diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index e8d384e0..19824151 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -3575,6 +3575,12 @@ version = "1.0.14"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "de3145af08024dea9fa9914f381a17b8fc6034dfb00f3a84013f7ff43f29ed4c"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "path-clean"
+version = "1.0.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "17359afc20d7ab31fdb42bb844c8b3bb1dabd7dcf7e68428492da7f16966fcef"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pbkdf2"
 version = "0.12.2"
@@ -5301,6 +5307,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "native-tls",
  "nom",
  "once_cell",
+ "path-clean",
  "pbkdf2",
  "pharos",
  "pin-project-lite",
diff --git a/lib/Cargo.toml b/lib/Cargo.toml
index 7b4fd07d..f29e5f67 100644
--- a/lib/Cargo.toml
+++ b/lib/Cargo.toml
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ nanoid = "0.4.0"
 native-tls = { version = "0.2.11", optional = true }
 nom = { version = "7.1.3", features = ["alloc"] }
 once_cell = "1.18.0"
+path-clean = "1.0.1"
 pbkdf2 = { version = "0.12.2", features = ["simple"] }
 pin-project-lite = "0.2.12"
 radix_trie = { version = "0.2.1", features = ["serde"] }
diff --git a/lib/src/api/engine/any/mod.rs b/lib/src/api/engine/any/mod.rs
index cd1a3497..0245a3eb 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/engine/any/mod.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/engine/any/mod.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,10 @@ use crate::api::opt::Endpoint;
 use crate::api::Connect;
 use crate::api::Result;
 use crate::api::Surreal;
+use crate::opt::replace_tilde;
+use path_clean::PathClean;
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
+use std::path::Path;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::sync::OnceLock;
 use url::Url;
@@ -108,12 +111,24 @@ pub trait IntoEndpoint {
 
 impl IntoEndpoint for &str {
 	fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
-		let url = match self {
-			"memory" => "mem://",
-			_ => self,
+		let (url, path) = match self {
+			"memory" | "mem://" => (Url::parse("mem://").unwrap(), "memory".to_owned()),
+			url if url.starts_with("ws") | url.starts_with("http") => {
+				(Url::parse(url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(self.to_owned()))?, String::new())
+			}
+			_ => {
+				let (scheme, _) = self.split_once(':').unwrap_or((self, ""));
+				let path = replace_tilde(self);
+				(
+					Url::parse(&format!("{scheme}://"))
+						.map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(self.to_owned()))?,
+					Path::new(&path).clean().display().to_string(),
+				)
+			}
 		};
 		Ok(Endpoint {
-			endpoint: Url::parse(url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(self.to_owned()))?,
+			url,
+			path,
 			config: Default::default(),
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/engine/any/native.rs b/lib/src/api/engine/any/native.rs
index 36e5ab4e..5801b522 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/engine/any/native.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/engine/any/native.rs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl Connection for Any {
 			let (conn_tx, conn_rx) = flume::bounded::<Result<()>>(1);
 			let mut features = HashSet::new();
 
-			match address.endpoint.scheme() {
+			match address.url.scheme() {
 				"fdb" => {
 					#[cfg(feature = "kv-fdb")]
 					{
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ impl Connection for Any {
 							};
 						}
 						let client = builder.build()?;
-						let base_url = address.endpoint;
+						let base_url = address.url;
 						engine::remote::http::health(
 							client.get(base_url.join(Method::Health.as_str())?),
 						)
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ impl Connection for Any {
 				"ws" | "wss" => {
 					#[cfg(feature = "protocol-ws")]
 					{
-						let url = address.endpoint.join(engine::remote::ws::PATH)?;
+						let url = address.url.join(engine::remote::ws::PATH)?;
 						#[cfg(any(feature = "native-tls", feature = "rustls"))]
 						let maybe_connector = address.config.tls_config.map(Connector::from);
 						#[cfg(not(any(feature = "native-tls", feature = "rustls")))]
diff --git a/lib/src/api/engine/any/wasm.rs b/lib/src/api/engine/any/wasm.rs
index 4e624662..efef3639 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/engine/any/wasm.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/engine/any/wasm.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ impl Connection for Any {
 			let (conn_tx, conn_rx) = flume::bounded::<Result<()>>(1);
 			let mut features = HashSet::new();
 
-			match address.endpoint.scheme() {
+			match address.url.scheme() {
 				"fdb" => {
 					#[cfg(feature = "kv-fdb")]
 					{
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ impl Connection for Any {
 					#[cfg(feature = "protocol-ws")]
 					{
 						let mut address = address;
-						address.endpoint = address.endpoint.join(engine::remote::ws::PATH)?;
+						address.url = address.url.join(engine::remote::ws::PATH)?;
 						engine::remote::ws::wasm::router(address, capacity, conn_tx, route_rx);
 						conn_rx.into_recv_async().await??;
 					}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/engine/local/native.rs b/lib/src/api/engine/local/native.rs
index 03f11d82..f56df676 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/engine/local/native.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/engine/local/native.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ use crate::api::conn::Route;
 use crate::api::conn::Router;
 use crate::api::engine::local::Db;
 use crate::api::engine::local::DEFAULT_TICK_INTERVAL;
-use crate::api::err::Error;
 use crate::api::opt::Endpoint;
 use crate::api::ExtraFeatures;
 use crate::api::OnceLockExt;
@@ -95,7 +94,6 @@ pub(crate) fn router(
 	route_rx: Receiver<Option<Route>>,
 ) {
 	tokio::spawn(async move {
-		let url = address.endpoint;
 		let configured_root = match address.config.auth {
 			Level::Root => Some(Root {
 				username: &address.config.username,
@@ -104,36 +102,21 @@ pub(crate) fn router(
 			_ => None,
 		};
 
