CozoDB
maintenanceby Ziyang Hu and Cozo contributors · since 2022 · also known as Cozo
Embedded Datalog database blending relational, graph and vector queries; dormant since 2024.
maintenance. Last release v0.7.6 (Dec 2023), last commit Dec 2024; not archived but effectively dormant.
Overview
CozoDB is an embeddable, transactional database written in Rust that uses Datalog (CozoScript) to query relations, recursive graph patterns and built-in graph algorithms in one language, with HNSW vector search, full-text indexes and time-travel queries. It runs in-process across many languages and platforms, including WebAssembly, iOS and Android, with storage on memory, SQLite, RocksDB, Sled or TiKV. The last release, v0.7.6, came out in December 2023 and the last commit in December 2024, so the project is effectively paused. It remains an elegant option for experiments, not something to bet production on.
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
- +Datalog unifies relational joins, recursion and graph algorithms in one query language
- +HNSW vector search and full-text indexes integrated with graph queries
- +Runs embedded nearly everywhere, including browsers via WebAssembly and mobile
- +Built-in time-travel queries over historical data
Trade-offs
- −Effectively unmaintained since 2024
- −Datalog is unfamiliar to most developers
- −Small community and few production references
Great for
- +Embedded knowledge stores for local AI agents
- +Prototyping recursive and graph queries
- +Browser or mobile apps needing a graph-capable local DB
Think twice for
- −Long-lived production systems
- −Large multi-user servers
- −Teams wanting SQL or Cypher
Capabilities
Native or official first-party support · 9 of 25 tracked
Scale & consistency
- Comfortable data size
- Small · ≤ 100 GB
- Horizontal scaling
- None
- Multi-region
- No
- Transactions
- Full ACID
- Consistency
- Strong
- Schema
- Strict
- Architecture
- Embedded, Client server
- Query languages
- CozoScript (Datalog)
Single process; the TiKV backend allows distributed storage but is little used.
Deployment
Ecosystem
Alternatives to CozoDB
Community-maintained continuation of Kùzu: embedded columnar graph database with Cypher.
cozodb vs ladybugdb →Embedded columnar property-graph database with Cypher; archived in 2025 after Apple acquired the team.
cozodb vs kuzu →Immutable Datalog database from Nubank where every fact is timestamped and queries run in the app process.
cozodb vs datomic →Bitemporal SQL database on object storage that keeps every version of every row.
cozodb vs xtdb →The in-process SQL engine that ships in every phone, browser and OS: one file, zero servers.
cozodb vs sqlite →In-process columnar SQL database: the SQLite of analytics, running inside your app or notebook.
cozodb vs duckdb →CozoDB FAQ
What is CozoDB?
CozoDB is a graph database by Ziyang Hu and Cozo contributors, first released in 2022. CozoDB is an embeddable, transactional database written in Rust that uses Datalog (CozoScript) to query relations, recursive graph patterns and built-in graph algorithms in one language, with HNSW vector search, full-text indexes and time-travel queries. It runs in-process across many languages and platforms, including WebAssembly, iOS and Android, with storage on memory, SQLite, RocksDB, Sled or TiKV. The last release, v0.7.6, came out in December 2023 and the last commit in December 2024, so the project is effectively paused. It remains an elegant option for experiments, not something to bet production on.
Is CozoDB open source?
Yes. CozoDB is open source. License: Mozilla Public License 2.0.
Does CozoDB support ACID transactions?
Yes. CozoDB supports full ACID transactions, with strong consistency.
Does CozoDB scale horizontally?
CozoDB does not scale horizontally; it runs on a single node, so you scale it up rather than out. It is comfortable at small scale (≤ 100 GB).
How can I run CozoDB?
You can self-host it, embed it in your application and run it at the edge.
What is CozoDB best for?
CozoDB is a strong fit for embedded knowledge stores for local AI agents; prototyping recursive and graph queries; and browser or mobile apps needing a graph-capable local DB. Think twice for long-lived production systems.
What are the best alternatives to CozoDB?
Common alternatives to CozoDB include LadybugDB, Kùzu, Datomic, XTDB and SQLite. The right choice depends on your workload, scale and hosting; WhichDB's smart match ranks them against your requirements.
Is CozoDB still maintained?
CozoDB is in maintenance mode. Last release v0.7.6 (Dec 2023), last commit Dec 2024; not archived but effectively dormant.
How popular is CozoDB?
CozoDB ranks #241 of 844 databases on the WhichDB Score (13.9/100), and #20 among graph databases. The score combines public adoption signals such as package downloads, GitHub activity, job posts and developer discussion.