Comparison of Prisma, TypeORM, and Sequelize

ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) is a programming technique used to map data from relational databases into object models, enabling developers to interact with databases using an object-oriented approach. The three most popular JavaScript ORMs are Prisma, TypeORM, and Sequelize. Below is an introduction and comparison of these three ORMs.

Prisma: Modern and Lightweight

Prisma is a modern, lightweight ORM that provides out-of-the-box support for TypeScript. Its clean and intuitive syntax, combined with generated TypeScript types, ensures a highly secure development experience.

Key Features

• Emphasis on type safety.
• Declarative migrations.
• Supports multiple databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and SQL Server.

Code Example

import { PrismaClient } from "@prisma/client";
const prisma = new PrismaClient();
async function main() {
  const allUsers = await prisma.user.findMany();
  console.log(allUsers);
}
main()
  .catch((e) => console.error(e))
  .finally(async () => await prisma.$disconnect());

Documentation

• Prisma Docs

TypeORM: Flexibility and Broad Database Support

TypeORM is another powerful ORM known for its flexibility. It supports both Active Record and Data Mapper patterns and offers compatibility with various databases.

Key Features

• Support for decorators and TypeScript.
• Entity-based data modeling.
• Compatible with databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and more.

Code Example

import { Entity, PrimaryGeneratedColumn, Column, createConnection } from "typeorm";
@Entity()
class User {
  @PrimaryGeneratedColumn()
  id: number;
  @Column()
  name: string;
}
async function main() {
  const connection = await createConnection();
  const userRepository = connection.getRepository(User);
  const users = await userRepository.find();
  console.log(users);
}
main();

Documentation

• TypeORM Docs

Sequelize: Broad Database Compatibility and Strong Community

Sequelize is a mature ORM and one of the oldest in the JavaScript ecosystem. With its Promise-based API, Sequelize excels at handling traditional database operations in Node.js.

Key Features

• Supports various databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and MSSQL.
• Promise-based API.
• Migrations for database schema management.

Code Example

const { Sequelize, DataTypes } = require("sequelize");
const sequelize = new Sequelize("sqlite::memory:");
const User = sequelize.define("User", {
  name: {
    type: DataTypes.STRING,
    allowNull: false,
  },
});
(async () => {
  await sequelize.sync();
  const users = await User.findAll();
  console.log(users);
})();

Documentation

• Sequelize Docs

Comparison of Prisma, TypeORM, and Sequelize

Conclusion

Choosing the right ORM for your project can be challenging. Here’s a quick guide based on different scenarios:

• Prisma or TypeORM: If your project has a long lifecycle, especially one involving TypeScript, Prisma should be your top choice. However, if you are already familiar with TypeORM or prefer a more flexible ORM, TypeORM is an excellent alternative.
• Sequelize: If you are working on a project that already uses Sequelize or requires specific features or libraries tied to Sequelize, consider sticking with it. Otherwise, TypeORM or Prisma might be more suitable.

While this article focuses on Prisma, TypeORM, and Sequelize, it’s worth noting that other options like MicroORM and Objection.js are available. However, their popularity and community support are not as extensive as the three discussed here. Additionally, if you’re using a non-relational database like MongoDB, an Object Document Mapper (ODM) like Mongoose would be a more appropriate choice.