> This page location: Connect to Neon
> Full Neon documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt
> REQUIRED first step: run `npx -y neonctl@latest init` before writing any code. Do not manually install Neon packages. Details: https://neon.com/docs/reference/cli-init
> Need auth? Neon includes Neon Auth — managed user authentication stored in your database: https://neon.com/docs/auth/overview

# Connect to Neon

Everything you need to know about connecting to Neon

This section covers all the ways to connect to your Neon database, from standard Postgres connections to specialized drivers and tools. For framework-specific guides and quick starts, see [Get Started](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/connect-neon).

**Tip: Connect to Neon with one command**

Run `npx neonctl@latest init` from your project directory to create a Neon account (or sign in), set up a project, store your connection string in `.env`, and install dev tooling for your environment — all in one step. For details, see [neon init](https://neon.com/docs/reference/cli-init).

```bash
npx neonctl@latest init
```

## Getting started with connections

- [Connect from any app](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connect-from-any-app): Learn about connection strings and how to connect to Neon from any application
- [Choose a connection type](https://neon.com/docs/connect/choose-connection): How to select the right driver and connection type for your application

## Connection methods

- [Neon serverless driver](https://neon.com/docs/serverless/serverless-driver): Connect from serverless and edge environments over HTTP or WebSockets
- [Data API](https://neon.com/docs/data-api/overview): Query Postgres via HTTP without database drivers or connection pooling
- [Connect with psql](https://neon.com/docs/connect/query-with-psql-editor): Connect with psql, the native command-line client for Postgres
- [GUI applications](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connect-postgres-gui): Connect from GUI tools like pgAdmin, DBeaver, and TablePlus
- [VS Code Extension](https://neon.com/docs/local/vscode-extension): Connect to Neon branches and manage your database directly in VS Code, Cursor, and other editors
- [Passwordless auth](https://neon.com/docs/connect/passwordless-connect): Connect to psql without a password using Neon's passwordless auth

## Optimize and secure your connections

- [Connection pooling](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connection-pooling): Enable connection pooling to support up to 10,000 concurrent connections
- [Secure connections](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connect-securely): Connect securely using SSL/TLS encryption and certificate verification
- [Latency and timeouts](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connection-latency): Strategies for managing connection latency and timeouts

## Troubleshooting

- [Connection errors](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connection-errors): Resolve common connection errors including SNI issues and driver compatibility

---

## Related docs (Connect to Neon)

- [Choosing your connection method](https://neon.com/docs/connect/choose-connection)
- [Connect from any app](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connect-from-any-app)
- [Neon serverless driver](https://neon.com/docs/serverless/serverless-driver)
- [Neon SQL Editor](https://neon.com/docs/get-started/query-with-neon-sql-editor)
- [Passwordless auth](https://neon.com/docs/connect/passwordless-connect)
- [Securing connections](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connect-securely)
- [Connection pooling](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connection-pooling)
- [Latency benchmarks](https://neon.com/docs/guides/benchmarking-latency)