Kysely Postgres

Core Principles

1. Prefer Kysely methods over raw SQL: Almost everything you can do in SQL, you can do in Kysely without `sql``
2. Use the ExpressionBuilder (eb): The eb parameter in callbacks is the foundation of type-safe query building
3. Let TypeScript guide you: If it compiles, it's likely correct SQL

ExpressionBuilder (eb) - The Foundation

The eb parameter in select/where callbacks provides all expression methods:

.select((eb) => [
  eb.ref("column").as("alias"),                    // Column reference
  eb.fn<string>("upper", [eb.ref("email")]),       // Function call (typed!)
  eb.fn.count("id").as("count"),                   // Aggregate function
  eb.fn.sum("amount").as("total"),                 // SUM
  eb.fn.avg("rating").as("avgRating"),             // AVG
  eb.fn.coalesce("nullable_col", eb.val(0)),       // COALESCE
  eb.case().when("status", "=", "active")          // CASE expression
    .then("Active").else("Inactive").end(),
  eb("quantity", "*", eb.ref("unit_price")),       // Binary expression
  eb.exists(subquery),                             // EXISTS
  eb.not(expression),                              // NOT / negation
  eb.cast(eb.val(" "), "text"),                    // Cast value to type
  eb.and([...]),                                   // AND conditions
  eb.or([...]),                                    // OR conditions
])

eb.val() vs eb.lit()

// eb.val() - Creates a parameterized value ($1, $2, etc.) - PREFERRED for user input
// Note: eb.val() alone may fail with "could not determine data type of parameter"
// Use eb.cast(eb.val(...), "text") for string values in function arguments
eb.val("user input")                    // Becomes: $1 with parameter "user input"
eb.cast(eb.val("safe"), "text")         // Becomes: $1::text - always works

// eb.lit() - Creates a literal value in SQL
// ONLY accepts: numbers, booleans, null - NOT strings (throws "unsafe immediate value")
eb.lit(1)             // Becomes: 1 (directly in SQL)
eb.lit(true)          // Becomes: true
eb.lit(null)          // Becomes: NULL

// For string literals, use sql`` template instead
sql`'active'`         // Becomes: 'active' (directly in SQL)
sql<string>`'label'`  // Typed string literal

Standalone ExpressionBuilder

For reusable helpers outside query callbacks:

import { expressionBuilder } from "kysely";
import type { DB } from "./db.d.ts";

// Create standalone expression builder
const eb = expressionBuilder<DB, "user">();

// Use in helper functions
function isActiveUser() {
  return eb.and([
    eb("is_active", "=", true),
    eb("role", "!=", "banned"),
  ]);
}

Conditional Expressions with Arrays

Build dynamic filters by collecting expressions:

.where((eb) => {
  const filters: Expression<SqlBool>[] = [];

  if (firstName) filters.push(eb("first_name", "=", firstName));
  if (lastName) filters.push(eb("last_name", "=", lastName));
  if (minAge) filters.push(eb("age", ">=", minAge));

  // Combine all filters with AND (empty array = no filter)
  return eb.and(filters);
})

String Concatenation

Use the || operator with sql template for clean string concatenation:

// RECOMMENDED - Clean and type-safe with eb.ref()
.select((eb) => [
  sql<string>`${eb.ref("first_name")} || ' ' || ${eb.ref("last_name")}`.as("full_name"),
])
// Output: "first_name" || ' ' || "last_name"

// ALTERNATIVE - Pure eb() chaining (parameterized literals)
.select((eb) => [
  eb(eb("first_name", "||", " "), "||", eb.ref("last_name")).as("full_name"),
])
// Output: "first_name" || $1 || "last_name"

// VERBOSE - concat() function (avoid unless you need NULL handling)
.select((eb) => [
  eb.fn<string>("concat", [
    eb.ref("first_name"),
    eb.cast(eb.val(" "), "text"),
    eb.ref("last_name"),
  ]).as("full_name"),
])

Note: concat() treats NULL as empty string, while || propagates NULL. Use concat() only when you need that NULL behavior.

