When building modern web applications, a robust Object Relational Mapper (ORM) is critical for smooth database interactions. ORMs not only reduce boilerplate SQL code but also provide developers with tools to express queries intuitively.
Two popular ORM implementations often compared today are Laravel Eloquent (from the Laravel PHP ecosystem) and the Adonis.js ORM (designed for Node.js developers). Both aim to simplify database management, but their philosophies and ecosystems differ significantly.
In this article, I’ll walk you through a practical developer’s comparison of Eloquent and Adonis.js ORM. We’ll explore their syntax, performance, real-world use cases, and best practices so you can decide which fits your next project best.
Understanding the Basics
What is Laravel Eloquent ORM?
Laravel Eloquent is a powerful ORM that comes bundled with the Laravel PHP framework. It follows the Active Record pattern, meaning each model class directly maps to a database table and instances represent rows.
Key highlights:
Simple, expressive syntax
Relationships like hasOne, belongsTo, manyToMany
Dynamic query scopes
Built-in soft deletes, casting, eager loading
What is Adonis.js ORM?
Adonis.js ORM, also known as Lucid ORM, is an ORM bundled with the Adonis.js (Node.js) framework. It also embraces the Active Record pattern while adopting modern TypeScript-first practices.
Key highlights:
TypeScript support out-of-the-box
Similar relationship handling as Eloquent
Query builder design with chaining
Database migrations and seeding built-in
Syntax Comparison
Let’s compare some common use-cases side by side.
Defining a Model
Laravel Eloquent
// app/Models/User.php
namespace App\Models;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
class User extends Model {
protected $table = 'users'; // Optional if table name follows convention
protected $fillable = ['name', 'email'];
}
Adonis.js ORM
// app/Models/User.ts
import { BaseModel, column } from '@adonisjs/lucid/orm'
export default class User extends BaseModel {
@column({ isPrimary: true })
public id: number
@column()
public name: string
@column()
public email: string
}
Retrieving Data
Laravel Eloquent
$users = User::where('active', true)->get();
Adonis.js ORM
const users = await User.query().where('active', true)
Relationships Example
Laravel Eloquent
class Post extends Model {
public function user() {
return $this->belongsTo(User::class);
}
}
Adonis.js ORM
import { belongsTo, BelongsTo } from '@adonisjs/lucid/orm'
class Post extends BaseModel {
@belongsTo(() => User)
public user: BelongsTo<typeof User>
}
Both feel quite similar, but Adonis.js ORM leans strongly on TypeScript decorators which bring compile-time type safety.
Performance & Ecosystem
Laravel Eloquent
Optimized for PHP applications
Integrates seamlessly with Laravel’s ecosystem (queues, jobs, events, policies)
Mature and widely adopted
Query performance heavily reliant on Laravel’s caching mechanisms
Adonis.js ORM
Optimized for Node.js and TypeScript
Works well with async/await (non-blocking I/O advantage)
Strong typing makes large applications more maintainable
Slightly newer and less mature than Eloquent, but rapidly growing
Real-World Use Cases
Laravel Eloquent
Best suited for web apps, SaaS projects, and APIs where Laravel’s ecosystem is preferred
Popular with Indian startups for quick MVPs thanks to Laravel’s rapid scaffolding
Ideal if you prefer PHP hosting environments
Adonis.js ORM
Better fit if you’re already using Node.js stack (e.g., React or Vue frontend with Node backend)
Great for real-time apps (chat, live dashboards) due to Node’s non-blocking nature
Strong choice for enterprises adopting TypeScript-first approaches
Practical Examples
Migrations
Laravel Migration Example
Schema::create('posts', function (Blueprint $table) {
$table->id();
$table->string('title');
$table->text('content');
$table->timestamps();
});
Adonis.js Migration Example
import BaseSchema from '@adonisjs/lucid/schema'
export default class Posts extends BaseSchema {
public async up () {
this.schema.createTable('posts', (table) => {
table.increments('id')
table.string('title')
table.text('content')
table.timestamps(true)
})
}
}
Query Scopes
Eloquent
class User extends Model {
public function scopeActive($query) {
return $query->where('active', true);
}
}
Usage:
$activeUsers = User::active()->get();
Adonis.js
class User extends BaseModel {
public static active() {
return this.query().where('active', true)
}
}
Usage:
const activeUsers = await User.active()
Best Practices & Tips
For Laravel Eloquent
Use eager loading with()) to minimize N+1 queries
Prefer query scopes for reusability
Utilize caching (Redis) for heavy joins
Validate relationships using Laravel policies
For Adonis.js ORM
Leverage TypeScript decorators for safe schema definitions
Always use preload() instead of multiple queries (similar to eager loading)
Centralize queries in repositories to avoid scattered logic
Monitor queries using Adonis Profiler in production
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Laravel Eloquent: Overusing dynamic queries without indexes can lead to heavy DB load.
Adonis.js ORM: Forgetting await can cause subtle async bugs.
Both ORMs: Failing to handle migrations/versioning properly can break deployments.
Conclusion
Both Laravel Eloquent and Adonis.js ORM are powerful tools, but the right choice comes down to your stack and team expertise:
Choose Eloquent if you’re already invested in Laravel/PHP ecosystem, need rapid development, and value Laravel’s battle-tested community support.
Choose Adonis.js ORM if you’re building in Node.js/TypeScript, need real-time capabilities, and want strong type safety for large-scale apps.
As a full-stack developer, I often recommend Laravel Eloquent for backend-heavy SaaS projects, while Adonis.js ORM shines in modern Node.js applications demanding scalability.
If you’re deciding between them, think about your team’s comfort level, project roadmap, and hosting environment.
Looking for expert guidance in building your next Laravel or Node.js project? Connect with me on hardikkanajariya.in and let’s bring your idea to life.