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BuilderBot provides multiple database adapters to persist conversation history and user data. Choose the adapter that best fits your infrastructure and scaling needs.

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Available Adapters

MemoryDB

In-memory storage for development and testing

JSON File

Simple file-based persistence for small applications

MongoDB

NoSQL database for flexible, scalable storage

MySQL

Relational database with robust transaction support

PostgreSQL

Advanced relational database with rich features

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Choosing a Database

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MemoryDB

Best for:
  • Local development
  • Testing
  • Proof of concepts
  • Stateless bots (no persistence needed)
Limitations: All data is lost when the bot restarts.

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JSON File Database

Best for:
  • Small bots with low traffic
  • Single-server deployments
  • Simple projects without database infrastructure
Limitations: Not suitable for high-concurrency or multi-server setups.

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MongoDB

Best for:
  • Flexible schema requirements
  • Horizontal scaling
  • Document-oriented data
  • Cloud deployments (MongoDB Atlas)

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MySQL

Best for:
  • Traditional relational data models
  • Existing MySQL infrastructure
  • ACID transaction requirements
  • Well-established hosting options

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PostgreSQL

Best for:
  • Advanced SQL features
  • Complex queries and relationships
  • Contact management with custom fields
  • High-performance production environments

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Common Interface

All database adapters extend the base MemoryDB class and implement these core methods: 
interface DatabaseAdapter {
  // Get the last conversation state for a phone number
  getPrevByNumber(from: string): Promise<HistoryEntry | undefined>
  
  // Save a new conversation entry
  save(ctx: HistoryEntry): Promise<void>
}

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Data Schema

Conversation history entries contain:
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ref
string
required
Reference to the flow
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keyword
string
Trigger keyword that initiated the flow
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answer
string
required
The user’s response or message content
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refSerialize
string
required
Serialized flow reference for state management
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from
string
required
Phone number or user identifier
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options
object
Additional metadata and flow options

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Switching Adapters

Switching between adapters is straightforward - just change the import and initialization: 
import { MemoryDB as Database } from '@builderbot/bot'

const adapterDB = new Database()

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Next Steps

Quick Start

Set up your first bot with a database

Testing

Test your bot with different databases

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