Query Patterns

Basic SELECT

// Select all columns
const users = await db.selectFrom("user").selectAll().execute();

// Select specific columns with aliases
const users = await db
  .selectFrom("user")
  .select(["id", "email", "first_name as firstName"])
  .execute();

// Single row (returns T | undefined)
const user = await db.selectFrom("user").selectAll()
  .where("id", "=", userId).executeTakeFirst();

// Single row that must exist (throws if not found)
const user = await db.selectFrom("user").selectAll()
  .where("id", "=", userId).executeTakeFirstOrThrow();

WHERE Clauses

// Equality, comparison, IN, LIKE
.where("status", "=", "active")
.where("price", ">", 100)
.where("role", "in", ["admin", "manager"])
.where("name", "like", "%search%")
.where("deleted_at", "is", null)

// Multiple conditions (chained = AND)
.where("is_active", "=", true)
.where("role", "=", "admin")

// OR conditions
.where((eb) => eb.or([
  eb("role", "=", "admin"),
  eb("role", "=", "manager"),
]))

// Complex AND/OR
.where((eb) => eb.and([
  eb("is_active", "=", true),
  eb.or([
    eb("price", "<", 50),
    eb("stock", ">", 100),
  ]),
]))

JOINs

// Inner join
.innerJoin("order", "order.user_id", "user.id")

// Left join
.leftJoin("category", "category.id", "product.category_id")

// Self-join with alias
.selectFrom("category as c")
.leftJoin("category as parent", "parent.id", "c.parent_id")

// Multiple joins
.innerJoin("order", "order.id", "order_item.order_id")
.innerJoin("product", "product.id", "order_item.product_id")
.innerJoin("user", "user.id", "order.user_id")

Complex JOINs (Callback Format)

Use the callback format when you need:

• Multiple join conditions (composite keys)
• Mixed column-to-column and column-to-literal comparisons
• OR conditions within joins
• Subquery joins (derived tables)

Join Builder Methods:

• onRef(col1, op, col2) - Column-to-column comparison
• on(col, op, value) - Column-to-literal comparison
• on((eb) => ...) - Complex expressions with OR logic

// Multi-condition join (composite key + filter)
.leftJoin("invoice as i", (join) =>
  join
    .onRef("sp.service_provider_id", "=", "i.service_provider_id")
    .onRef("sp.year", "=", "i.year")
    .onRef("sp.month", "=", "i.month")
    .on("i.status", "!=", "invalidated")
)

// Join with OR conditions
.leftJoin("order as o", (join) =>
  join
    .onRef("o.user_id", "=", "u.id")
    .on((eb) =>
      eb.or([
        eb("o.status", "=", "completed"),
        eb("o.status", "=", "shipped"),
      ])
    )
)

// Subquery join (derived table) - two callbacks
.leftJoin(
  (eb) =>
    eb
      .selectFrom("order")
      .select((eb) => [
        "user_id",
        eb.fn.count("id").as("order_count"),
        eb.fn.max("created_at").as("last_order_at"),
      ])
      .groupBy("user_id")
      .as("order_stats"),  // MUST have alias!
  (join) => join.onRef("order_stats.user_id", "=", "u.id")
)

// Cross join (always-true condition) - for joining aggregated CTEs
.leftJoin("summary_cte", (join) =>
  join.on(sql`true`, "=", sql`true`)
)

Aggregations

.select((eb) => [
  "status",
  eb.fn.count("id").as("count"),
  eb.fn.sum("total_amount").as("totalAmount"),
  eb.fn.avg("total_amount").as("avgAmount"),
])
.groupBy("status")
.having((eb) => eb.fn.count("id"), ">", 5)

ORDER BY

// Simple ordering
.orderBy("created_at", "desc")
.orderBy("name", "asc")

// NULLS FIRST / NULLS LAST - use order builder callback
.orderBy("category_id", (ob) => ob.asc().nullsLast())
.orderBy("priority", (ob) => ob.desc().nullsFirst())

// Multiple columns - chain orderBy calls (array syntax is deprecated)
.orderBy("category_id", "asc")
.orderBy("price", "desc")
.orderBy("name", "asc")

CTEs (Common Table Expressions)

Use CTEs for complex queries with multiple aggregation levels:

const result = await db
  .with("order_totals", (db) =>
    db.selectFrom("order")
      .innerJoin("user", "user.id", "order.user_id")
      .select((eb) => [
        "user.id as userId",
        "user.email",
        eb.fn.sum("order.total_amount").as("totalSpent"),
        eb.fn.count("order.id").as("orderCount"),
      ])
      .groupBy(["user.id", "user.email"])
  )
  .selectFrom("order_totals")
  .selectAll()
  .orderBy("totalSpent", "desc")
  .execute();