-		let kvs = {
-			let path = match url.scheme() {
-				"mem" => "memory".to_owned(),
-				"fdb" | "rocksdb" | "speedb" | "file" => match url.to_file_path() {
-					Ok(path) => format!("{}://{}", url.scheme(), path.display()),
-					Err(_) => {
-						let error = Error::InvalidUrl(url.as_str().to_owned());
+		let kvs = match Datastore::new(&address.path).await {
+			Ok(kvs) => {
+				// If a root user is specified, setup the initial datastore credentials
+				if let Some(root) = configured_root {
+					if let Err(error) = kvs.setup_initial_creds(root).await {
 						let _ = conn_tx.into_send_async(Err(error.into())).await;
 						return;
 					}
-				},
-				_ => url.as_str().to_owned(),
-			};
-
-			match Datastore::new(&path).await {
-				Ok(kvs) => {
-					// If a root user is specified, setup the initial datastore credentials
-					if let Some(root) = configured_root {
-						if let Err(error) = kvs.setup_initial_creds(root).await {
-							let _ = conn_tx.into_send_async(Err(error.into())).await;
-							return;
-						}
-					}
-					let _ = conn_tx.into_send_async(Ok(())).await;
-					kvs.with_auth_enabled(configured_root.is_some())
-				}
-				Err(error) => {
-					let _ = conn_tx.into_send_async(Err(error.into())).await;
-					return;
 				}
+				let _ = conn_tx.into_send_async(Ok(())).await;
+				kvs.with_auth_enabled(configured_root.is_some())
+			}
+			Err(error) => {
+				let _ = conn_tx.into_send_async(Err(error.into())).await;
+				return;
 			}
 		};
 
diff --git a/lib/src/api/engine/local/wasm.rs b/lib/src/api/engine/local/wasm.rs
index a9e76b9b..d5aa6952 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/engine/local/wasm.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/engine/local/wasm.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,6 @@ pub(crate) fn router(
 	route_rx: Receiver<Option<Route>>,
 ) {
 	spawn_local(async move {
-		let url = address.endpoint;
 		let configured_root = match address.config.auth {
 			Level::Root => Some(Root {
 				username: &address.config.username,
@@ -100,12 +99,7 @@ pub(crate) fn router(
 			_ => None,
 		};
 
-		let path = match url.scheme() {
-			"mem" => "memory",
-			_ => url.as_str(),
-		};
-
-		let kvs = match Datastore::new(path).await {
+		let kvs = match Datastore::new(&address.path).await {
 			Ok(kvs) => {
 				// If a root user is specified, setup the initial datastore credentials
 				if let Some(root) = configured_root {
diff --git a/lib/src/api/engine/remote/http/native.rs b/lib/src/api/engine/remote/http/native.rs
index a80857b0..6288b16f 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/engine/remote/http/native.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/engine/remote/http/native.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ impl Connection for Client {
 
 			let client = builder.build()?;
 
-			let base_url = address.endpoint;
+			let base_url = address.url;
 
 			super::health(client.get(base_url.join(Method::Health.as_str())?)).await?;
 
diff --git a/lib/src/api/engine/remote/http/wasm.rs b/lib/src/api/engine/remote/http/wasm.rs
index a91b1a61..ff0d4335 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/engine/remote/http/wasm.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/engine/remote/http/wasm.rs
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ pub(crate) fn router(
 	route_rx: Receiver<Option<Route>>,
 ) {
 	spawn_local(async move {
-		let base_url = address.endpoint;
+		let base_url = address.url;
 
 		let client = match client(&base_url).await {
 			Ok(client) => {
diff --git a/lib/src/api/engine/remote/ws/native.rs b/lib/src/api/engine/remote/ws/native.rs
index 0d797317..036da875 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/engine/remote/ws/native.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/engine/remote/ws/native.rs
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ impl Connection for Client {
 		capacity: usize,
 	) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<Surreal<Self>>> + Send + Sync + 'static>> {
 		Box::pin(async move {
-			let url = address.endpoint.join(PATH)?;
+			let url = address.url.join(PATH)?;
 			#[cfg(any(feature = "native-tls", feature = "rustls"))]
 			let maybe_connector = address.config.tls_config.map(Connector::from);
 			#[cfg(not(any(feature = "native-tls", feature = "rustls")))]
diff --git a/lib/src/api/engine/remote/ws/wasm.rs b/lib/src/api/engine/remote/ws/wasm.rs
index 83a88fac..7439d4c2 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/engine/remote/ws/wasm.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/engine/remote/ws/wasm.rs
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ impl Connection for Client {
 		capacity: usize,
 	) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<Surreal<Self>>> + Send + Sync + 'static>> {
 		Box::pin(async move {
-			address.endpoint = address.endpoint.join(PATH)?;
+			address.url = address.url.join(PATH)?;
 
