tinydb
TinyDB is a tiny, document oriented database optimized for your happiness :)
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you're building a small application or tool that needs local document storage without external dependencies. The zero-dependency design, simple API, and active maintenance make it a solid choice for prototypes, scripts, and small projects. Not suitable for applications requiring concurrent writes, complex transactions, or large-scale data—use a proper database for those cases.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later; does not support Python 3.9 or earlier.
- Installation is frictionless: the package is pure Python with zero runtime dependencies and ships as a single wheel.
- Maintenance is active with recent releases, though the project is in maintenance mode—bugfixes and community contributions are still accepted.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute TinyDB freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-08-06 (8 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-10 · 7,551 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 6,942,135 downloads/mo, #1,805 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install tinydb
from tinydb import TinyDB, Query
db = TinyDB('/path/to/db.json')
db.insert({'name': 'John', 'age': 22})
User = Query()
results = db.search(User.name == 'John')- Concurrent write safety and locking behavior under simultaneous access patterns.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for datasets beyond typical small-app sizes.
- Storage backend options beyond the default JSON file storage mentioned in the description.
What it is and what it does
TinyDB is a document-oriented database written entirely in Python, designed for small applications that would be overkill for a full SQL database or external server. It stores documents as Python dictionaries in JSON files on disk, with no external dependencies or server process required. The API is intentionally simple: you insert dictionaries, query them using a fluent query language with logical operators, and organize data into named tables. It supports middlewares for customization (like caching) and is extensible through custom storage backends.
The package targets developers building small tools, scripts, or applications where a lightweight local database suffices. It has been actively maintained since 2013, supports Python 3.10 through 3.14 and PyPy3, and includes comprehensive test coverage. The project is now in maintenance mode, meaning new architectural features are unlikely, but bugfixes and community contributions continue.
Use it for
- Store configuration or state for a small CLI tool or desktop application without setting up a database server.
- Persist user data (preferences, cache, local records) in a single-file format that's human-readable and portable.
- Build a quick prototype or MVP that needs structured data storage without the overhead of SQL or MongoDB.
- Write integration tests that need a temporary, isolated database without external dependencies.
- Manage a simple document collection (logs, events, metadata) for a standalone script or microservice.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you're building a small application or tool that needs local document storage without external dependencies.
The zero-dependency design, simple API, and active maintenance make it a solid choice for prototypes, scripts, and small projects. Not suitable for applications requiring concurrent writes, complex transactions, or large-scale data—use a proper database for those cases.
Install
tinydb on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is frictionless: the package is pure Python with zero runtime dependencies and ships as a single wheel. Maintenance is active with recent releases, though the project is in maintenance mode—bugfixes and community contributions are still accepted.
Requires Python 3.10 or later; does not support Python 3.9 or earlier.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute TinyDB freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install tinydb
from tinydb import TinyDB, Query
db = TinyDB('/path/to/db.json')
db.insert({'name': 'John', 'age': 22})
User = Query()
results = db.search(User.name == 'John')Verify before relying
- Concurrent write safety and locking behavior under simultaneous access patterns.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for datasets beyond typical small-app sizes.
- Storage backend options beyond the default JSON file storage mentioned in the description.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release <4,>=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 8 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 6,942,135 / month, #1,805 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: DatabaseTopic :: Database :: Database Engines/ServersTopic :: UtilitiesTyping :: Typed |
Evidence: tinydb-4.9.0-py3-none-any.whl
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