typeorm vs knex vs sequelize vs @nestjs/typeorm
Node.js ORM Libraries Comparison
3 Years
typeormknexsequelize@nestjs/typeormSimilar Packages:
What's Node.js ORM Libraries?

Node.js ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) libraries facilitate the interaction between Node.js applications and relational databases by abstracting the database queries into JavaScript objects. This allows developers to work with database records as if they were JavaScript objects, which simplifies the code and improves maintainability. Each of these libraries has its own strengths and use cases, catering to different project requirements and developer preferences.

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typeorm2,568,045
35,75620.7 MB2,49019 days agoMIT
knex2,443,776
19,997874 kB1,0132 years agoMIT
sequelize2,305,804
30,1522.91 MB9845 months agoMIT
@nestjs/typeorm1,364,609
2,06439.4 kB78 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: typeorm vs knex vs sequelize vs @nestjs/typeorm

Integration with Frameworks

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM can be used independently or integrated with frameworks like NestJS and Express, offering decorators and modules that facilitate the setup of database connections and entity management.

  • knex:

    Knex is a standalone query builder and does not integrate directly with any specific framework, making it versatile for use in various Node.js applications, but it requires additional setup for integration with frameworks like Express or Koa.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize can be easily integrated with various Node.js frameworks, including Express, and provides middleware support, making it a flexible choice for building applications with different architectures.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    @nestjs/typeorm is specifically designed to work with the NestJS framework, providing decorators and modules that simplify the integration of TypeORM into NestJS applications, enhancing productivity and maintainability.

Learning Curve

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM has a moderate learning curve, particularly for developers new to TypeScript or decorators, but its extensive documentation and community support help ease the learning process.

  • knex:

    Knex has a relatively low learning curve, especially for developers familiar with SQL, as it allows for writing raw SQL queries alongside its fluent API, making it accessible for quick database interactions.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set and conventions, but it is well-documented, and once understood, it provides powerful tools for managing complex data relationships.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    The learning curve for @nestjs/typeorm is moderate, as it requires familiarity with both NestJS and TypeORM concepts, but it is well-documented and designed to be intuitive for those already accustomed to NestJS.

Flexibility and Control

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM supports both Active Record and Data Mapper patterns, providing flexibility in how developers choose to manage their entities, but it may abstract away some control compared to writing raw SQL.

  • knex:

    Knex offers high flexibility and control over SQL queries, allowing developers to write complex queries and switch between raw SQL and its fluent API as needed, making it ideal for projects requiring custom SQL logic.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize provides a good balance of flexibility and abstraction, allowing developers to define models and relationships while still enabling raw SQL queries when necessary, making it suitable for diverse applications.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    @nestjs/typeorm provides a structured approach with decorators and modules, which can limit flexibility compared to raw SQL but enhances maintainability and readability in NestJS applications.

Community and Ecosystem

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM has a vibrant community and is well-supported with documentation, examples, and plugins, particularly among TypeScript developers, making it a strong choice for TypeScript-based applications.

  • knex:

    Knex has a strong community and is widely used in the Node.js ecosystem, providing numerous plugins and extensions that enhance its functionality and support for various databases.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize has a large and active community, with extensive documentation, tutorials, and plugins available, making it a popular choice for developers looking for a robust ORM solution.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    @nestjs/typeorm benefits from the growing NestJS community, which provides a wealth of resources, plugins, and support for developers looking to integrate TypeORM into their applications.

Performance

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM offers good performance with features like lazy loading and caching, but developers need to be mindful of how they structure their queries and relationships to avoid performance bottlenecks.

  • knex:

    Knex is known for its performance, as it allows for optimized SQL queries and can be fine-tuned for specific use cases, making it suitable for performance-critical applications.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize's performance can vary based on its abstraction level and the complexity of relationships, but it provides features like eager loading and caching to help optimize performance in larger applications.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    Performance in @nestjs/typeorm is generally good, but it can be affected by the complexity of the application and the use of decorators, which may introduce some overhead compared to raw SQL.

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

    Choose TypeORM if you want a powerful ORM that supports both Active Record and Data Mapper patterns, is TypeScript-friendly, and provides a rich set of features including migrations, caching, and eager/lazy loading.

  • knex:

    Choose Knex if you prefer a SQL query builder that offers flexibility and control over your queries, allowing you to write raw SQL when needed while still providing a fluent API for building queries programmatically.

  • sequelize:

    Choose Sequelize if you need a feature-rich ORM that supports multiple dialects, offers built-in migrations, and provides a robust set of features for managing relationships and validations, making it suitable for complex applications.

  • @nestjs/typeorm:

    Choose @nestjs/typeorm if you are building a NestJS application and want seamless integration with TypeORM, leveraging decorators and dependency injection for a more structured approach to database management.

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. Become a sponsor

Gold Sponsors

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