Prisma CLI Format (Prisma)

---
name: prisma-cli-format
description: prisma format. Reference when using this Prisma feature.
license: MIT
metadata:
  origin: Prisma
  author: prisma
  version: "7.0.0"
---

# prisma format

Formats your Prisma schema file.

## Command

```bash
prisma format [options]
```

## What It Does

- Fixes formatting (indentation, spacing)
- Adds missing back-relations (e.g., adds the other side of a relation)
- Adds missing relation arguments (e.g., `fields`, `references`)
- Sorts fields and attributes (opinionated)

## Options

| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--schema` | Path to schema file |
| `--config` | Custom path to your Prisma config file |

## Examples

### Format default schema

```bash
prisma format
```

### Format specific schema

```bash
prisma format --schema=./custom/schema.prisma
```

## Behavior

`prisma format` modifies the file in place. It is equivalent to "Prettier for Prisma schemas" but also has semantic understanding to fix/add missing schema definitions.

## Use in Editor

Most Prisma editor extensions (VS Code, WebStorm) run `prisma format` automatically on save. This command is useful for:
- CI pipelines (check formatting)
- CLI-based workflows
- Fixing large schema refactors