Prisma Client API Raw Queries

Raw Queries

Execute raw SQL when Prisma's query API isn't sufficient.

$queryRaw

Execute SELECT queries and get typed results:

const users = await prisma.$queryRaw`
  SELECT * FROM "User" WHERE email LIKE ${'%@prisma.io'}
`

With type

type User = { id: number; email: string; name: string | null }

const users = await prisma.$queryRaw<User[]>`
  SELECT id, email, name FROM "User" WHERE role = ${'ADMIN'}
`

Dynamic table/column names

Use Prisma.raw() for identifiers (not safe for user input):

import { Prisma } from '../generated/client'

const column = 'email'
const users = await prisma.$queryRaw`
  SELECT ${Prisma.raw(column)} FROM "User"
`

With Prisma.sql

Build queries dynamically:

import { Prisma } from '../generated/client'

const email = 'alice@prisma.io'
const query = Prisma.sql`SELECT * FROM "User" WHERE email = ${email}`
const users = await prisma.$queryRaw(query)

Join multiple SQL fragments

import { Prisma } from '../generated/client'

const conditions = [
  Prisma.sql`role = ${'ADMIN'}`,
  Prisma.sql`verified = ${true}`
]

const users = await prisma.$queryRaw`
  SELECT * FROM "User" 
  WHERE ${Prisma.join(conditions, ' AND ')}
`

$executeRaw

Execute INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE (returns affected count):

const count = await prisma.$executeRaw`
  UPDATE "User" SET verified = true WHERE email LIKE ${'%@prisma.io'}
`
console.log(`Updated ${count} users`)

Delete example

const deleted = await prisma.$executeRaw`
  DELETE FROM "User" WHERE "deletedAt" < ${thirtyDaysAgo}
`

Insert example

const inserted = await prisma.$executeRaw`
  INSERT INTO "Log" (message, level, timestamp)
  VALUES (${message}, ${level}, ${new Date()})
`

$queryRawUnsafe / $executeRawUnsafe

For fully dynamic queries (use with caution!):

// ⚠️ SQL injection risk - only use with trusted input
const table = 'User'
const users = await prisma.$queryRawUnsafe(
  `SELECT * FROM "${table}" WHERE id = $1`,
  userId
)

Parameterized unsafe query

const result = await prisma.$executeRawUnsafe(
  'UPDATE "User" SET name = $1 WHERE id = $2',
  'Alice',
  1
)

SQL Injection Prevention

Safe (parameterized)

// ✅ User input is parameterized
const email = userInput
const users = await prisma.$queryRaw`
  SELECT * FROM "User" WHERE email = ${email}
`

Unsafe (concatenation)

// ❌ SQL injection vulnerability!
const email = userInput
const users = await prisma.$queryRawUnsafe(
  `SELECT * FROM "User" WHERE email = '${email}'`
)

Database-Specific Features

PostgreSQL

// Array operations
const users = await prisma.$queryRaw`
  SELECT * FROM "User" WHERE 'admin' = ANY(roles)
`

// JSON operations
const users = await prisma.$queryRaw`
  SELECT * FROM "User" WHERE metadata->>'theme' = 'dark'
`

MySQL

// Full-text search
const posts = await prisma.$queryRaw`
  SELECT * FROM Post WHERE MATCH(title, content) AGAINST(${searchTerm})
`

Transactions with Raw Queries

await prisma.$transaction(async (tx) => {
  await tx.$executeRaw`UPDATE "Account" SET balance = balance - ${amount} WHERE id = ${senderId}`
  await tx.$executeRaw`UPDATE "Account" SET balance = balance + ${amount} WHERE id = ${recipientId}`
})

Handling Results

BigInt handling

PostgreSQL returns BigInt for COUNT:

const result = await prisma.$queryRaw<[{ count: bigint }]>`
  SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM "User"
`
const count = Number(result[0].count)

Date handling

type Result = { createdAt: Date }
const users = await prisma.$queryRaw<Result[]>`
  SELECT "createdAt" FROM "User"
`
// createdAt is already a Date object