JSON Aggregation (PostgreSQL)

import { jsonBuildObject } from "kysely/helpers/postgres";
// Note: jsonAgg is accessed via eb.fn.jsonAgg(), not imported

.with("tasks", (db) =>
  db.selectFrom("task")
    .leftJoin("user", "user.id", "task.assignee_id")
    .select((eb) => [
      "task.job_id",
      eb.fn.jsonAgg(
        jsonBuildObject({
          id: eb.ref("task.id"),
          status: eb.ref("task.status"),
          assignee: jsonBuildObject({
            id: eb.ref("user.id"),
            name: eb.fn<string>("concat", [
              eb.ref("user.first_name"),
              eb.cast(eb.val(" "), "text"),
              eb.ref("user.last_name"),
            ]),
          }),
        })
      )
      .filterWhere("task.id", "is not", null) // Filter nulls from left join
      .as("tasks"),
    ])
    .groupBy("task.job_id")
)

JSON, JSONB, and Array Handling

JSONB Columns

NO JSON.stringify or JSON.parse needed! The pg driver handles JSONB automatically:

// INSERT - pass objects directly
await db
  .insertInto("user")
  .values({
    email: "[email protected]",
    metadata: { preferences: { theme: "dark" }, count: 42 },
  })
  .execute();

// UPDATE - pass objects directly
await db
  .updateTable("user")
  .set({
    metadata: { preferences: { theme: "light" } },
  })
  .where("id", "=", userId)
  .execute();

// READ - returns parsed object, not string
const user = await db
  .selectFrom("user")
  .select(["id", "metadata"])
  .executeTakeFirst();
console.log(user.metadata.preferences.theme); // "dark" - already an object!

Array Columns (text[], int[], etc.)

NO JSON.stringify needed for array columns! The pg driver handles arrays natively:

// INSERT with array - pass array directly
await db
  .insertInto("product")
  .values({
    name: "Product",
    tags: ["phone", "electronics", "premium"], // Direct array!
  })
  .execute();

// READ - returns as native JavaScript array
const product = await db
  .selectFrom("product")
  .select(["name", "tags"])
  .executeTakeFirst();
console.log(product.tags); // ["phone", "electronics", "premium"]

// UPDATE array
await db
  .updateTable("product")
  .set({ tags: ["updated", "tags"] })
  .where("id", "=", productId)
  .execute();

Querying Arrays

// Array contains all values (@>) - operator works natively!
.where("tags", "@>", sql`ARRAY['phone', 'premium']::text[]`)

// Arrays overlap (&&) - operator works natively!
.where("tags", "&&", sql`ARRAY['premium', 'basic']::text[]`)

// Array contains value (ANY) - type-safe with eb.fn
.where((eb) => eb(sql`${searchTerm}`, "=", eb.fn("any", [eb.ref("tags")])))
// eb.ref("tags") validates column exists - eb.ref("invalid") would be a TS error

Querying JSONB

// Key exists (?) - operator works natively!
.where("metadata", "?", "theme")

// Any key exists (?|) - operator works natively!
.where("metadata", "?|", sql`array['theme', 'language']`)

// All keys exist (?&) - operator works natively!
.where("metadata", "?&", sql`array['theme', 'notifications']`)

// JSONB contains (@>) - operator works natively!
.where("metadata", "@>", sql`'{"notifications": true}'::jsonb`)

// Extract field as text (->> as operator) - type-safe!
.where((eb) => eb(eb("metadata", "->>", "theme"), "=", "dark"))
// eb("metadata", ...) validates column - eb("invalid", ...) would be TS error

// Extract nested path (#>> still needs sql``)
.where(sql`metadata#>>'{preferences,theme}'`, "=", "dark")

// In SELECT - type-safe with eb()
.select((eb) => [
  eb("metadata", "->", "preferences").as("prefs"),   // Returns JSONB
  eb("metadata", "->>", "theme").as("theme"),        // Returns text
])
// Nested paths still need sql``
.select(sql`metadata#>'{preferences,theme}'`.as("t"))   // Nested as JSONB
.select(sql<string>`metadata#>>'{a,b}'`.as("t"))        // Nested as text

