typeorm vs knex vs sequelize vs @nestjs/typeorm
Node.js ORM Libraries
typeormknexsequelize@nestjs/typeormSimilar Packages:
Node.js ORM Libraries

Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) libraries in Node.js provide a way to interact with databases using JavaScript or TypeScript objects instead of writing raw SQL queries. These libraries help developers manage database operations more efficiently by abstracting the underlying SQL, allowing for easier data manipulation, schema management, and query building. ORMs can improve code readability, maintainability, and reduce the likelihood of SQL injection attacks by handling query parameterization automatically. They are particularly useful in applications where the database schema is complex or subject to frequent changes, as they provide a more intuitive and programmatic way to work with data. However, they may introduce some performance overhead compared to raw SQL queries, so it's essential to choose the right tool based on the application's requirements. The choice between these libraries depends on the specific needs of your project, such as the level of abstraction, flexibility, and the database systems you are working with. For example, if you are using NestJS and want seamless integration with TypeORM, @nestjs/typeorm is a great choice. If you need a lightweight query builder with support for multiple databases, knex is ideal. For a full-featured ORM with support for associations and hooks, sequelize is a good option. If you prefer a more traditional ORM with support for Active Record and Data Mapper patterns, typeorm is a solid choice.

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typeorm3,067,62236,12820.8 MB54012 days agoMIT
knex2,920,48720,141874 kB7152 years agoMIT
sequelize2,463,07130,2742.91 MB1,0009 months agoMIT
@nestjs/typeorm1,717,1992,09939.4 kB10a year agoMIT
Feature Comparison: typeorm vs knex vs sequelize vs @nestjs/typeorm

Integration with NestJS

  • typeorm:

    typeorm can be used independently or with NestJS. When used with NestJS, it requires manual configuration unless combined with @nestjs/typeorm for seamless integration.

  • knex:

    knex does not have built-in integration with NestJS, but it can be used as a standalone query builder within a NestJS application. You will need to manually configure and inject the knex instance into your services.

  • sequelize:

    sequelize can be integrated with NestJS, but it requires manual setup and configuration. There are community-driven packages that provide decorators and modules for better integration, but they are not officially maintained.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    @nestjs/typeorm is specifically designed for NestJS applications, providing decorators and modules that make it easy to integrate TypeORM into your project. It leverages NestJS's dependency injection system, allowing for seamless configuration and use of repositories and entities within your services and controllers.

Query Building

  • typeorm:

    typeorm offers a powerful query builder that supports both simple and complex queries. It allows for building queries using a fluent API, supports joins, subqueries, and transactions, and integrates well with its ORM features.

  • knex:

    knex is primarily a query builder, offering a simple and intuitive API for constructing SQL queries programmatically. It supports multiple SQL dialects and allows for building complex queries, including joins, transactions, and subqueries, without writing raw SQL.

  • sequelize:

    sequelize provides a query builder as part of its ORM functionality, allowing you to construct queries using model methods. It supports associations, eager loading, and transactions, making it easier to work with related data.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    @nestjs/typeorm leverages TypeORM's query builder, allowing you to build complex SQL queries using a fluent API. It also supports raw SQL queries if needed, providing flexibility in how you interact with the database.

Database Support

  • typeorm:

    typeorm supports a wide range of databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, and MongoDB. It is designed to be flexible and extensible, allowing you to work with multiple database systems using a single ORM.

  • knex:

    knex supports multiple SQL databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and Oracle. It is designed to be database-agnostic, allowing you to switch between different SQL dialects with minimal changes to your code.

  • sequelize:

    sequelize supports multiple SQL databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and MSSQL. It provides a consistent API for working with different database systems, making it easy to switch between them if needed.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    @nestjs/typeorm supports all databases that TypeORM supports, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, and MongoDB. This makes it a versatile choice for NestJS applications that need to work with various database systems.

Migrations

  • typeorm:

    typeorm has a built-in migration system that allows you to create, run, and manage migrations using CLI commands. It supports both automatic and manual migration generation, making it flexible for different workflows.

  • knex:

    knex provides a robust migration system that allows you to define schema changes using JavaScript. It supports creating, running, and rolling back migrations, making it easy to manage database schema changes over time.

  • sequelize:

    sequelize includes a migration system that allows you to define and run migrations using JavaScript. It supports creating, running, and rolling back migrations, and integrates with the Sequelize CLI for easier management.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    @nestjs/typeorm leverages TypeORM's migration system, allowing you to create, run, and manage database migrations using CLI commands. This integration makes it easy to handle schema changes within a NestJS application.

Associations and Relationships

  • typeorm:

    typeorm supports various types of relationships, including one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many. It allows you to define relationships using decorators and provides features like cascading, eager and lazy loading, and join tables.

  • knex:

    knex does not provide built-in support for associations or relationships, as it is primarily a query builder. You will need to manage relationships manually by writing the appropriate SQL queries or using a separate ORM alongside knex.

  • sequelize:

    sequelize provides comprehensive support for associations, including one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many relationships. It allows you to define associations using model methods and supports features like eager loading, cascading, and hooks.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    @nestjs/typeorm supports all the relationship types provided by TypeORM, including one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many. It allows you to define relationships using decorators, making it easy to model complex data structures within a NestJS application.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

  • typeorm:

    typeorm is relatively easy to use, especially for developers familiar with ORM concepts. It provides a clear API for defining entities, relationships, and queries, but it may take some time to master its advanced features.

  • knex:

    knex is straightforward to use as a query builder, but it requires a good understanding of SQL and database concepts. It is ideal for developers who want more control over their queries without the overhead of a full ORM.

