EdgeDB
EdgeDB is an open-source database built on top of PostgreSQL that adds a graph-relational data model and its own query language, EdgeQL, aiming to make complex relational queries easier to write than raw SQL.
Definition
EdgeDB is an open-source database built on top of PostgreSQL that adds a graph-relational data model and its own query language, EdgeQL, aiming to make complex relational queries easier to write than raw SQL.
Overview
EdgeDB layers a strongly-typed schema language and object-oriented data model on top of PostgreSQL's storage engine, letting developers define types with links (relationships) similar to a Graph Database while retaining the reliability and ACID Properties of a mature relational backend. Its query language, EdgeQL, is designed to express deeply nested relational queries — the kind that often require complex JOINs in raw SQL — more concisely, and EdgeDB also generates type-safe client APIs for languages like TypeScript and Python, appealing to teams that want ORM-like ergonomics without a separate ORM layer. EdgeDB competes for mindshare with newer developer-focused databases such as SurrealDB and with traditional ORMs layered over PostgreSQL, positioning itself as a database-level alternative to tools like Prisma or Hibernate for teams wanting schema and query ergonomics built into the database itself.
Key Features
- Built on PostgreSQL's storage engine and reliability
- Object-oriented schema with typed links between entities
- EdgeQL query language for concise nested relational queries
- Auto-generated, type-safe client libraries
- Built-in schema migrations
- Open-source with a hosted cloud offering