---
tags:
  - explanation
  - beginner
title: Getting Started
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    title: Getting Started
    description: >-
      TerminusDB is the open-source knowledge graph database with git-like version control for graphs and vectors. Branch, merge, diff and hybrid search any commit.
    keywords: terminusdb, documentation, getting started, collaboration
    alternates:
      canonical: https://terminusdb.com/docs/
    openGraph:
      images: >-
        https://assets.terminusdb.com/docs/technical-documentation-terminuscms-og.png
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---

## TerminusDB Documentation

TerminusDB is a knowledge graph database with built-in version control. It stores JSON documents as graph structures, tracks every change as an immutable commit, and supports branching, merging, and [time travel queries](/docs/graph-database-with-time-travel-queries/) over your data history.

TerminusDB is open source and free to use, maintained by the team at [Gettier](https://gettier.ai) in collaboration with the community.

### Start here

- **New to TerminusDB?** — [Get Started tutorial](/docs/get-started-with-terminusdb/) walks you through installation and your first database.
- **Evaluating TerminusDB?** — Read [What is TerminusDB?](/docs/terminusdb-explanation/) for capabilities and architecture, or see [how it compares to MongoDB](/docs/terminusdb-vs-mongodb/).
- **Looking for a specific feature?** — [Browse by Topic](/docs/topics/list) to navigate the documentation by subject area.

### Installation

1. Run with [Docker](/docs/install-terminusdb-as-a-docker-container/) (recommended), or see [TerminusDB Cloud](/docs/cloud/) for hosting options.
2. Install a [client library](/docs/install-terminusdb-js-client/) (TypeScript, Python, or Rust).
3. [Connect your client to a TerminusDB Cloud instance](/docs/how-to-connect-terminusdb-cloud/) or your local server.

### Collaborate with teams

Use the [TerminusDB Cloud](/docs/cloud/) environment to collaborate on data products in shared instances, push and pull between local and remote databases, and manage change-request workflows — similar to how software teams collaborate on code with Git.