knex vs sequelize vs kysely vs bookshelf
Node.js ORM Libraries Comparison
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What's Node.js ORM Libraries?

Node.js ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) libraries provide a way to interact with relational databases using JavaScript objects instead of SQL queries. They abstract the database interactions, allowing developers to work with data in a more intuitive way. Each of these libraries has its own strengths, catering to different use cases and preferences in terms of flexibility, ease of use, and feature sets. Understanding their unique features can help developers choose the right tool for their specific application needs.

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knex2,119,74319,628874 kB1,179a year agoMIT
sequelize2,064,01129,8002.91 MB9604 months agoMIT
kysely566,06911,4242.94 MB1253 months agoMIT
bookshelf61,2786,361-2375 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: knex vs sequelize vs kysely vs bookshelf

Ease of Use

  • knex:

    Knex provides a flexible query builder that can be used with raw SQL queries. While it may require more boilerplate code compared to other ORMs, its fluent interface allows for complex queries to be constructed easily.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize has a comprehensive API that can be overwhelming for beginners but offers extensive documentation and community support. Its feature-rich nature allows for complex relationships and advanced querying capabilities.

  • kysely:

    Kysely emphasizes type safety and provides a clean and simple API for building queries. Its integration with TypeScript ensures that developers can catch errors early in the development process, enhancing productivity.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf offers a simple and intuitive API that makes it easy for developers to define models and relationships. Its focus on convention over configuration allows for rapid development without a steep learning curve.

Type Safety

  • knex:

    Knex also lacks built-in type safety, but it can be used with TypeScript by defining types for queries and models. This requires additional effort but allows for better type checking in larger applications.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize supports TypeScript, but its type definitions may not be as comprehensive as those in Kysely. Developers can use Sequelize with TypeScript, but they may encounter some limitations in type safety.

  • kysely:

    Kysely is designed with TypeScript in mind, offering strong type safety for queries and models. This feature helps prevent runtime errors and improves developer experience by providing autocompletion and type inference.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf does not provide built-in type safety, as it is primarily a JavaScript library. Developers may need to implement their own type definitions or use TypeScript with additional type declarations.

Database Support

  • knex:

    Knex supports a wide range of SQL databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and Oracle. This versatility makes it a popular choice for projects that may need to work with different database systems.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize supports multiple SQL dialects, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, and Microsoft SQL Server. Its extensive compatibility makes it suitable for diverse applications that require a robust ORM.

  • kysely:

    Kysely is designed to work with various SQL databases, leveraging Knex under the hood. Its type-safe approach ensures that queries are compatible with the underlying database, making it a reliable choice for TypeScript developers.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf is built on top of Knex and supports various SQL databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite. Its flexibility allows developers to switch databases with minimal changes to the codebase.

Community and Ecosystem

  • knex:

    Knex has a strong community and is widely used in the Node.js ecosystem. Its popularity means that developers can find plenty of resources, tutorials, and plugins to extend its functionality.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize has a large and active community, providing extensive documentation, plugins, and support. Its popularity makes it a safe choice for developers looking for a well-established ORM.

  • kysely:

    Kysely is a newer library and has a smaller community compared to the others. However, its focus on type safety and modern JavaScript features is gaining attention among TypeScript developers.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf has a smaller community compared to Sequelize but benefits from being built on top of Knex, which has a larger user base. This means that while Bookshelf may have fewer resources, it can leverage Knex's ecosystem.

Performance

  • knex:

    Knex is known for its performance, as it allows developers to write optimized SQL queries directly. This can lead to better performance in applications that require fine-tuned database interactions.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize's performance can vary depending on the complexity of the models and relationships defined. While it provides many features, developers need to be mindful of potential performance bottlenecks in large applications.

  • kysely:

    Kysely's performance is competitive, particularly due to its type-safe query building. The type safety may introduce some overhead, but it often results in fewer runtime errors and better maintainability.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf's performance is generally good for most applications, but it may not be as optimized as Knex for complex queries. Its abstraction layer can introduce some overhead, especially in large applications.

How to Choose: knex vs sequelize vs kysely vs bookshelf
  • knex:

    Choose Knex if you need a powerful SQL query builder that allows for fine-grained control over your database queries. It is suitable for developers who want to write raw SQL queries while still benefiting from a fluent interface and chaining capabilities.

  • sequelize:

    Choose Sequelize if you need a full-featured ORM that supports multiple SQL dialects and provides a rich set of features, including migrations, associations, and hooks. It is well-suited for larger applications that require a robust ORM with extensive capabilities.

  • kysely:

    Choose Kysely if you are looking for a type-safe SQL query builder that integrates well with TypeScript. It is designed for developers who prioritize type safety and want to leverage TypeScript's features to catch errors at compile time.

