Integrate Elixir with a database using Ecto, a powerful database wrapper and query generator. Define schemas, migrations, and repositories to interact with your database easily.

Integrating Elixir with a database is commonly achieved through Ecto, a powerful database wrapper and query generator that simplifies database interactions. To get started with Ecto, you first need to add it as a dependency in your mix.exs file and configure it to connect to your database. Ecto supports various database backends, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite. Once Ecto is set up, you can define your database schemas as modules that represent tables, using the Ecto.Schema module. Each schema includes fields that map to the columns of the corresponding table, allowing you to create and manage your data structures efficiently. Migrations are another crucial aspect of working with Ecto, enabling you to define changes to your database schema over time. You can create migration files using the mix ecto.gen.migration command, and Ecto provides a DSL for defining the changes in a clear and concise manner. Additionally, Ecto's repositories serve as the interface for interacting with the database, providing functions for querying, inserting, updating, and deleting records. With Ecto's query DSL, you can build complex queries easily while still maintaining readability. Furthermore, Ecto includes features for data validation and changesets, which help ensure data integrity before it reaches the database. By leveraging Ecto, you can integrate Elixir with a database effectively, resulting in a smooth and maintainable interaction layer for your applications.