whatisgithub

What is sqlite.swift?

stephencelis/sqlite.swift — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-06-24

10,145SwiftAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

In one sentence

A type-safe Swift library for SQLite that lets you define tables and run queries using Swift objects instead of raw SQL strings, catching type errors and typos at compile time, for iOS and Mac apps needing local data storage.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((SQLite.swift))
    What it does
      Type-safe queries
      Local data storage
      Schema definition
    Features
      Compile-time checks
      Full-text search
      Encrypted databases
      Migrations
    Platforms
      iOS
      macOS
      Linux
    Audience
      Swift developers
Click or tap to explore — scroll the page freely

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Store structured data locally in an iOS or Mac app using a type-safe Swift interface without writing raw SQL strings.

USE CASE 2

Define a database schema with Swift objects so column typos and type mismatches are caught by the compiler before the app runs.

USE CASE 3

Add full-text search or encrypted storage to an iOS app using SQLite.swift alongside the SQLCipher companion library.

What is it built with?

SwiftSQLite

How does it compare?

stephencelis/sqlite.swiftswiftlang/swift-package-managerpock/pock
Stars10,14510,14610,134
LanguageSwiftSwiftSwift
Setup difficultyeasyeasyeasy
Complexity2/52/51/5
Audiencedeveloperdevelopergeneral

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 30min
MIT license, use freely in any project, including commercial apps, with no restrictions beyond keeping the copyright notice.

So what is it?

SQLite.swift is a Swift library for working with SQLite, a file-based database that runs inside your app rather than on a separate server. SQLite is widely used in iOS and Mac apps to store structured data locally on the device, things like user settings, downloaded content, or anything that needs to persist between app launches. What this library adds on top of raw SQLite is a Swift-friendly interface. Instead of writing database queries as plain text strings, which can contain typos or type mistakes that only show up at runtime, you define your tables and columns as Swift objects. The library then catches errors at compile time, before you even run the app. If you try to insert the wrong type of data into a column or misspell a column name, the code will not compile. The API is designed to feel natural in Swift. You create a table definition once, then use it to insert rows, query records with filters, update values, and delete entries. Each operation produces the corresponding SQL behind the scenes, but you do not have to write or read raw SQL unless you want to. The library also supports full-text search, encrypted databases via a companion library called SQLCipher, and database migration tools for updating your schema as your app evolves. Installation works through the standard Swift package tools and also through CocoaPods and Carthage, which are older dependency managers common in Apple platform development. The library works on iOS, macOS, and Linux. It is MIT licensed and well documented, with a playground included in the Xcode project for hands-on exploration. This is a tool for Swift developers building apps that need local data storage without setting up a full database server.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Using SQLite.swift, show me how to define a Users table with id, name, and email columns and insert a new user row in Swift.
Prompt 2
How do I query SQLite.swift to fetch all records where a column value matches a filter and map the results to a Swift struct?
Prompt 3
Walk me through setting up SQLite.swift in a new iOS Xcode project using Swift Package Manager and opening a database file.
Prompt 4
Show me how to write a migration in SQLite.swift that adds a new column to an existing table without deleting the current data.

Frequently asked questions

What is sqlite.swift?

A type-safe Swift library for SQLite that lets you define tables and run queries using Swift objects instead of raw SQL strings, catching type errors and typos at compile time, for iOS and Mac apps needing local data storage.

What language is sqlite.swift written in?

Mainly Swift. The stack also includes Swift, SQLite.

What license does sqlite.swift use?

MIT license, use freely in any project, including commercial apps, with no restrictions beyond keeping the copyright notice.

How hard is sqlite.swift to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is sqlite.swift for?

Mainly developer.

Open on GitHub → Ask about another repo

This repo across BitVibe Labs

Verify against the repo before relying on details.