API Style
- sqlite3:
sqlite3
provides a callback-based API for database operations, which can lead to callback hell if not managed properly. However, it also supports promises and streams, providing flexibility for different coding styles. - better-sqlite3:
better-sqlite3
provides a synchronous API for all database operations, which simplifies the code and makes it easier to read and maintain. However, the synchronous nature means that it can block the event loop, so it is best suited for applications where blocking is not a concern. - sqlite:
sqlite
offers a promise-based API that supports both synchronous and asynchronous operations. This flexibility allows developers to choose the best approach for their application, making it easier to integrate with modern JavaScript features like async/await.
Performance
- sqlite3:
sqlite3
is known for its performance, especially when using prepared statements and streaming data. It is a reliable choice for applications that require efficient database interactions. - better-sqlite3:
better-sqlite3
is designed for high performance, especially for read and write operations. Its synchronous API is optimized for speed, making it one of the fastest SQLite libraries for Node.js. - sqlite:
sqlite
is performant, but its promise-based nature may introduce slight overhead compared to synchronous operations. However, it is still suitable for most applications and provides good performance for both small and large datasets.
Streaming Support
- sqlite3:
sqlite3
has excellent streaming support, allowing developers to stream data from the database using cursors. This feature is particularly useful for handling large datasets without consuming too much memory. - better-sqlite3:
better-sqlite3
does not natively support streaming data, as it is designed for synchronous operations. This limitation may be a drawback for applications that need to process large datasets in a memory-efficient manner. - sqlite:
sqlite
supports streaming through its promise-based API, allowing developers to handle large datasets more efficiently. This feature is useful for applications that need to process data in chunks rather than loading everything into memory at once.
Error Handling
- sqlite3:
sqlite3
uses callback-based error handling, which can be less intuitive but allows for immediate error handling within the callback functions. It also supports promise-based error handling when using the promise wrapper. - better-sqlite3:
better-sqlite3
provides simple and straightforward error handling, as it throws errors for all failed operations. This makes it easy to catch and handle errors in a predictable manner. - sqlite:
sqlite
uses promise-based error handling, which allows for more flexible and modern error management. Developers can use try/catch blocks with async/await or .catch() with promises to handle errors gracefully.
Ease of Use: Code Examples
- sqlite3:
Simple CRUD Operations with
sqlite3
const sqlite3 = require('sqlite3').verbose(); const db = new sqlite3.Database('mydb.sqlite'); // Create a table db.run(`CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT)`); // Insert a user const insert = db.prepare(`INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES (?)`); insert.run('Charlie'); insert.finalize(); // Query users db.all(`SELECT * FROM users`, [], (err, rows) => { if (err) throw err; console.log(rows); }); // Close the database db.close();
- better-sqlite3:
Simple CRUD Operations with
better-sqlite3
const Database = require('better-sqlite3'); const db = new Database('mydb.sqlite'); // Create a table db.exec(`CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT)`); // Insert a user const insert = db.prepare(`INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES (?)`); insert.run('Alice'); // Query users const users = db.prepare(`SELECT * FROM users`).all(); console.log(users); // Close the database db.close();
- sqlite:
Simple CRUD Operations with
sqlite
const { Database } = require('sqlite'); const sqlite3 = require('sqlite3'); async function main() { const db = await Database.open({ filename: 'mydb.sqlite', driver: sqlite3.Database }); // Create a table await db.exec(`CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT)`); // Insert a user await db.run(`INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES (?)`, 'Bob'); // Query users const users = await db.all(`SELECT * FROM users`); console.log(users); // Close the database await db.close(); } main();