  • bookshelf:

    Choose Bookshelf if you prefer a simple and elegant ORM that builds on top of Knex.js, providing a straightforward way to work with models and relationships. It is ideal for projects that require a lightweight solution with a focus on simplicity and ease of use.

Similar Npm Packages to knex

knex is a SQL query builder for Node.js that provides a flexible and powerful way to interact with databases. It supports various SQL dialects and allows developers to build complex queries using a fluent API. Knex is particularly useful for projects that require raw SQL capabilities while still benefiting from a programmatic interface. However, there are several alternatives that offer different features and paradigms for database interaction. Here are a few notable ones:

  • bookshelf is an ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) library built on top of Knex. It provides a higher-level abstraction for working with databases, allowing developers to define models and relationships between them. Bookshelf is ideal for applications that require a more structured approach to data management, as it simplifies the process of defining models, handling relationships, and performing CRUD operations. If you're looking for an ORM that leverages the power of Knex while providing a more intuitive interface, Bookshelf is a great choice.

  • sequelize is another popular ORM for Node.js that supports multiple SQL dialects. It offers a rich set of features, including model validation, associations, and migrations. Sequelize is known for its comprehensive documentation and community support, making it a solid option for developers who need a feature-rich ORM. If your application requires advanced ORM capabilities and you prefer a more opinionated structure, Sequelize might be the right fit.

  • typeorm is an ORM for TypeScript and JavaScript that supports various SQL databases as well as MongoDB. It is designed to work seamlessly with TypeScript, providing decorators and a type-safe API. TypeORM is particularly useful for developers who want to leverage TypeScript's features while working with a relational database. If you're building a TypeScript application and need an ORM that integrates well with TypeScript's type system, TypeORM is an excellent choice.

To see how Knex compares with Bookshelf, Sequelize, and TypeORM, check out the comparison: Comparing bookshelf vs knex vs sequelize vs typeorm.

Similar Npm Packages to sequelize

sequelize is a promise-based Node.js ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) library that provides a powerful and flexible way to interact with relational databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, and Microsoft SQL Server. It allows developers to define models, perform queries, and manage relationships between data in a more intuitive manner, abstracting away the complexities of raw SQL queries. Sequelize is particularly popular for its rich feature set, including support for transactions, migrations, and associations.

While Sequelize is a robust choice for ORM in Node.js applications, there are several alternatives that developers might consider:

  • bookshelf is an ORM for Node.js that is built on top of the Knex.js SQL query builder. It provides a simple and elegant way to interact with databases while supporting features like relations, virtuals, and pagination. Bookshelf is particularly well-suited for projects that require a lightweight ORM with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. If you prefer a more minimalistic approach and want to leverage Knex.js for building queries, Bookshelf is a great option.

  • objection is another ORM for Node.js that is also built on top of Knex.js. It aims to provide a more powerful and flexible alternative to Bookshelf by supporting advanced features such as eager loading, transactions, and complex queries. Objection is designed for developers who need more control over their database interactions while still benefiting from the simplicity of an ORM. If your application requires complex relationships and queries, Objection may be the right choice.

  • waterline is an ORM that is part of the Sails.js framework but can also be used independently. It provides a simple data access layer that works with various databases, including SQL and NoSQL options. Waterline abstracts the database interactions, allowing developers to work with a unified API regardless of the underlying database. If you are building an application with Sails.js or need a versatile ORM that supports multiple database types, Waterline is worth considering.

To see how Sequelize compares with Bookshelf, Objection, and Waterline, check out the comparison: Comparing bookshelf vs objection vs sequelize vs waterline.

Similar Npm Packages to kysely

kysely is a type-safe SQL query builder for TypeScript that provides a powerful and flexible way to interact with databases. It aims to simplify database interactions while ensuring type safety, which helps developers catch errors at compile time rather than runtime. Kysely is particularly beneficial for TypeScript users who want to leverage the benefits of static typing while building complex SQL queries. Its fluent API allows for easy construction of queries, making it a great choice for developers looking for a modern and type-safe approach to database management.

Here are a few alternatives to Kysely:

  • bookshelf is an ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) library for Node.js that is built on top of Knex.js. It provides a simple and intuitive way to interact with relational databases, allowing developers to define models and relationships between them. Bookshelf is suitable for applications that require a more structured approach to database interactions and prefer working with models rather than raw SQL queries. Its integration with Knex.js allows for powerful query building while maintaining a higher level of abstraction.
  • knex is a SQL query builder for Node.js that provides a flexible and powerful way to construct SQL queries using JavaScript. It supports multiple database systems and offers a promise-based API for executing queries. Knex is ideal for developers who want to write raw SQL queries while still benefiting from a fluent and chainable API. It is a great choice for projects that require a lightweight and versatile solution for database interactions without the overhead of a full ORM.
  • sequelize is a popular ORM for Node.js that supports multiple SQL dialects. It provides a comprehensive set of features for managing models, relationships, and migrations, making it suitable for large-scale applications. Sequelize allows developers to define models and perform complex queries while abstracting away the underlying SQL. If you need a full-featured ORM with extensive capabilities for managing database interactions, Sequelize is a solid choice.

