Claude Code can interact with databases through multiple approaches, though it doesn’t provide direct database connectivity out of the box like a dedicated database management tool. The primary method for database interaction is through command-line database clients and tools that you have installed in your development environment. Claude Code can execute SQL commands using tools like psql for PostgreSQL, mysql for MySQL, sqlite3 for SQLite, or cloud-specific CLI tools for services like AWS RDS or Google Cloud SQL. It can generate complex SQL queries, execute them through these command-line interfaces, analyze results, and even help optimize database performance by examining query execution plans and suggesting improvements.
For application development scenarios, Claude Code excels at working with database-related code including Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) configurations, database migration scripts, schema definitions, and data access layers. It can help design database schemas, create and modify migration files for frameworks like Django, Rails, or Prisma, and generate data access objects or repository patterns that follow your project’s architectural conventions. Claude Code can also work with database configuration files, connection strings, and environment-specific database settings, ensuring that your application connects properly to different database environments during development, testing, and production deployments.
Advanced database interactions are possible through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which allows Claude Code to connect to custom servers that provide database access. You can set up MCP servers that expose database functionality, allowing Claude Code to query databases, analyze schema structures, and even perform data analysis tasks directly. For example, if you’re using Supabase, you could configure an MCP server that gives Claude Code access to your database for tasks like analyzing data patterns, generating reports, or creating database documentation. Additionally, Claude Code can work with database dump files, backup scripts, and data import/export processes, making it useful for database administration tasks beyond just application development.