at the pooler for Prisma Client and `DIRECT_URL` at the engine for the CLI: **PostgreSQL** ```env DATABASE_URL="postgresql://admin:@db-..appwrite.center:6432/?sslmode=require" DIRECT_URL="postgresql://admin:@db-..appwrite.center:5432/?sslmode=require" SHADOW_DATABASE_URL="postgresql://admin:@db-..appwrite.center:5432/?sslmode=require&schema=prisma_shadow" ``` The `admin` user can't create extra databases, so `prisma migrate dev` uses a shadow schema. Create it once with `CREATE SCHEMA IF NOT EXISTS prisma_shadow;` and set `shadowDatabaseUrl` in `prisma.config.ts`. **MySQL** ```env DATABASE_URL="mysql://admin.:@db-..appwrite.center:6033/default?sslaccept=strict" DIRECT_URL="mysql://admin.:@db-..appwrite.center:3306/default?sslaccept=strict" ``` `sslaccept=strict` enables TLS with certificate verification. In `prisma.config.ts`, set the CLI datasource to `process.env["DIRECT_URL"]`, because migrations need a session-level connection. ## Step 4: Run migrations **PostgreSQL** ```bash # Development npx prisma migrate dev --name init # CI and production npx prisma migrate deploy ``` **MySQL** ```bash mkdir -p prisma/migrations/20260708160000_init npx prisma migrate diff --from-empty --to-schema prisma/schema.prisma --script --output prisma/migrations/20260708160000_init/migration.sql npx prisma migrate deploy ``` To use `migrate dev`, run it against a local MySQL database, a separate Appwrite database, or a branch, then apply committed migrations with `migrate deploy`. Run `npx prisma generate` after you change the schema. Run migrations as the primary user, `admin` or `admin.`. ## Step 5: Query with Prisma Client Create Prisma Client with the driver adapter for your engine, once per module scope: **PostgreSQL** ```ts import 'dotenv/config'; import { PrismaPg } from '@prisma/adapter-pg'; import { PrismaClient } from './generated/prisma/client'; const adapter = new PrismaPg({ connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL! }); const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter }); const user = await prisma.user.create({ data: { email: 'grace@example.com' } }); ``` **MySQL** ```ts import 'dotenv/config'; import { PrismaMariaDb } from '@prisma/adapter-mariadb'; import { PrismaClient } from './generated/prisma/client'; const adapter = new PrismaMariaDb(process.env.DATABASE_URL!); const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter }); const user = await prisma.user.create({ data: { email: 'grace@example.com' } }); ``` If your app relies on advisory locks, `LISTEN`/`NOTIFY`, user variables, temporary tables, or session-scoped prepared statements, switch the pooler to session mode or use the direct port. To test migrations in CI, run `npx prisma migrate deploy` against a [PostgreSQL](/docs/products/databases/postgresql/branches) or [MySQL](/docs/products/databases/mysql/branches) branch. MySQL branches have no pooler, so use the branch's direct URL for both variables. # Read more about Prisma and Appwrite Databases If you would like to learn more about Prisma and Appwrite Databases, we have some resources that you should visit: - [Use Prisma with a native PostgreSQL database](/docs/products/databases/postgresql/integrations/prisma) - [Use Prisma with a native MySQL database](/docs/products/databases/mysql/integrations/prisma) - [Managed PostgreSQL on Appwrite](/docs/products/databases/postgresql) - [Native MySQL databases on Appwrite](/docs/products/databases/mysql) - [Prisma ORM documentation](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm)