This guide describes how to create a project on Neon and connect to it from a Bun application. Examples are provided for using [Bun's built-in SQL client](https://bun.sh/docs/api/sql) and the [@neondatabase/serverless](/guides/postgres-serverless-serverless-driver) driver. Use the client you prefer.

:::callout{intent="note"}
The same configuration steps can be used for [Hono](https://hono.dev/docs/getting-started/bun), [Elysia](https://elysiajs.com/), and other Bun-based web frameworks.
:::

:::::steps
:::step{title="Create a project on Neon"}
If you do not have one already, create a project.

1. Navigate to the [Projects](https://console.neon.tech/app/projects) page in the console.
2. Click **New Project**.
3. Specify your project settings and click **Create Project**.
:::

:::step{title="Create a Bun project and add dependencies"}
Create a Bun project and change to the newly created directory:

```bash
mkdir bun-neon-example
cd bun-neon-example
bun init -y
```

Next, add project dependencies if you intend to use the Neon serverless driver. Otherwise, Bun's built-in `sql` client is readily available.

```bash
# No dependencies needed for Bun's built-in SQL client
```
:::

::::step{title="Store your Neon credentials"}
Add a `.env.local` file to your project directory and add your Neon connection details to it. Bun automatically loads variables from `.env`, `.env.local`, and other `.env.*` files. You can find the connection details for your database by clicking the **Connect** button in the Console nav to open the **Connect to your branch** modal. Select Bun from the **Connection string** dropdown. For more information, see [Connect from any application](/guides/postgres-connect-connect-from-any-app).

```bash
POSTGRES_URL='postgresql://[user]:[password]@[neon_hostname]/[dbname]?sslmode=require&channel_binding=require'
```

:::callout{intent="note"}
`Bun.sql` uses `POSTGRES_URL` as the default environment variable for the Primary connection URL for Postgres
:::

:::callout{intent="note"}
To ensure the security of your data, never expose your Neon credentials directly in your code or commit them to version control.
:::
::::

:::step{title="Configure the Postgres client"}
Add an `index.ts` file (or `index.js`) to your project directory and add the following code snippet to connect to your Neon database. Choose the configuration that matches your preferred client.

```typescript
import { sql } from 'bun';

async function getPgVersion() {
  const result = await sql`SELECT version()`;
  console.log(result[0]);
}

getPgVersion();
```
:::

:::step{title="Run index.ts"}
Run `bun run index.ts` (or `bun index.js`) to view the result.

```bash
$ bun run index.ts
{
  version: "PostgreSQL 17.2 on x86_64-pc-linux-gnu, compiled by gcc (Debian 12.2.0-14) 12.2.0, 64-bit",
}
```
:::
:::::

## References

- [Bun SQL client](https://bun.sh/docs/api/sql)
- [@neondatabase/serverless driver](/guides/postgres-serverless-serverless-driver)

## Need help?

Join our [Discord Server](https://neon.com/discord) to ask questions or see what others are doing with Neon. For paid plan support options, see [Support](/guides/postgres-introduction-support).

## Related pages

- [Connect Astro to Postgres on Neon](./neon-docs-guides-astro.md)
- [Connect an Entity Framework application to Neon](./neon-docs-guides-dotnet-entity-framework.md)
- [Connect an Encore application to Neon](./neon-docs-guides-encore.md)
- [Connect an Express application to Neon](./neon-docs-guides-express.md)
- [Self-Host Medusa with Neon](./neon-docs-guides-medusajs.md)
- [Connect a Micronaut Kotlin application to Lakebase Postgres](./neon-docs-guides-micronaut-kotlin.md)
- [Connect a NestJS application to Neon](./neon-docs-guides-nestjs.md)
- [Connect a Next.js application to Neon](./neon-docs-guides-nextjs.md)
- [Connect a Node.js application to Neon](./neon-docs-guides-node.md)
- [Connect Nuxt to Postgres on Neon](./neon-docs-guides-nuxt.md)

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