  • sequelize:

    sequelize is user-friendly and provides a rich set of features for working with databases. However, it may have a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its extensive functionality and the need to understand concepts like associations and hooks.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    @nestjs/typeorm is easy to use within a NestJS application, especially if you are already familiar with TypeORM. It provides decorators and modules that simplify the setup and configuration process, allowing you to focus on building your application logic.

How to Choose: typeorm vs knex vs sequelize vs @nestjs/typeorm
  • typeorm:

    Choose typeorm if you want a feature-rich ORM that supports both Active Record and Data Mapper patterns. It is a good choice for projects that need advanced features like lazy loading, cascading, and support for multiple database systems.

  • knex:

    Choose knex if you need a flexible and lightweight query builder that supports multiple SQL dialects. It is ideal for projects where you want more control over the generated SQL and prefer writing queries programmatically without the overhead of a full ORM.

  • sequelize:

    Choose sequelize if you need a full-featured ORM with support for associations, hooks, and transactions. It is suitable for projects that require a higher level of abstraction and want to leverage features like model validation, eager loading, and migrations.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    Choose @nestjs/typeorm if you are building a NestJS application and want seamless integration with TypeORM. It provides decorators and modules that make it easy to set up and use TypeORM within the NestJS framework.

README for typeorm

TypeORM is an ORM that can run in Node.js, Browser, Cordova, Ionic, React Native, NativeScript, Expo, and Electron platforms and can be used with TypeScript and JavaScript (ES2021). Its goal is to always support the latest JavaScript features and provide additional features that help you to develop any kind of application that uses databases - from small applications with a few tables to large-scale enterprise applications with multiple databases.

TypeORM supports more databases than any other JS/TS ORM: Google Spanner, Microsoft SqlServer, MySQL/MariaDB, MongoDB, Oracle, Postgres, SAP HANA and SQLite, as well we derived databases and different drivers.

TypeORM supports both Active Record and Data Mapper patterns, unlike all other JavaScript ORMs currently in existence, which means you can write high-quality, loosely coupled, scalable, maintainable applications in the most productive way.

TypeORM is highly influenced by other ORMs, such as Hibernate, Doctrine and Entity Framework.

Features

  • Supports both DataMapper and ActiveRecord (your choice).
  • Entities and columns.
  • Database-specific column types.
  • Entity manager.
  • Repositories and custom repositories.
  • Clean object-relational model.
  • Associations (relations).
  • Eager and lazy relations.
  • Unidirectional, bidirectional, and self-referenced relations.
  • Supports multiple inheritance patterns.
  • Cascades.
  • Indices.
  • Transactions.
  • Migrations and automatic migrations generation.
  • Connection pooling.
  • Replication.
  • Using multiple database instances.
  • Working with multiple database types.
  • Cross-database and cross-schema queries.
  • Elegant-syntax, flexible and powerful QueryBuilder.
  • Left and inner joins.
  • Proper pagination for queries using joins.
  • Query caching.
  • Streaming raw results.
  • Logging.
  • Listeners and subscribers (hooks).
  • Supports closure table pattern.
  • Schema declaration in models or separate configuration files.
  • Supports MySQL / MariaDB / Postgres / CockroachDB / SQLite / Microsoft SQL Server / Oracle / SAP Hana / sql.js.
  • Supports MongoDB NoSQL database.
  • Works in Node.js / Browser / Ionic / Cordova / React Native / NativeScript / Expo / Electron platforms.
  • TypeScript and JavaScript support.
  • ESM and CommonJS support.
  • Produced code is performant, flexible, clean, and maintainable.
  • Follows all possible best practices.
  • CLI.

And more...

With TypeORM, your models look like this:

import { Entity, PrimaryGeneratedColumn, Column } from "typeorm"

@Entity()
export class User {
    @PrimaryGeneratedColumn()
    id: number

    @Column()
    firstName: string

    @Column()
    lastName: string

    @Column()
    age: number
}

And your domain logic looks like this:

const userRepository = MyDataSource.getRepository(User)

const user = new User()
user.firstName = "Timber"
user.lastName = "Saw"
user.age = 25
await userRepository.save(user)

const allUsers = await userRepository.find()
const firstUser = await userRepository.findOneBy({
    id: 1,
}) // find by id
const timber = await userRepository.findOneBy({
    firstName: "Timber",
    lastName: "Saw",
}) // find by firstName and lastName

await userRepository.remove(timber)

Alternatively, if you prefer to use the ActiveRecord implementation, you can use it as well:

import { Entity, PrimaryGeneratedColumn, Column, BaseEntity } from "typeorm"

@Entity()
export class User extends BaseEntity {
    @PrimaryGeneratedColumn()
    id: number

    @Column()
    firstName: string

    @Column()
    lastName: string

    @Column()
    age: number
}

And your domain logic will look this way:

const user = new User()
user.firstName = "Timber"
user.lastName = "Saw"
user.age = 25
await user.save()

const allUsers = await User.find()
const firstUser = await User.findOneBy({
    id: 1,
})
const timber = await User.findOneBy({
    firstName: "Timber",
    lastName: "Saw",
})

await timber.remove()

Samples

Take a look at the samples in sample for examples of usage.

There are a few repositories that you can clone and start with:

Extensions

There are several extensions that simplify working with TypeORM and integrating it with other modules:

Contributing

Learn about contribution here and how to set up your development environment here.

This project exists thanks to all the people who contribute:

Sponsors

Open source is hard and time-consuming. If you want to invest in TypeORM's future, you can become a sponsor and allow our core team to spend more time on TypeORM's improvements and new features.

Champion

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Supporter

Support TypeORM's development with a monthly contribution. Become a supporter

Community

Join our community of supporters and help sustain TypeORM. Become a community supporter

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