Mathesar is an open-source, self-hosted web application that transforms PostgreSQL databases into intuitive, spreadsheet-like interfaces. Designed for users of all technical skill levels—from non-technical team members to data analysts—it enables direct interaction with PostgreSQL schemas, tables, and relationships without writing SQL. Built as a nonprofit project by the Mathesar Foundation, it prioritizes data sovereignty: your data stays on your servers, and access control is handled entirely through native Postgres roles. With its minimal setup process and compatibility with existing infrastructure, Mathesar bridges the gap between powerful relational databases and user-friendly data manipulation tools.
Unlike cloud-based alternatives like Airtable, Mathesar doesn’t abstract away the underlying database; it works directly with Postgres schemas, foreign keys, constraints, and custom data types. This means you retain full control over your data model while gaining an accessible interface for viewing, editing, and querying records. Whether you’re managing a production database or onboarding non-technical stakeholders to your data, Mathesar eliminates the need for complex BI tools or expensive SaaS platforms.
What You Get
- Built on Postgres - Mathesar connects directly to existing PostgreSQL databases without requiring data migration or abstraction layers. It reads and writes using native Postgres schemas, tables, primary keys, foreign keys, and constraints.
- Install in minutes with Docker - Deploy using a single docker-compose command. No complex infrastructure setup required—just point it to your Postgres instance.
- Postgres-based access control - Leverage existing PostgreSQL roles and privileges within the UI. No additional user management system; permissions are inherited directly from your database.
- Spreadsheet-like data editing - View, create, update, and delete table records in a familiar grid interface with row-by-row editing, copy-paste support, and real-time saves.
- Query builder (Data Explorer) - Build complex queries with filters, joins, groupings, and aggregations using a visual interface—no SQL knowledge needed. Results are saved as reusable explorations.
- Form builder and submissions - Create web forms to collect data from anyone via a shareable link. Submissions are automatically inserted as new records into the target table.
- Schema and table management - Create, rename, or delete tables and columns through the UI. Column types are mapped to native Postgres types including custom types for emails and URLs.
- Schema migrations - Move columns between tables with a two-click interface, preserving data integrity through native Postgres ALTER TABLE operations.
- Relationship visualization - Automatically detect and display foreign key relationships. Link tables visually and view related records in a single pane.
- Import/Export data - Import CSV, Excel, or JSON files into existing tables. Export query results as CSV or JSON for use in other tools.
- Collaboration and sharing - Add collaborators to databases with granular table-level permissions. Share explorations, forms, and views securely within your team.
Common Use Cases
- Building a non-technical team’s data dashboard - Marketing or operations teams can directly view and update customer records from a PostgreSQL database using Mathesar’s spreadsheet interface, without relying on engineers to run SQL queries.
- Creating a data entry portal for field workers - A nonprofit organization uses Mathesar forms to collect survey responses from remote staff; submissions are stored directly in their Postgres database with built-in validation for emails and URLs.
- Problem → Solution flow: Engineers don’t want to build a custom admin panel - A startup has a PostgreSQL database with 20+ tables and needs an internal tool for customer support to view order history. Instead of building a custom React admin, they deploy Mathesar in 15 minutes and grant read-only access to the support team.
- Team/workflow scenario: DevOps teams managing multi-department data access - A university IT department uses Mathesar to give the biology lab read/write access to their research data tables while restricting finance team access to only budget-related schemas—all using native Postgres roles without additional authentication layers.
Under The Hood
Mathesar is a modern database frontend that combines the power of SQL with an intuitive web-based interface, enabling users to interact with relational data through both visual and code-driven approaches. It leverages Django as its core backend framework, integrates with PostgreSQL for robust data handling, and uses Svelte and TypeScript to deliver a responsive frontend experience.
Architecture
The system adopts a monolithic architecture centered around Django, with clear separation of concerns across modules for database configuration, settings management, and RPC services. It applies design patterns such as factory methods and middleware-based request handling to maintain modularity and extensibility.
- Uses Django as the primary backend framework with a well-defined module structure
- Implements middleware and factory patterns for request handling and database configuration
- Integrates RPC services for remote procedure calls with a clean interface
- Supports modular design that allows for scalable expansion and customization
Tech Stack
The tech stack is built on Python with Django as the core backend, complemented by Svelte and TypeScript for a dynamic frontend. It integrates with PostgreSQL for data persistence and includes modern tools for development and deployment.
- Built primarily in Python with Django as the backend, enhanced by Svelte and TypeScript for frontend
- Relies on PostgreSQL for database operations and modernrpc for remote procedure calls
- Utilizes Vite, Docker, and multi-stage builds to support flexible deployment environments
- Employs pytest and comprehensive test suites for backend, API, and frontend validation
Code Quality
The codebase reflects a mixed quality profile with strong test coverage and structured error handling, although some inconsistencies and legacy issues persist. It demonstrates a commitment to maintainability through linting and CI/CD practices.
- Comprehensive test coverage includes integration and functional testing across key modules
- Error handling follows standard patterns, though some generic exception clauses are present
- Code linting and CI/CD pipelines support consistent code quality standards
- Evidence of technical debt in legacy modules and duplicated logic suggests refactoring needs
What Makes It Unique
Mathesar stands out by embedding SQL capabilities within a web interface, offering users the flexibility to work visually or through code. Its extensibility via PostgreSQL extensions and UI rendering with Svelte provide a unique blend of functionality and usability.
- Combines visual data manipulation with full SQL access in a single platform
- Integrates Svelte for UI rendering and PostgreSQL extensions for extensibility
- Offers a hybrid approach that bridges low-code tools with full SQL control
- Supports modular architecture and extensibility for custom database workflows