better-sqlite3: Fast & Simple Node.js SQLite3 Library for 2025

better-sqlite3: The Fastest Node.js SQLite3 Solution for 2025 Projects

In the world of Node.js development, finding the right database solution can significantly impact your application's performance and maintainability. When it comes to embedded databases, better-sqlite3 has emerged as the leading choice for developers seeking a balance between speed, simplicity, and reliability. As of 2025, this powerful Node.js SQLite3 library has garnered an impressive 6465 GitHub stars and 426 forks, cementing its position as the go-to fast SQLite Node.js implementation for projects of all sizes.

Why better-sqlite3 Stands Out in the Node.js Ecosystem

In a JavaScript environment traditionally dominated by asynchronous patterns, better-sqlite3 takes a different approach with its synchronous SQLite Node.js API that surprisingly delivers better concurrency than many asynchronous alternatives. This counterintuitive design choice addresses a common misconception in Node.js development—that all operations must be asynchronous to achieve good performance.

The library was created by WiseLibs in 2016 and has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the Node.js community. Unlike other database libraries that introduce unnecessary complexity, better-sqlite3 focuses on providing a straightforward interface without sacrificing power or performance.

better-sqlite3 vs sqlite3: A Performance Showdown

One of the most compelling reasons to choose better-sqlite3 is its exceptional performance compared to other SQLite Node.js implementations. The benchmark data tells a clear story:

• 11.7x faster for single row selections using get()
• 2.9x faster for multiple row selections using all()
• 24.4x faster for iterating over 100 rows one-by-one
• 2.8x faster for single row inserts with run()
• 15.6x faster for inserting 100 rows within a transaction

These performance gains translate directly to snappier applications and better user experiences. What's truly impressive is that better-sqlite3 achieves these results while maintaining a cleaner, more intuitive API than its competitors.

The secret behind this performance lies in better-sqlite3's efficient use of resources and avoidance of the mutex thrashing that plagues many asynchronous database implementations in Node.js. By leveraging a synchronous API design for CPU-bound operations that are inherently serialized, better-sqlite3 eliminates the overhead of unnecessary asynchronous patterns.

better-sqlite3 Tutorial: Getting Started in Minutes

Getting started with better-sqlite3 is refreshingly simple. Let's walk through the basic setup and common operations to help you integrate this powerful library into your Node.js projects.

Installing better-sqlite3

First, install the package via npm:

npm install better-sqlite3

The library requires Node.js v14.21.1 or later, with prebuilt binaries available for all LTS versions, making installation straightforward on most development and production environments.

Basic Database Connection

Establishing a connection to an SQLite database is simple:

// CommonJS
const Database = require('better-sqlite3');
const db = new Database('mydatabase.db');

// ES6 Modules
import Database from 'better-sqlite3';
const db = new Database('mydatabase.db');

For optimal performance, it's highly recommended to enable WAL (Write-Ahead Logging) mode:

db.pragma('journal_mode = WAL');

This single line can significantly improve concurrent read performance and is considered a best practice for most better-sqlite3 implementations.

Creating Tables and Inserting Data

better-sqlite3 uses prepared statements for efficient query execution. Here's how to create a table and insert data:

// Create a users table
const createTable = db.prepare(`
  CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (
    id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
    name TEXT NOT NULL,
    email TEXT UNIQUE NOT NULL,
    age INTEGER
  )
`);
createTable.run();

// Insert a user
const insertUser = db.prepare('INSERT INTO users (name, email, age) VALUES (?, ?, ?)');
const result = insertUser.run('John Doe', 'john@example.com', 30);
console.log(`Inserted user with ID: ${result.lastInsertRowid}`);

Querying Data

Querying data is equally straightforward with better-sqlite3's intuitive methods:

// Get a single user
const getUser = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?');
const user = getUser.get(1);
console.log(user); // { id: 1, name: 'John Doe', email: 'john@example.com', age: 30 }

// Get all users
const getAllUsers = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM users');
const users = getAllUsers.all();
console.log(users); // Array of user objects

// Iterate through users
const iterateUsers = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM users');
for (const user of iterateUsers.iterate()) {
  console.log(user.name);
}

