> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dbhost.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Create your first database in under 2 minutes.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign up">
    Go to [dbhost.app](https://dbhost.app) and create an account with email or Google.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a database">
    Click **+ New Database** in the dashboard and enter a display name.

    DBHost generates the internal PostgreSQL identifier automatically, provisions the database in seconds, and shows the connection details immediately.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect">
    Use the connection string from the database detail page. It connects through PgBouncer on port 6432:

    ```bash theme={null}
    psql "postgresql://uabc123_my_project:PASSWORD@db.dbhost.app:6432/uabc123_my_project"
    ```

    Or use any PostgreSQL client, ORM, or driver with the individual credentials shown on the detail page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connection details

Each database comes with:

| Field        | Description                                     |
| ------------ | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Host**     | `db.dbhost.app`                                 |
| **Port**     | 6432 (PgBouncer)                                |
| **Database** | Auto-generated internal database name           |
| **Username** | Same as the internal database name              |
| **Password** | Auto-generated on creation and resettable later |

<Warning>
  Save your password immediately after creation. If you later lose track of it,
  reset it from the database detail page to generate a new one.
</Warning>

## Prefer the CLI?

Pro and Business users can work from the terminal with the [CLI](/cli):

```bash theme={null}
npx @dbhost-app/cli@latest --help
```

Then authenticate with an API key from **Settings**:

```bash theme={null}
dbhost auth login --api-key dbh_your_api_key_here
```

For paid plans, `Selected databases` is the recommended key scope. Use `Full account access` only if your automation needs to create databases.

## What happens under the hood

When you create a database, DBHost:

1. Creates a PostgreSQL user with a cryptographically secure password
2. Creates a database owned by that user
3. Adds a PgBouncer pool entry for connection multiplexing
4. Reloads PgBouncer (zero-downtime config reload via SIGHUP)
5. Makes the database eligible for the daily scheduled backup runner with 30-day retention in production
6. Records the action in the platform activity log