JSONPath (PostgreSQL 12+)

// JSONPath match (@@) - works as native operator!
.where("metadata", "@@", sql`'$.preferences.theme == "dark"'`)

// JSONPath exists (@?) - NOT in Kysely's allowlist, use function instead
// Use jsonb_path_exists() for type-safe column validation
.where((eb) =>
  eb.fn("jsonb_path_exists", [eb.ref("metadata"), sql`'$.preferences.theme'`])
)
// eb.ref("metadata") validates column - eb.ref("invalid") would be TS error

// Extract with JSONPath - type-safe with eb.fn
.select((eb) => [
  "id",
  eb.fn("jsonb_path_query_first", [eb.ref("metadata"), sql`'$.preferences.theme'`]).as("theme"),
])

// JSONPath with variables
const searchValue = "dark";
.where((eb) =>
  eb.fn("jsonb_path_exists", [
    eb.ref("metadata"),
    sql`'$.preferences.theme ? (@ == $val)'`,
    sql`jsonb_build_object('val', ${searchValue}::text)`,
  ])
)

Conditional Queries ($if)

Use $if() for runtime-conditional query modifications:

const result = await db
  .selectFrom("user")
  .selectAll()
  .$if(!includeInactive, (qb) => qb.where("is_active", "=", true))
  .$if(includeMetadata, (qb) => qb.select("metadata"))
  .$if(!!searchTerm, (qb) => qb.where("name", "like", `%${searchTerm}%`))
  .$if(!!roleFilter, (qb) => qb.where("role", "in", roleFilter!))
  .execute();

Type behavior: Columns added via $if become optional in the result type since inclusion isn't guaranteed at compile time.

Relations (jsonArrayFrom / jsonObjectFrom)

Kysely is NOT an ORM - it uses PostgreSQL's JSON functions for nested data:

import { jsonArrayFrom, jsonObjectFrom } from "kysely/helpers/postgres";

// One-to-many: User with their orders
const users = await db
  .selectFrom("user")
  .select((eb) => [
    "user.id",
    "user.email",
    jsonArrayFrom(
      eb
        .selectFrom("order")
        .select(["order.id", "order.status", "order.total_amount"])
        .whereRef("order.user_id", "=", "user.id")
        .orderBy("order.created_at", "desc")
    ).as("orders"),
  ])
  .execute();

// Many-to-one: Product with its category
const products = await db
  .selectFrom("product")
  .select((eb) => [
    "product.id",
    "product.name",
    jsonObjectFrom(
      eb
        .selectFrom("category")
        .select(["category.id", "category.name"])
        .whereRef("category.id", "=", "product.category_id")
    ).as("category"),
  ])
  .execute();

Reusable Helpers

Create composable, type-safe helper functions using Expression<T>:

import { Expression, sql } from "kysely";

// Helper that takes and returns Expression<string>
function lower(expr: Expression<string>) {
  return sql<string>`lower(${expr})`;
}

// Use in queries
.where(({ eb, ref }) => eb(lower(ref("email")), "=", email.toLowerCase()))

Splitting Query Building and Execution

Build queries without executing, useful for dynamic query construction:

// Build query (doesn't execute)
let query = db
  .selectFrom("user")
  .select(["id", "email"]);

// Add conditions dynamically
if (role) {
  query = query.where("role", "=", role);
}
if (isActive !== undefined) {
  query = query.where("is_active", "=", isActive);
}

// Execute when ready
const results = await query.execute();

// Or compile to SQL without executing
const compiled = query.compile();
console.log(compiled.sql);        // The SQL string
console.log(compiled.parameters); // Bound parameters

Subqueries

// Subquery in WHERE
.where("id", "in",
  db.selectFrom("order").select("user_id").where("status", "=", "completed")
)

// EXISTS subquery
.where((eb) =>
  eb.exists(
    db.selectFrom("review")
      .select(sql`1`.as("one"))
      .whereRef("review.product_id", "=", eb.ref("product.id"))
  )
)

INSERT Operations

// Single insert with returning
const user = await db
  .insertInto("user")
  .values({ email: "[email protected]", first_name: "Test", last_name: "User" })
  .returning(["id", "email"])
  .executeTakeFirst();

// Multiple rows
await db
  .insertInto("user")
  .values([
    { email: "[email protected]", first_name: "A", last_name: "User" },
    { email: "[email protected]", first_name: "B", last_name: "User" },
  ])
  .execute();

// Upsert (ON CONFLICT) - type-safe with expression builder
await db
  .insertInto("product")
  .values({ sku: "ABC123", name: "Product", stock_quantity: 10 })
  .onConflict((oc) =>
    oc.column("sku").doUpdateSet((eb) => ({
      stock_quantity: eb("product.stock_quantity", "+", eb.ref("excluded.stock_quantity")),
    }))
  )
  .execute();
// eb("product.invalid_column", ...) would be a TypeScript error!

