Migrating from node:sqlite

@photostructure/sqlite provides 100% API compatibility with Node.js's built-in SQLite module. This means you can use it as a drop-in replacement without changing any code.

Drop-in replacement

Simply change your import statement:

// Before: Using Node.js built-in SQLite (available in Node.js 22.5.0+)
const { DatabaseSync } = require("node:sqlite");

// After: Using @photostructure/sqlite (works on Node.js 22+ without any flags)
const { DatabaseSync } = require("@photostructure/sqlite");
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Or with ES modules:

// Before
import { DatabaseSync } from "node:sqlite";

// After
import { DatabaseSync } from "@photostructure/sqlite";
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All your existing code will work exactly the same.

Node.js v26.11.0 renamed DatabaseSync and StatementSync to Database and Statement, and deprecates the old names in documentation only (DEP0210, DEP0211). This package exports both names on every supported Node.js version. The examples on this page use DatabaseSync, because node:sqlite has only that name before v26.11.0.

Key differences

Broader Node.js version support

• node:sqlite: Available in Node.js 22.5.0+. See version details below.
• @photostructure/sqlite: Works with Node.js 22.0.0 or higher, no flag ever needed

Node.js version	node:sqlite status
22.5.0–22.12.x	Requires --experimental-sqlite flag
22.13.0–25.6.x	Works without flag, prints ExperimentalWarning
25.7.0+	Release Candidate (Stability: 1.2), no warning

# node:sqlite on Node.js 22.5.0–22.12.x:
node --experimental-sqlite app.js

# node:sqlite on Node.js 22.13.0+ OR @photostructure/sqlite on any version:
node app.js
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Same API, same behavior

All classes, methods, and properties are identical:

• Database class (also exported as DatabaseSync) with all the same methods
• Statement class (also exported as StatementSync) with identical behavior
• Same parameter binding syntax
• Same error handling
• Same return values
• Same SQLite features enabled
• Native Symbol.dispose implementation for improved resource management
• Session class exposed for advanced replication workflows

Example: identical code works in both

// This code works identically with both libraries
const { DatabaseSync, StatementSync } = require("@photostructure/sqlite");
// OR: const { DatabaseSync, StatementSync } = require('node:sqlite');

const db = new DatabaseSync(":memory:");

// Create tables
db.exec(`
  CREATE TABLE users (
    id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
    name TEXT NOT NULL,
    email TEXT UNIQUE
  )
`);

// Prepared statements
const insert = db.prepare("INSERT INTO users (name, email) VALUES (?, ?)");
const result = insert.run("Alice", "alice@example.com");
console.log(result.lastInsertRowid);

// Queries
const users = db.prepare("SELECT * FROM users").all();
console.log(users);

// Custom functions
db.function("uppercase", (str) => str.toUpperCase());
const upper = db.prepare("SELECT uppercase(name) as name FROM users").get();
console.log(upper.name); // ALICE

// Cleanup
db.close();
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Migration checklist

1. Install @photostructure/sqlite: npm install @photostructure/sqlite
2. Change imports from 'node:sqlite' to '@photostructure/sqlite'
3. Run your tests

Additional constants

@photostructure/sqlite exports 20 additional SQLITE_OPEN_* constants for advanced database opening scenarios. These are available via constants.SQLITE_OPEN_* and are useful for low-level control. These constants are additive and don't affect API compatibility.

Unsupported features

Node.js permission model

Node.js's permission model (--permission flag) provides security restrictions that are enforced at the Node.js runtime level. Since @photostructure/sqlite is a userland package, it cannot integrate with this internal security mechanism.

If you use the permission model and need SQLite extension loading restrictions enforced by it, you must use the built-in node:sqlite module.

Workaround: For extension loading control, you can simply avoid calling loadExtension() or set allowExtension: false (the default) when creating databases.

When to keep using node:sqlite

You might want to stick with the built-in module if:

• You're already on Node.js 22.5.0+ and don't need backward compatibility
• You prefer zero dependencies
• You require Node.js permission model integration for extension loading restrictions

When to use @photostructure/sqlite

Choose this package when:

• You need to support Node.js versions before 22.5.0
• You need the exact same API but with broader compatibility
• You're distributing a library and want to support more Node.js versions

Migrating back to node:sqlite

node:sqlite reached Release Candidate status (Stability: 1.2) in Node.js v25.7.0, with no flag required. Migrating back when you're ready is trivial:

// Simply change the import back
import { DatabaseSync } from "node:sqlite";
// All your code continues to work unchanged
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