Is there a possibility of connecting postgreSQL directly to Javascript?

Question

without having to use php, python or odbc?

• Jakub Hampl: Yes, but not the javascript in the browser, which is what I assume you meant?
• Evan Carroll: Because you didn't specify "node" I have no idea what you're referring to and this is too broad. JavaScript is a langage. There are hundreds of implementations (chrome, chakra) and platforms (server, browser) etc.
• Richard T: @EvanCarroll I'm hopeful that in the intervening years you've become less prone towards an urge for closing down good questions due to what you yourself don't know - the error was yours, not ChristopheD's, and Quentin's answer proves it.
• Evan Carroll: @RichardT Just re-evaluated the question and casted another close vote, thanks for drawing my attention to it. It's not clear how the author wants to interact with PostgreSQL "connecting postgreSQL directly to Javascript?" needs further clarification, imho. "without having to use php, python or odbc?" doesn't say what you want to do.
• Richard T: @EvanCarroll Why do you need to know their motive? The question is reasonable as is: Is there a driver and if so, what is it called? Isn't that enough?

Answer 1

You can get a JS driver for Postgres from https://github.com/creationix/postgres-js

This one is designed for use with node.js. Don't expect to be able to find something you can run client side in a web browser.

• Siewers: That's quite interesting! It's probably very insecure, but thanks a lot for sharing :)
• Matt Ball: ...for Node.js, not the browser.
• GreenAsJade: Right ... but the question doesn't say "browser"

Answer 2

I have used Postgrest (postgrest.com).

"PostgREST is a standalone web server that turns your PostgreSQL database directly into a RESTful API."

Then you can make a query with a url which returns data in json format.

Answer 3

No, keep in mind that Javascript works client side only when used in a browser while a database can only be connected from server side. Thus you will need to call a serverside script in PHP, Python or another server-side language in order to get to the results.

• Quentin: JavaScript is not client side only. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server-side_JavaScript
• Quentin: There are also browsers with built in SQL databases that JavaScript has access to. developer.mozilla.org/en/storage
• Thariama: the common use case is a browser which i suggest the questioner is asking for, in that case the javascript will only work client side

Answer 4

Yes, it is possible if your javascript runs on node.js. Here is connector.

Answer 5

I never worked with PostgreSQL, but as far as I know Databases require a valid credentials (username and password) to access them. With JavaScript you have no way of hiding the username and password, as the script is sent to the client. So theoretically if you could do that, any client would be able to run queries, and do whatever they want with your database.

Anyways, you cannot access a database from the client side.

• Chris Travers: PostgreSQL can authenticate based on client cert btw. Or Kerberos... I think there would be secure ways of doing this from the browser but they would take extra thought.
• Richard T: @DavidDuponchel In additino to what Chris pointed out, with Postgres, you can also validate on at least six other ways. See the pg_hba.conf, PGPASSWORD and .pgpass.... Postgres is a FAR more sophisticated system than mysql.

Answer 6

It is possible. Please see following code. Before using it, you should update Node.js to 7.6.0 or higher. You can use Postgresql by calling only main(yourQuery) function. Found it on Google.

const pg = require('pg')
// create a config to configure both pooling behavior
// and client options
// note: all config is optional and the environment variables
// will be read if the config is not present
var config = {
 user: 'username', // env var: PGUSER
 database: 'databaseName', // env var: PGDATABASE
 password: 'Password', // env var: PGPASSWORD
 host: 'localhost', // Server hosting the postgres database
 port: 35432, // env var: PGPORT
 max: 10, // max number of clients in the pool
 idleTimeoutMillis: 30000 // how long a client is allowed to remain idle before being closed
}
const pool = new pg.Pool(config)
async function query (q) {
 const client = await pool.connect()
 let res
 try {
 await client.query('BEGIN')
 try {
 res = await client.query(q)
 await client.query('COMMIT')
 } catch (err) {
 await client.query('ROLLBACK')
 throw err
 }
 } finally {
 client.release()
 }
 return res
}
async function main (queryStr) {
 try {
 const { rows } = await query(queryStr);
 console.log(JSON.stringify(rows));
 } catch (err) {
 console.log('Database ' + err)
 }
}
main('SELECT * FROM user where user = \'123\'') 

Answer 7

Nope. Javascript is client-side only. You need some sort of server-side language/interface.

• Quentin: There have been server side JavaScript implementations for a decade and a half! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server-side_JavaScript
• TNC: Sorry, was assuming they were referencing browser-based javascript :)