// Insert from SELECT
await db
  .insertInto("archive")
  .columns(["user_id", "data", "archived_at"])
  .expression(
    db.selectFrom("user")
      .select(["id", "metadata", sql`now()`.as("archived_at")])
      .where("is_active", "=", false)
  )
  .execute();

UPDATE Operations

// Simple update
await db
  .updateTable("user")
  .set({ is_active: false })
  .where("id", "=", userId)
  .execute();

// Update with expression
await db
  .updateTable("product")
  .set((eb) => ({
    stock_quantity: eb("stock_quantity", "+", 10),
  }))
  .where("sku", "=", "ABC123")
  .returning(["id", "stock_quantity"])
  .executeTakeFirst();

Migrations

Configuration (kysely.config.ts)

import { PostgresDialect } from "kysely";
import { defineConfig } from "kysely-ctl";
import pg from "pg";

export default defineConfig({
  dialect: new PostgresDialect({
    pool: new pg.Pool({
      connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL,
    }),
  }),
  migrations: {
    migrationFolder: "src/db/migrations",
  },
  seeds: {
    seedFolder: "src/db/seeds",
  },
});

Migration Commands

npx kysely migrate:make migration-name  # Create migration
npx kysely migrate:latest               # Run all pending migrations
npx kysely migrate:down                 # Rollback last migration
npx kysely seed make seed-name          # Create seed
npx kysely seed run                     # Run all seeds

Migration File Structure

import type { Kysely } from "kysely";
import { sql } from "kysely";

// Always use Kysely<any> - migrations should be frozen in time
export async function up(db: Kysely<any>): Promise<void> {
  await db.schema
    .createTable("user")
    .addColumn("id", "bigint", (col) => col.primaryKey().generatedAlwaysAsIdentity())
    .addColumn("email", "text", (col) => col.notNull().unique())
    .addColumn("created_at", "timestamptz", (col) => col.notNull().defaultTo(sql`now()`))
    .execute();

  // IMPORTANT: Always index foreign key columns!
  await db.schema.createIndex("idx_order_user_id").on("order").column("user_id").execute();
}

export async function down(db: Kysely<any>): Promise<void> {
  await db.schema.dropTable("user").execute();
}

Recommended Column Types

// Primary keys: Use identity columns (SQL standard, prevents accidental ID conflicts)
.addColumn("id", "bigint", (col) => col.primaryKey().generatedAlwaysAsIdentity())
// NOT serial/bigserial - those allow manual ID inserts that can cause conflicts

// Timestamps: Always use timestamptz (stores UTC, converts to client timezone)
.addColumn("created_at", "timestamptz", (col) => col.notNull().defaultTo(sql`now()`))
// NOT timestamp - loses timezone information

// Money: Use numeric with precision (exact decimal, no floating point errors)
.addColumn("price", "numeric(10, 2)", (col) => col.notNull())
// NOT float/real/double precision - those have rounding errors

// Strings: Use text (no length limit, same performance as varchar)
.addColumn("name", "text", (col) => col.notNull())
// varchar(n) only if you need a hard length constraint

// JSON: Use jsonb (binary, indexable, faster queries)
.addColumn("metadata", "jsonb")
// NOT json - stored as text, no indexing, slower

// Foreign keys: Create indexes manually (PostgreSQL doesn't auto-index FKs)
await db.schema.createIndex("idx_order_user_id").on("order").column("user_id").execute();

Data Type Gotchas

// CORRECT - Space after comma in numeric types
.addColumn("price", "numeric(10, 2)")

// WRONG - Will fail with "invalid column data type"
.addColumn("price", "numeric(10,2)")

// For complex types, use sql template
.addColumn("price", sql`numeric(10, 2)`)

