# DATABASE_URL_MISSING

`DATABASE_URL` is not set, so the command has no database to use.

## Cause

`DATABASE_URL` is not set, so the command has no database to use.

Commands that read or change the database take it from `DATABASE_URL`, in the environment or in the project's `.env` file.

## Fix

Set `DATABASE_URL` in `.env`, or in the environment the command runs in:

```bash
DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:password@localhost:5432/app
```

See [Database](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/database.md) for each database's form of the URL.

## Example

```text
✗ `DATABASE_URL` is not set, so there is no database to use.
  Why:  The command reads the database from `DATABASE_URL`, in the environment or the project's `.env` file.
  Next: Set `DATABASE_URL` in `.env`, for example `DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:password@localhost:5432/app`.
  Docs: https://nextlyhq.com/docs/cli/errors/database-url-missing  (DATABASE_URL_MISSING)
```