---
title: Supabase — Database
date: 2026-10-18
time: 12:00
model: admin
category: programs
author_type: human
summary: An open-source backend platform that layers authentication, API, real-time, and storage on top of PostgreSQL.
tags: program, Database and server operations, supabase
---

Open-source backend platform based on PostgreSQL (Firebase alternative)

## Basic Information

| Program Name | Supabase (Superbase) |
| --- | --- |
| One-line Introduction | Open-source backend platform based on PostgreSQL (Firebase alternative) |
| Developer/Maintainer | Supabase, Inc. |
| Official Website | https://supabase.com/ |
| Official Documentation | https://supabase.com/docs |
| Official Download | https://supabase.com/docs/guides/getting-started |
| Supported Operating Systems | Linux (self-hosted), Cloud (SaaS) |
| License | Apache-2.0 License |
| Stable Version | 1.26.08 (2026-08-07, 1.26 series) — checked on 2026-10-18 |
| GitHub Repository | https://github.com/supabase/supabase |
| Category | Database (tags: database, BaaS, PostgreSQL, backend, self-hosting) |

## What is this program?

Supabase is a backend platform centered on a PostgreSQL database that also provides authentication, auto-generated REST APIs, real-time subscriptions, and file storage. You can build an application backend quickly like Firebase, while your data stays in standard PostgreSQL.

You can use it in two ways: as a cloud service or self-hosted (docker compose). It suits organizations that need to own and control their data directly, or teams that want to leverage existing Postgres operational experience.

## What problems does it solve?

- Situations where you need to set up a backend quickly for an early-stage application
- Situations where you want to manage data in standard PostgreSQL instead of Firebase
- Situations where you need to self-host authentication, API, and real-time features without building them separately
## Key Features

### PostgreSQL Database

Provides a fully functional Postgres instance

- **Use case**: Use standard SQL and existing tools as-is
- **What you get**: Extensions can be installed
- **Limitations**: Having Postgres operational knowledge is beneficial
### Automatic API

Automatically generates REST and GraphQL APIs from the schema

- **Use case**: Immediately manipulate data from the frontend
- **What you get**: Minimizes backend CRUD code
- **Limitations**: Careful permission design for automatic APIs is required
### Authentication

Built-in authentication such as email, social login, OTP, etc.

- **Use case**: Quickly build login functionality
- **What you get**: JWT-based session management
- **Limitations**: Security policy configuration is required
### Real-time and Storage

Provides data change subscriptions and file storage

- **Use case**: Real-time features such as chat and notifications
- **What you get**: Leverage Postgres Changes
- **Limitations**: Large-scale traffic requires separate design
## Installation and Setup

### Cloud (recommended starting point)

Create a project on the website to start immediately.

```
https://supabase.com/dashboard
```

### Self-hosting (Docker)

Deploy to your own server using the official docker compose configuration.

```
git clone https://github.com/supabase/supabase && cd supabase/docker && docker compose up -d
```

### CLI

Run a local development environment identical to self-hosting.

```
supabase init && supabase start
```

## Real-world Usage Examples

### Create a Project

Create a project in the dashboard and check the DB connection information.

```
Dashboard > New Project
```

### Create a Table

Create the schema using the SQL editor or table editor.

```
SQL: create table profiles(id uuid primary key);
```

### Connect a Client

Connect authentication and DB access with the frontend SDK.

```
npm install @supabase/supabase-js
```

## Advantages and Limitations

### Advantages

- Apache-2.0 open source, self-hostable
- Data stays in standard PostgreSQL, ensuring portability
- Provides authentication, API, real-time, and storage in one package
- Choice of cloud or self-hosting
### Things to Consider Before Use

- Risk of data exposure if automatic API permissions are not configured properly
- Self-hosting has many components, creating operational burden
- Large-scale traffic requires separate scaling design
## Comparison with Similar Programs

| Program | Characteristics | Suitable When |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Firebase | Google managed BaaS, NoSQL-centric | Prefer the Google ecosystem and managed services |
| Pocketbase | Small BaaS as a single binary | Very small projects or local-first |
| Appwrite | Self-hosted BaaS with multiple built-in services | Self-hosting as an alternative to Supabase |

## Official Resources and Further Learning

- [Official Website](https://supabase.com/) — https://supabase.com/
- [Official Documentation / Knowledge Base](https://supabase.com/docs) — https://supabase.com/docs
- [Official Download](https://supabase.com/docs/guides/getting-started) — https://supabase.com/docs/guides/getting-started
- [Release Notes](https://supabase.com/changelog) — https://supabase.com/changelog
- [Source / Development Resources](https://github.com/supabase/supabase) — https://github.com/supabase/supabase
Version and supported environment information was confirmed on the official site as of 2026-10-18. Installation commands may vary depending on your distribution and version, so please also check the official installation documentation.

## Actual Execution Screen

Synthetic example — not an actual execution result. The screenshot is a synthetic example and not an actual execution result.

![Example of starting the Supabase local development environment](https://games.aidebatehub.com/assets/supabase-demo.png)

Server in actual operation

---
Source (HTML): https://games.aidebatehub.com/programs/apps/databases/supabase.html
This file is an auto-generated Markdown twin of the DevHub document.