Type Generation

Use kysely-codegen to generate types from your database:

npx kysely-codegen --url "postgresql://..." --out-file src/db/db.d.ts

Generated types use:

• Generated<T> for auto-increment columns (optional on insert)
• ColumnType<Select, Insert, Update> for different operation types
• Timestamp for timestamptz columns

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Don't Resort to `sql`` When Kysely Has a Method

// WRONG
.select(sql`count(*)`.as("count"))

// RIGHT
.select((eb) => eb.fn.countAll().as("count"))

2. Don't Forget .execute()

Queries are lazy - they won't run without calling an execute method:

// This does nothing!
db.selectFrom("user").selectAll();

// This runs the query
await db.selectFrom("user").selectAll().execute();

3. Use whereRef for Column-to-Column Comparisons

// WRONG - Compares to string literal "other.column"
.where("table.column", "=", "other.column")

// RIGHT - Compares to actual column value
.whereRef("table.column", "=", "other.column")

4. Type Your Function Returns

// Better type inference
eb.fn<string>("concat", [...])
eb.fn<number>("length", [...])

5. PostgreSQL Does NOT Auto-Index Foreign Keys

Always create indexes on foreign key columns:

await db.schema.createIndex("idx_order_user_id").on("order").column("user_id").execute();

PostgreSQL Helpers Summary

All helpers from kysely/helpers/postgres:

import {
  jsonArrayFrom,    // One-to-many relations (subquery → array)
  jsonObjectFrom,   // Many-to-one relations (subquery → object | null)
  jsonBuildObject,  // Build JSON object from expressions
  mergeAction,      // Get action performed in MERGE query (PostgreSQL 15+)
} from "kysely/helpers/postgres";

Note: jsonAgg is NOT imported - use eb.fn.jsonAgg() instead.

mergeAction (PostgreSQL 15+)

For MERGE queries, get which action was performed:

import { mergeAction } from "kysely/helpers/postgres";

const result = await db
  .mergeInto("person")
  .using("person_updates", "person.id", "person_updates.id")
  .whenMatched()
  .thenUpdateSet({ name: eb.ref("person_updates.name") })
  .whenNotMatched()
  .thenInsertValues({ id: eb.ref("person_updates.id"), name: eb.ref("person_updates.name") })
  .returning([mergeAction().as("action"), "id"])
  .execute();

// result[0].action is 'INSERT' | 'UPDATE' | 'DELETE'

Extending Kysely

Custom Helper Functions

Most extensions use the sql template tag with RawBuilder<T>:

import { sql, RawBuilder } from "kysely";

// Create a typed helper function
function json<T>(value: T): RawBuilder<T> {
  return sql`CAST(${JSON.stringify(value)} AS JSONB)`;
}

// Use in queries
.select((eb) => [
  json({ name: "value" }).as("data"),
])

Custom Expression Classes

For reusable expressions, implement the Expression<T> interface:

import { Expression, OperationNode, sql } from "kysely";

class JsonValue<T> implements Expression<T> {
  readonly #value: T;

  constructor(value: T) {
    this.#value = value;
  }

  get expressionType(): T | undefined {
    return undefined;
  }

  toOperationNode(): OperationNode {
    return sql`CAST(${JSON.stringify(this.#value)} AS JSONB)`.toOperationNode();
  }
}

Note: Module augmentation and inheritance-based extension are not recommended.

Handling "Excessively Deep Types" Error

The Problem

Complex queries with many CTEs can overwhelm TypeScript's type instantiation limits:

Type instantiation is excessively deep and possibly infinite

This commonly occurs with 12+ with clauses, as Kysely's nested helper types accumulate.

The Solution: $assertType

Use $assertType to simplify the type chain at intermediate points:

const result = await db
  .with("cte1", (qb) =>
    qb.selectFrom("user")
      .select(["id", "email"])
      .$assertType<{ id: number; email: string }>()  // Simplify type here
  )
  .with("cte2", (qb) =>
    qb.selectFrom("cte1")
      .select("email")
      .$assertType<{ email: string }>()
  )
  // ... more CTEs
  .selectFrom("cteN")
  .selectAll()
  .execute();

Key points:

• The asserted type must structurally match the actual type (full type safety preserved)
• Apply to several intermediate with clauses in large queries
• TypeScript cannot automatically simplify these types - explicit assertion is required