7 Best Python ORM Libraries You Should Know

Power up your Python development

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The world is one big data problem — Andrew McAfee

Navigating the intricate dance between objects in programming and the relational tables of databases is like translating poetry from one language to another. The essence needs to remain, even as the form changes. In this dance, Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) libraries are the master choreographers, ensuring that every step and every transition is flawless.

We all know the power of Python: it’s the jack of all trades in the coding world, powering everything from data science projects to web applications and automation scripts. But just as a master craftsman knows the value of his tools, the best Python developers appreciate top-notch libraries that can turn a good project into a masterpiece.

Ready to upgrade your Python game? Take a look at these 7 awesome libraries that can be a game changer for your projects. Prepare to be inspired!

1. Peewee

If simplicity with an expressive query syntax is what you seek, this is your go-to ORM. This small, yet powerful library, provides a simple and intuitive way to define data models and query databases. It supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, making it a versatile choice. Its simplistic approach doesn’t compromise on features, offering a rich set of functionalities, including database migrations and a robust querying system. It has more than 10k stars on GitHub.

GitHub - coleifer/peewee: a small, expressive orm -- supports postgresql, mysql, sqlite and…

2. Sqlalchemy

When it comes to robust database access, this library stands as a pillar in the Python community. This library provides a full suite of well-known enterprise-level persistence patterns and is designed for efficient and high-performing database access. Its expressive SQL construct allows you to work with databases seamlessly, ensuring your data models adhere to your requirements while benefiting from the full spectrum of database capabilities. It has more than 7.5k stars on GitHub.

GitHub — sqlalchemy/sqlalchemy: The Database Toolkit for Python

3. Tortoise

For the async enthusiasts, this library is a breath of fresh air. It’s a modern asynchronous ORM inspired by Django ORM that brings the joy of non-blocking IO to your database interactions. It shines in projects where async operations are a must, providing a solid foundation for handling database tasks asynchronously without breaking a sweat. It has more than 3.5k stars on GitHub.

GitHub - tortoise/tortoise-orm: Familiar asyncio ORM for python, built with relations in mind

4. Pypika

When the goal is crafting intricate SQL queries, this library offers a helping hand. While not a traditional ORM, it’s a Pythonic SQL query builder that allows you to construct SQL queries in a clean and Pythonic way. It’s a library for those who need to work closely with SQL, providing a neat abstraction that simplifies complex query generation. It has more than 2k stars on GitHub.

GitHub - kayak/pypika: PyPika is a python SQL query builder that exposes the full richness of the…

5. Databases

When you need async and await support for a variety of databases, this library is a solid choice. It provides async interaction with databases in SQLAlchemy core style. Its support for multiple databases and its async nature make it a modern and versatile choice for developers seeking performance and simplicity in database interactions. It has more than 3.5k stars on GitHub.

GitHub - encode/databases: Async database support for Python. đź—„

6. Ormar

FastAPI enthusiasts will find a friend in this library. This modern, async mini ORM is designed to work with FastAPI and Pydantic. By leveraging type hints, it ensures a strong correlation between your models and the database structure. Its asynchronous nature makes it a great fit for modern web applications, where performance and responsiveness are key. It has more than 1.5k stars on GitHub.

GitHub - collerek/ormar: python async orm with fastapi in mind and pydantic validation

7. Pony

When you wish to express database queries in pure Python, this library steps into the limelight. Its unique ability to write queries using Python generators is a game-changer. Pony ORM translates generator expressions into SQL queries, providing a seamless bridge between Python and databases. The intuitive interface, coupled with its entity-relationship diagram editor, makes database modeling and querying an enjoyable task. It has more than 3k stars on GitHub.

GitHub - ponyorm/pony: Pony Object Relational Mapper

Where are some other awesome resources?

There are always new things to learn. If you want to learn more about awesome resources please check out the below link.

That’s all for today. I believe these libraries will help you a lot in your development journey.

If you know of any other beautiful Python libraries, please share them in the comments. Until we meet again…Cheers!

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