Skip to content

TinyDB in Python - Simple Database For Personal Projects

In this Python Tutorial, I want to show you how to work with TinyDB. TinyDB is a tiny, document oriented database which is perfect for small personal projects.


In this Python Tutorial, I want to show you how to work with TinyDB. TinyDB is a tiny, document oriented database which is perfect for small personal projects. The API is super simple and fun to use. I show you basic functionalities like adding, deleting, updating, and searching.

TinyDB is open sourced an can be found on GitHub.

You can find and test the code on GitHub.

Pros / Cons

  • A tiny and simple database for small projects
  • Simple API
  • Document oriented: Use any document (e.g. json), represented a dict
  • Written in pure Python with full test coverage, no other dependency

But

  • Do not use for bigger projects where performance matters, or advanced db features are needed

Installation:

pip install tinydb

Basic usage

See how to insert, search, update, delete, and list items in your database. You can find and test the code on GitHub.

from tinydb import TinyDB, Query
db = TinyDB('db.json')

User = Query() # type: tinydb.queries.Query

def insert_user():
    db.insert({'name': 'John', 'age': 22})
    db.insert({'name': 'Max', 'age': 25})
    db.insert({'name': 'Sarah', 'age': 21, 'city': 'New York'})

def search_user():
    results = db.search(User.city == 'New York') # returns a list
    for res in results:
        print(res) # type: tinydb.database.Document
        # print(res.city) # Not allowed!
        print(res['city'])

    results = db.search(User.age > 21)
    for res in results:
        print(res)

def update_user():
    db.update({'age': 26}, User.name == 'Max')
    for item in db:
        print(item)

    # or
    results = db.search(User.name == 'Max')
    for res in results:
        res['age'] = 27
    db.write_back(results) # write back results we retrieved

    # or get and update/remove by document_id

def delete_user():
    db.remove(User.name == 'John')
    # db.purge() # remove all

def update_by_document_id():
    #db.remove(doc_ids=[2])
    # this will not create doc_id=2, but the next highest number
    #db.insert({'name': 'Jason', 'age': 40})

    item = db.get(doc_id=3)
    print(item)
    print(item.doc_id)

    db.update({'city': 'Boston'}, doc_ids=[1, 2])

    #db.remove(doc_ids=[1, 2])


#### TESTS ####

#db.purge() # empty db

#insert_user()
#search_user()
#update_user()
#delete_user()
#update_by_document_id()

print(db.all())
# for item in db:
#     print(item)
#print(len(db)) # number of items

FREE VS Code / PyCharm Extensions I Use

✅ Write cleaner code with Sourcery, instant refactoring suggestions: Link*


Python Problem-Solving Bootcamp

🚀 Solve 42 programming puzzles over the course of 21 days: Link*

* These are affiliate link. By clicking on it you will not have any additional costs. Instead, you will support my project. Thank you! 🙏