---
package: "@payloadcms/db-postgres"
version: "^3.14.0"
tier: core
decision: approved
date: 2026-05-14
deciders: [Danijel Martinek]
adr: null
filter-results:
  license: MIT
  types: native
  maintenance: active
  boundary-fit: pass
  shadow-check: pass
  eu-residency: self-hostable
  cve-scan: clean
  named-consumer: pass
verification-commands:
  - npm view @payloadcms/db-postgres license
  - npm view @payloadcms/db-postgres version
  - pnpm audit --audit-level=moderate
accepted-cves: []
---

## Filter: license

<!-- Result: MIT -->

`npm view @payloadcms/db-postgres license` returns `MIT`. MIT is on the allowlist.

## Filter: types

<!-- Result: native -->

`@payloadcms/db-postgres` is part of the Payload CMS monorepo, authored in TypeScript, and ships its own `.d.ts` declaration files.

## Filter: maintenance

<!-- Result: active -->

Maintained as part of the Payload CMS project. Versioned and released together with the `payload` core package; receives the same release cadence.

## Filter: boundary-fit

<!-- Result: pass -->

`@payloadcms/db-postgres` is the PostgreSQL database adapter for Payload CMS, used exclusively in `@repo/core-cms` to configure the Payload instance. Feature packages do not reference this package directly. This is the correct placement for a CMS-layer infrastructure adapter.

## Filter: shadow-check

<!-- Result: pass -->

`@payloadcms/db-postgres` is the sole database adapter in the workspace. No competing Payload database adapter (MongoDB, SQLite, etc.) is present.

## Filter: eu-residency

<!-- Result: self-hostable -->

`@payloadcms/db-postgres` connects to a self-hosted PostgreSQL instance (configured via `DATABASE_URI`). No data is transmitted to Payload-controlled or third-party-controlled endpoints. EU residency is determined by the PostgreSQL host deployment environment.

## Filter: cve-scan

<!-- Result: clean -->

`pnpm audit --audit-level=moderate` reports no advisories against `@payloadcms/db-postgres` at the time of this trace.

## Filter: named-consumer

<!-- Result: pass -->

`@repo/core-cms` uses `@payloadcms/db-postgres` as the database adapter in the Payload configuration. Named, non-hypothetical consumer exists today.

## Prompt: replaces

`@payloadcms/db-postgres` replaces the need for a separate ORM (Prisma, Drizzle, etc.) alongside Payload — Payload's built-in adapter unifies the data access layer and admin UI schema in one package.

## Prompt: migration-cost-out

Hard. The PostgreSQL adapter is tightly coupled to the Payload schema definitions in `core-cms`. Migrating to a different adapter (e.g., MongoDB) would require reshaping all collection definitions and potentially the database migration history. The Payload interface boundary limits exposure to `core-cms` only.

## Prompt: alternatives-considered

1. **`@payloadcms/db-mongodb`** — Not applicable for this deployment target; the infrastructure uses PostgreSQL (ADR-015 references the database stack).
2. **Prisma + separate Payload adapter** — Rejected: Payload's integrated adapter eliminates the N+1 problem of maintaining two data access layers for the same database.
