Payload Adapters Reference

Complete reference for database, storage, and email adapters.

Database Adapters

MongoDB

import { mongooseAdapter } from '@payloadcms/db-mongodb'

export default buildConfig({
  db: mongooseAdapter({
    url: process.env.DATABASE_URL,
  }),
})

Postgres

import { postgresAdapter } from '@payloadcms/db-postgres'

export default buildConfig({
  db: postgresAdapter({
    pool: {
      connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL,
    },
    push: false, // Don't auto-push schema changes
    migrationDir: './migrations',
  }),
})

SQLite

import { sqliteAdapter } from '@payloadcms/db-sqlite'

export default buildConfig({
  db: sqliteAdapter({
    client: {
      url: 'file:./payload.db',
    },
    transactionOptions: {}, // Enable transactions (disabled by default)
  }),
})

Transactions

Payload automatically uses transactions for all-or-nothing database operations. Pass req to include operations in the same transaction.

import type { CollectionAfterChangeHook } from 'payload'

const afterChange: CollectionAfterChangeHook = async ({ req, doc }) => {
  // This will be part of the same transaction
  await req.payload.create({
    req, // Pass req to use same transaction
    collection: 'audit-log',
    data: { action: 'created', docId: doc.id },
  })
}

// Manual transaction control
const transactionID = await payload.db.beginTransaction()
try {
  await payload.create({
    collection: 'orders',
    data: orderData,
    req: { transactionID },
  })
  await payload.update({
    collection: 'inventory',
    id: itemId,
    data: { stock: newStock },
    req: { transactionID },
  })
  await payload.db.commitTransaction(transactionID)
} catch (error) {
  await payload.db.rollbackTransaction(transactionID)
  throw error
}

Note: MongoDB requires replicaset for transactions. SQLite requires transactionOptions: {} to enable.

Threading req Through Operations

Critical: When performing nested operations in hooks, always pass req to maintain transaction context. Failing to do so breaks atomicity and can cause partial updates.

import type { CollectionAfterChangeHook } from 'payload'

// ✅ CORRECT: Thread req through nested operations
const resaveChildren: CollectionAfterChangeHook = async ({ collection, doc, req }) => {
  // Find children - pass req
  const children = await req.payload.find({
    collection: 'children',
    where: { parent: { equals: doc.id } },
    req, // Maintains transaction context
  })

  // Update each child - pass req
  for (const child of children.docs) {
    await req.payload.update({
      id: child.id,
      collection: 'children',
      data: { updatedField: 'value' },
      req, // Same transaction as parent operation
    })
  }
}

// ❌ WRONG: Missing req breaks transaction
const brokenHook: CollectionAfterChangeHook = async ({ collection, doc, req }) => {
  const children = await req.payload.find({
    collection: 'children',
    where: { parent: { equals: doc.id } },
    // Missing req - separate transaction or no transaction
  })

  for (const child of children.docs) {
    await req.payload.update({
      id: child.id,
      collection: 'children',
      data: { updatedField: 'value' },
      // Missing req - if parent operation fails, these updates persist
    })
  }
}

Why This Matters:

• MongoDB (with replica sets): Creates atomic session across operations
• PostgreSQL: All operations use same Drizzle transaction
• SQLite (with transactions enabled): Ensures rollback on errors
• Without req: Each operation runs independently, breaking atomicity

When req is Required:

• All mutating operations in hooks (create, update, delete)
• Operations that must succeed/fail together
• When using MongoDB replica sets or Postgres
• Any operation that relies on req.context or req.user

When req is Optional:

• Read-only lookups independent of current transaction
• Operations with disableTransaction: true
• Administrative operations with overrideAccess: true

Storage Adapters

Available storage adapters:

• @payloadcms/storage-s3 - AWS S3
• @payloadcms/storage-azure - Azure Blob Storage
• @payloadcms/storage-gcs - Google Cloud Storage
• @payloadcms/storage-r2 - Cloudflare R2
• @payloadcms/storage-vercel-blob - Vercel Blob

AWS S3

import { s3Storage } from '@payloadcms/storage-s3'

export default buildConfig({
  plugins: [
    s3Storage({
      collections: {
        media: true,
      },
      bucket: process.env.S3_BUCKET,
      config: {
        credentials: {
          accessKeyId: process.env.S3_ACCESS_KEY_ID,
          secretAccessKey: process.env.S3_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY,
        },
        region: process.env.S3_REGION,
      },
    }),
  ],
})

Azure Blob Storage

import { azureStorage } from '@payloadcms/storage-azure'

export default buildConfig({
  plugins: [
    azureStorage({
      collections: {
        media: true,
      },
      connectionString: process.env.AZURE_STORAGE_CONNECTION_STRING,
      containerName: process.env.AZURE_STORAGE_CONTAINER_NAME,
    }),
  ],
})

Google Cloud Storage

import { gcsStorage } from '@payloadcms/storage-gcs'

export default buildConfig({
  plugins: [
    gcsStorage({
      collections: {
        media: true,
      },
      bucket: process.env.GCS_BUCKET,
      options: {
        projectId: process.env.GCS_PROJECT_ID,
        credentials: JSON.parse(process.env.GCS_CREDENTIALS),
      },
    }),
  ],
})

Cloudflare R2

import { r2Storage } from '@payloadcms/storage-r2'

export default buildConfig({
  plugins: [
    r2Storage({
      collections: {
        media: true,
      },
      bucket: process.env.R2_BUCKET,
      config: {
        credentials: {
          accessKeyId: process.env.R2_ACCESS_KEY_ID,
          secretAccessKey: process.env.R2_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY,
        },
        region: 'auto',
        endpoint: process.env.R2_ENDPOINT,
      },
    }),
  ],
})

Vercel Blob

import { vercelBlobStorage } from '@payloadcms/storage-vercel-blob'

export default buildConfig({
  plugins: [
    vercelBlobStorage({
      collections: {
        media: true,
      },
      token: process.env.BLOB_READ_WRITE_TOKEN,
    }),
  ],
})

Email Adapters

Nodemailer (SMTP)

import { nodemailerAdapter } from '@payloadcms/email-nodemailer'

export default buildConfig({
  email: nodemailerAdapter({
    defaultFromAddress: 'noreply@example.com',
    defaultFromName: 'My App',
    transportOptions: {
      host: process.env.SMTP_HOST,
      port: 587,
      auth: {
        user: process.env.SMTP_USER,
        pass: process.env.SMTP_PASS,
      },
    },
  }),
})

Resend

import { resendAdapter } from '@payloadcms/email-resend'

export default buildConfig({
  email: resendAdapter({
    defaultFromAddress: 'noreply@example.com',
    defaultFromName: 'My App',
    apiKey: process.env.RESEND_API_KEY,
  }),
})