Working with Transactions

better-sqlite3 provides robust Node.js SQLite transaction support for maintaining data integrity during complex operations:

const transaction = db.transaction(() => {
  const insertUser = db.prepare('INSERT INTO users (name, email) VALUES (?, ?)');
  
  // Insert multiple users in a transaction
  [
    ['Jane Smith', 'jane@example.com'],
    ['Bob Johnson', 'bob@example.com'],
    ['Alice Williams', 'alice@example.com']
  ].forEach(([name, email]) => {
    insertUser.run(name, email);
  });
});

// Execute the transaction
transaction.run();

Advanced better-sqlite3 Features

Beyond basic CRUD operations, better-sqlite3 offers a wealth of advanced features that make it a versatile JavaScript SQLite library:

User-Defined Functions

Extend SQLite's functionality with custom JavaScript functions:

db.function('greet', (name) => {
  return `Hello, ${name}!`;
});

const result = db.prepare('SELECT greet("World") AS message').get();
console.log(result.message); // "Hello, World!"

Worker Thread Support for Heavy Queries

For CPU-intensive operations, better-sqlite3 supports Node.js SQLite worker thread integration to prevent blocking your main application thread:

// main.js
const { Worker } = require('worker_threads');
const worker = new Worker('./query-worker.js');

worker.postMessage({ query: 'SELECT * FROM large_dataset' });
worker.on('message', (result) => {
  console.log('Query result:', result);
});

// query-worker.js
const { parentPort } = require('worker_threads');
const Database = require('better-sqlite3');

parentPort.on('message', ({ query }) => {
  const db = new Database('mydatabase.db');
  const result = db.prepare(query).all();
  parentPort.postMessage(result);
  db.close();
});

Aggregate Functions

Create custom aggregation functions for complex data analysis:

db.aggregate('sumOfSquares', {
  start: 0,
  step: (total, value) => total + (value * value),
  final: (total) => total
});

const result = db.prepare('SELECT sumOfSquares(numbers) AS total FROM data').get();

better-sqlite3 Performance: Real-World Applications

The performance benefits of better-sqlite3 become even more apparent in real-world scenarios. For example, a content management system using better-sqlite3 can handle thousands of concurrent reads with minimal resource consumption. An e-commerce application can process order transactions with confidence, knowing that the synchronous API guarantees proper transaction ordering without the overhead of asynchronous callbacks.

One of the most impressive case studies involves a project that achieved over 2000 queries per second with complex 5-way joins on a 60 GB database—all with proper indexing and better-sqlite3's optimized performance.

When to Use better-sqlite3 (and When Not To)

While better-sqlite3 excels in many scenarios, it's important to understand when it's the right tool for the job:

Ideal Use Cases:

• Embedded applications and tools
• Desktop applications using Electron or similar frameworks
• IoT devices and edge computing
• Single-user applications
• Small to medium-sized web applications with moderate concurrent users
• Development environments and prototyping

Consider Alternatives When:

• You need terabyte-scale databases
• You expect extremely high volumes of concurrent writes
• You require distributed database capabilities
• You need horizontal scaling across multiple servers

For most Node.js applications that don't require massive scale, better-sqlite3 provides an excellent balance of performance, simplicity, and functionality.

Conclusion: Why better-sqlite3 Should Be Your Node.js SQLite Library

In the crowded landscape of Node.js database libraries, better-sqlite3 stands out as a mature, performant, and user-friendly solution for integrating SQLite into your projects. Its unique synchronous API design delivers superior performance while maintaining the simplicity and flexibility that developers love about JavaScript.

Whether you're building a small utility tool or a production application, better-sqlite3 offers the perfect combination of speed, reliability, and ease of use. With its comprehensive feature set, excellent documentation, and active community support, it's no wonder that better-sqlite3 has become the preferred Node.js SQLite3 implementation for thousands of developers worldwide.

If you're working on a Node.js project that requires a lightweight, embedded database, give better-sqlite3 a try. Its impressive performance characteristics and developer-friendly API might just surprise you—especially if you've been using asynchronous SQLite libraries in the past.