Connecting a managed database

Which database should I choose — PostgreSQL, MySQL or MongoDB?

PostgreSQL is the safe default for most apps: relational, standards-compliant, great with structured data and complex queries. MySQL/MariaDB is the classic choice for PHP and WordPress workloads. MongoDB is a document store — reach for it when your data is naturally JSON-shaped and your schema changes often.

All three are fully managed on Anested Cloud: we run the server, apply updates and handle isolation, so you only think about your data and your connection string.

How do I create a database and get its connection details?

In the Databases section of your dashboard, create a project for the engine you want. Anested provisions it, creates a dedicated user, and shows you the host, port, database name, username and password. Copy those into your app's environment — never hard-code them in source.

How do I connect securely from my code?

Use the connection string from the dashboard and read it from an environment variable, not a committed file. A typical PostgreSQL URL looks like this:

Keep the credentials in a .env file (git-ignored) or your host's secret store, enable TLS/SSL if your client supports it, and use a connection pool so you don't exhaust the server's connection limit under load.

# .env  (never commit this)
DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:password@HOST:5432/dbname

# app reads it at runtime
const pool = new Pool({ connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL });

Can I use a GUI tool like TablePlus, DBeaver or pgAdmin?

Yes. Any standard client works — plug the same host, port, database, user and password from the dashboard into TablePlus, DBeaver, pgAdmin, MySQL Workbench or Compass. It's a real managed instance speaking the native wire protocol, so every tool that talks to PostgreSQL, MySQL or MongoDB connects unchanged.

How does pricing work?

Managed databases are priced by storage, not by an arbitrary instance size — creating a database is free, and you pay for the storage tier it uses. Each plan includes a free storage allowance; beyond that you top up a pool in small blocks. Your usage and remaining pool are shown live in the dashboard, so cost scales smoothly with your data instead of jumping between fixed instance sizes.

Are backups handled for me?

The platform manages the underlying server, but you own your data lifecycle — take logical dumps on a schedule (pg_dump, mysqldump, mongodump) and store them in a Nest Storage bucket so you always have a restorable copy off the database host. Test a restore once so you know it works before you ever need it.