To explore how Kysely compares to Bookshelf, Knex, and Sequelize, check out the comparison: Comparing bookshelf vs knex vs kysely vs sequelize.

Similar Npm Packages to bookshelf

bookshelf is an elegant JavaScript ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) for Node.js, built on top of the Knex.js SQL query builder. It provides a simple and intuitive way to interact with relational databases, allowing developers to define models, manage relationships, and perform queries with ease. Bookshelf is particularly useful for applications that require a structured approach to database interactions while leveraging the flexibility of Knex for raw SQL queries when needed.

While Bookshelf is a solid choice for ORM in Node.js applications, there are several alternatives that also provide robust database interaction capabilities. Here are a few noteworthy options:

  • knex is a SQL query builder for Node.js that provides a flexible and powerful interface for building and executing SQL queries. Unlike Bookshelf, which is an ORM, Knex focuses solely on query building and does not impose any specific structure on your data models. This makes it a great choice for developers who prefer to write raw SQL queries or need more control over their database interactions without the overhead of an ORM.

  • sequelize is another popular ORM for Node.js that supports multiple SQL dialects, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite. It offers a rich set of features, including model validation, associations, and migrations, making it a comprehensive solution for managing database interactions. Sequelize is known for its extensive documentation and active community, making it a strong alternative to Bookshelf for developers looking for a feature-rich ORM.

  • waterline is an ORM used primarily with the Sails.js framework, but it can also be used independently. Waterline provides a simple data access layer that works with various databases, allowing developers to interact with different data sources using a unified API. Its focus on abstraction makes it a good choice for applications that require flexibility in switching between different database systems.

For a detailed comparison of these packages, check out the following link: Comparing bookshelf vs knex vs sequelize vs waterline.

README for knex

knex.js

npm version npm downloads Coverage Status Dependencies Status Gitter chat

A SQL query builder that is flexible, portable, and fun to use!

A batteries-included, multi-dialect (PostgreSQL, MySQL, CockroachDB, MSSQL, SQLite3, Oracle (including Oracle Wallet Authentication)) query builder for Node.js, featuring:

Node.js versions 12+ are supported.

You can report bugs and discuss features on the GitHub issues page or send tweets to @kibertoad.

For support and questions, join our Gitter channel.

For knex-based Object Relational Mapper, see:

  • https://github.com/Vincit/objection.js
  • https://github.com/mikro-orm/mikro-orm
  • https://bookshelfjs.org

To see the SQL that Knex will generate for a given query, you can use Knex Query Lab

Examples

We have several examples on the website. Here is the first one to get you started:

const knex = require('knex')({
  client: 'sqlite3',
  connection: {
    filename: './data.db',
  },
});

try {
  // Create a table
  await knex.schema
    .createTable('users', (table) => {
      table.increments('id');
      table.string('user_name');
    })
    // ...and another
    .createTable('accounts', (table) => {
      table.increments('id');
      table.string('account_name');
      table.integer('user_id').unsigned().references('users.id');
    });

  // Then query the table...
  const insertedRows = await knex('users').insert({ user_name: 'Tim' });

  // ...and using the insert id, insert into the other table.
  await knex('accounts').insert({
    account_name: 'knex',
    user_id: insertedRows[0],
  });

  // Query both of the rows.
  const selectedRows = await knex('users')
    .join('accounts', 'users.id', 'accounts.user_id')
    .select('users.user_name as user', 'accounts.account_name as account');

  // map over the results
  const enrichedRows = selectedRows.map((row) => ({ ...row, active: true }));

  // Finally, add a catch statement
} catch (e) {
  console.error(e);
}

TypeScript example

import { Knex, knex } from 'knex';

interface User {
  id: number;
  age: number;
  name: string;
  active: boolean;
  departmentId: number;
}

const config: Knex.Config = {
  client: 'sqlite3',
  connection: {
    filename: './data.db',
  },
};

const knexInstance = knex(config);

try {
  const users = await knex<User>('users').select('id', 'age');
} catch (err) {
  // error handling
}

Usage as ESM module

If you are launching your Node application with --experimental-modules, knex.mjs should be picked up automatically and named ESM import should work out-of-the-box. Otherwise, if you want to use named imports, you'll have to import knex like this:

import { knex } from 'knex/knex.mjs';

You can also just do the default import:

import knex from 'knex';

If you are not using TypeScript and would like the IntelliSense of your IDE to work correctly, it is recommended to set the type explicitly:

/**
 * @type {Knex}
 */
const database = knex({
  client: 'mysql',
  connection: {
    host: '127.0.0.1',
    user: 'your_database_user',
    password: 'your_database_password',
    database: 'myapp_test',
  },
});
database.migrate.latest();
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