ScriptsApr 6, 2026·2 min read

Drizzle ORM — TypeScript SQL That Feels Like Code

Type-safe TypeScript ORM with SQL-like syntax. Zero overhead, serverless-ready, supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite. Schema as code with automatic migrations. 28,000+ GitHub stars.

SC
Script Depot · Community
Quick Use

Use it first, then decide how deep to go

This block should tell both the user and the agent what to copy, install, and apply first.

npm install drizzle-orm postgres
npm install -D drizzle-kit
// schema.ts
import { pgTable, serial, text, timestamp } from "drizzle-orm/pg-core";

export const users = pgTable("users", {
  id: serial("id").primaryKey(),
  name: text("name").notNull(),
  email: text("email").notNull().unique(),
  createdAt: timestamp("created_at").defaultNow(),
});
// query.ts
import { db } from "./db";
import { users } from "./schema";
import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";

// Type-safe queries that look like SQL
const allUsers = await db.select().from(users);
const user = await db.select().from(users).where(eq(users.email, "alice@example.com"));
const newUser = await db.insert(users).values({ name: "Alice", email: "alice@example.com" }).returning();
Intro

Drizzle ORM is a type-safe TypeScript ORM with SQL-like syntax and zero abstraction overhead with 28,000+ GitHub stars. Unlike Prisma which generates a client from a schema file, Drizzle lets you write queries that look and feel like SQL while maintaining full TypeScript type safety. Serverless-ready with no connection pooling issues, supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite. Best for TypeScript developers who know SQL and want type safety without the ORM magic. Works with: any Node.js/Bun/Deno project. Setup time: under 3 minutes.

Why Drizzle Over Prisma

Feature Drizzle Prisma
Query syntax SQL-like Custom API
Schema TypeScript code .prisma file
Bundle size 7.4KB 800KB+
Serverless Native Needs adapter
Migrations Auto from schema diff Separate CLI
Learning curve Know SQL = know Drizzle Learn Prisma API

Schema as TypeScript

import { pgTable, serial, text, integer, boolean, timestamp } from "drizzle-orm/pg-core";
import { relations } from "drizzle-orm";

export const posts = pgTable("posts", {
  id: serial("id").primaryKey(),
  title: text("title").notNull(),
  content: text("content"),
  authorId: integer("author_id").references(() => users.id),
  published: boolean("published").default(false),
  createdAt: timestamp("created_at").defaultNow(),
});

export const postsRelations = relations(posts, ({ one }) => ({
  author: one(users, { fields: [posts.authorId], references: [users.id] }),
}));

SQL-Like Queries

// SELECT with joins
const result = await db
  .select({ title: posts.title, author: users.name })
  .from(posts)
  .leftJoin(users, eq(posts.authorId, users.id))
  .where(eq(posts.published, true))
  .orderBy(desc(posts.createdAt))
  .limit(10);

// Aggregations
const stats = await db
  .select({ count: count(), avgLength: avg(posts.content) })
  .from(posts)
  .groupBy(posts.authorId);

// Transactions
await db.transaction(async (tx) => {
  await tx.insert(users).values({ name: "Bob", email: "bob@example.com" });
  await tx.insert(posts).values({ title: "First Post", authorId: 1 });
});

Automatic Migrations

# Generate migration from schema changes
npx drizzle-kit generate

# Apply migrations
npx drizzle-kit migrate

# Visual schema browser
npx drizzle-kit studio

Drizzle Studio

Built-in database browser at https://local.drizzle.studio:

  • Visual table explorer
  • Run queries
  • Edit data inline
  • View relationships

Key Stats

  • 28,000+ GitHub stars
  • 7.4KB bundle (vs 800KB Prisma)
  • PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite
  • Serverless-native
  • Built-in migration + studio

FAQ

Q: What is Drizzle ORM? A: A type-safe TypeScript ORM with SQL-like query syntax, zero abstraction overhead, and serverless-native design. 7.4KB bundle vs Prisma's 800KB.

Q: Is Drizzle free? A: Yes, fully open-source under Apache 2.0 license.

Q: Should I switch from Prisma to Drizzle? A: If you know SQL and want smaller bundles, faster serverless cold starts, and SQL-like syntax — yes. Prisma is better if you prefer its abstracted query API.

🙏

Source & Thanks

Created by Drizzle Team. Licensed under Apache 2.0.

drizzle-orm — ⭐ 28,000+

Thanks for making TypeScript and SQL feel like the same language.

Discussion

Sign in to join the discussion.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

Related Assets

Resend — Modern Email API for Developers

Developer-first email API with React Email templates, webhooks, and deliverability built-in. Send transactional emails with beautiful templates in 3 lines of code. By the creator of Novu. 15,000+ stars.

Script Depot
◈Home🔍Search👤Me