typeorm vs sequelize vs bookshelf vs mongoose
Node.js ORM Libraries
typeormsequelizebookshelfmongooseSimilar Packages:

Node.js ORM Libraries

Node.js ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) libraries provide a way to interact with 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 and use cases, catering to different types of applications and developer preferences. Using an ORM can significantly speed up development time, enforce data integrity, and simplify database migrations, making it easier to manage complex data relationships and operations within Node.js applications.

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typeorm3,738,57636,41920.8 MB5344 months agoMIT
sequelize2,513,48830,3532.91 MB1,021a month agoMIT
bookshelf06,364-2386 years agoMIT
mongoose027,4702.07 MB188a day agoMIT

Feature Comparison: typeorm vs sequelize vs bookshelf vs mongoose

Database Support

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM supports both SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, MSSQL) and NoSQL databases (MongoDB). This versatility allows developers to choose the best database for their application needs while maintaining a consistent API.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize supports multiple SQL dialects, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and MSSQL. It offers a consistent API across different databases, allowing developers to switch databases with minimal changes to their codebase.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf is designed specifically for SQL databases and works with any database supported by Knex.js, such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite. It provides a simple and intuitive interface for defining models and relationships, making it easy to interact with relational data.

  • mongoose:

    Mongoose is tailored for MongoDB, providing a schema-based solution that allows developers to define models with strict structures and validations. It leverages MongoDB's document-oriented nature, making it ideal for applications that require a flexible schema.

Learning Curve

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM is designed with TypeScript in mind, which can make it easier for TypeScript developers to adopt. However, its advanced features and decorators may require a deeper understanding of TypeScript concepts, leading to a moderate learning curve.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize has a comprehensive API that may be overwhelming for beginners. However, its extensive documentation and community support can help ease the learning process. Understanding its features like associations and migrations is crucial for effective usage.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf has a moderate learning curve, especially for developers familiar with Knex.js. Its straightforward API makes it easy to get started, but understanding its relationship management features may require some time.

  • mongoose:

    Mongoose has a steeper learning curve due to its schema-based approach and extensive feature set. Developers need to understand how to define schemas, validations, and middleware, which can be complex for newcomers.

Extensibility

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM offers a rich set of decorators and hooks that allow developers to customize their entities and repositories. This extensibility is particularly useful for TypeScript applications that require advanced data management features.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize is highly extensible, allowing developers to create custom model methods, scopes, and hooks. This flexibility makes it a powerful choice for applications with unique data handling requirements.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf is extensible through plugins, allowing developers to add custom functionalities or modify existing behaviors. This flexibility makes it suitable for projects that require specific features not provided out of the box.

  • mongoose:

    Mongoose supports middleware and custom methods, enabling developers to extend the functionality of their models easily. This extensibility is beneficial for applications that require complex data manipulation or validation logic.

Performance

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM is designed to be performant, especially in TypeScript applications. It supports lazy loading and efficient query building, but performance can vary depending on the complexity of the data model and the underlying database.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize provides good performance for most applications, but complex queries and large datasets may require optimization techniques such as eager loading or query caching to maintain efficiency.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf's performance is generally good for small to medium-sized applications. However, as the complexity of queries increases, performance may be impacted, especially if not optimized properly.

  • mongoose:

    Mongoose is optimized for MongoDB and can handle large datasets efficiently. However, performance can be affected by the complexity of schemas and the use of middleware, so careful design is essential.

Community and Documentation

  • typeorm:

    TypeORM has a growing community and solid documentation, especially for TypeScript developers. The availability of examples and community contributions helps developers navigate its features effectively.

  • sequelize:

    Sequelize boasts a large community and comprehensive documentation, making it one of the most popular ORMs for Node.js. The abundance of resources and examples available can significantly speed up the learning process and troubleshooting.

  • bookshelf:

    Bookshelf has a smaller community compared to some other ORMs, but it is well-documented and provides a clear API reference. The community support is decent, but finding solutions for specific issues may take more time.

  • mongoose:

    Mongoose has a large and active community, with extensive documentation and numerous tutorials available. This makes it easier for developers to find help and resources when needed, enhancing the overall development experience.

How to Choose: typeorm vs sequelize vs bookshelf vs mongoose

  • typeorm:

    Choose TypeORM if you are looking for a TypeScript-friendly ORM that supports both SQL and NoSQL databases. TypeORM is designed to work seamlessly with TypeScript, providing decorators and a rich set of features like lazy loading, migrations, and advanced query capabilities, making it ideal for TypeScript-based applications.

  • sequelize:

    Choose Sequelize if you need a feature-rich ORM that supports multiple SQL dialects (Postgres, MySQL, SQLite, MSSQL) and offers a wide range of functionalities, including migrations, associations, and transaction management. It is suitable for applications that require a robust and flexible solution for managing relational data.

  • bookshelf:

    Choose Bookshelf if you prefer a lightweight ORM that provides a simple interface for working with relational databases and supports both promises and callbacks. It is built on top of Knex.js and is ideal for projects that require flexibility and a straightforward approach to data modeling.

  • mongoose:

    Choose Mongoose if you are working specifically with MongoDB and need a schema-based solution to model your application data. Mongoose provides powerful features like validation, middleware, and population, making it an excellent choice for applications that require complex data relationships and validations.

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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