 			let (route_tx, route_rx) = match capacity {
 				0 => flume::unbounded(),
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ pub(crate) fn router(
 	route_rx: Receiver<Option<Route>>,
 ) {
 	spawn_local(async move {
-		let (mut ws, mut socket) = match WsMeta::connect(&address.endpoint, None).await {
+		let (mut ws, mut socket) = match WsMeta::connect(&address.url, None).await {
 			Ok(pair) => pair,
 			Err(error) => {
 				let _ = conn_tx.into_send_async(Err(error.into())).await;
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ pub(crate) fn router(
 
 			'reconnect: loop {
 				trace!("Reconnecting...");
-				match WsMeta::connect(&address.endpoint, None).await {
+				match WsMeta::connect(&address.url, None).await {
 					Ok((mut meta, stream)) => {
 						socket = stream;
 						events = {
diff --git a/lib/src/api/method/tests/protocol.rs b/lib/src/api/method/tests/protocol.rs
index b51a9d4f..0b88bc37 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/method/tests/protocol.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/method/tests/protocol.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ impl IntoEndpoint<Test> for () {
 
 	fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
 		Ok(Endpoint {
-			endpoint: Url::parse("test://")?,
+			url: Url::parse("test://")?,
+			path: String::new(),
 			config: Default::default(),
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/fdb.rs b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/fdb.rs
index 0739c0d3..5aecb569 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/fdb.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/fdb.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use crate::api::engine::local::Db;
 use crate::api::engine::local::FDb;
-use crate::api::err::Error;
 use crate::api::opt::Config;
 use crate::api::opt::Endpoint;
 use crate::api::opt::IntoEndpoint;
@@ -16,9 +15,10 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				type Client = Db;
 
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
-					let url = super::make_url("fdb", self);
+					let protocol = "fdb://";
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(protocol).unwrap(),
+						path: super::path_to_string(protocol, self),
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/http.rs b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/http.rs
index f4adbbcb..66cf9957 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/http.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/http.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
 					let url = format!("http://{self}");
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						path: String::new(),
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}
@@ -40,7 +41,8 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
 					let url = format!("https://{self}");
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						path: String::new(),
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/indxdb.rs b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/indxdb.rs
index 1956db97..df840115 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/indxdb.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/indxdb.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use crate::api::engine::local::Db;
 use crate::api::engine::local::IndxDb;
-use crate::api::err::Error;
 use crate::api::opt::Config;
 use crate::api::opt::Endpoint;
 use crate::api::opt::IntoEndpoint;
@@ -14,9 +13,10 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				type Client = Db;
 
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
-					let url = format!("indxdb://{self}");
+					let protocol = "indxdb://";
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(protocol).unwrap(),
+						path: super::path_to_string(protocol, self),
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/mem.rs b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/mem.rs
index ef595450..0f2346e1 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/mem.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/mem.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ impl IntoEndpoint<Mem> for () {
 
 	fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
 		Ok(Endpoint {
-			endpoint: Url::parse("mem://").unwrap(),
+			url: Url::parse("mem://").unwrap(),
+			path: "memory".to_owned(),
 			config: Default::default(),
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/mod.rs b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/mod.rs
index 070870f7..6099d621 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/mod.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/mod.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ use super::Config;
 #[derive(Debug)]
 #[allow(dead_code)] // used by the embedded and remote connections
 pub struct Endpoint {
-	pub(crate) endpoint: Url,
+	pub(crate) url: Url,
+	pub(crate) path: String,
 	pub(crate) config: Config,
 }
 
@@ -38,7 +39,17 @@ pub trait IntoEndpoint<Scheme> {
 	fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint>;
 }
 
-#[cfg(any(feature = "kv-fdb", feature = "kv-rocksdb", feature = "kv-speedb"))]
-fn make_url(scheme: &str, path: impl AsRef<std::path::Path>) -> String {
-	format!("{scheme}://{}", path.as_ref().display())
+pub(crate) fn replace_tilde(path: &str) -> String {
+	let home = std::env::var("HOME").unwrap_or_else(|_| ".".to_owned());
+	path.replacen("://~", &format!("://{home}"), 1).replacen(":~", &format!(":{home}"), 1)
+}
+
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+fn path_to_string(protocol: &str, path: impl AsRef<std::path::Path>) -> String {
+	use path_clean::PathClean;
+	use std::path::Path;
+
+	let path = format!("{protocol}{}", path.as_ref().display());
+	let expanded = replace_tilde(&path);
+	Path::new(&expanded).clean().display().to_string()
 }
diff --git a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/rocksdb.rs b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/rocksdb.rs
index 19c75d06..b7b6fc34 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/rocksdb.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/rocksdb.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 use crate::api::engine::local::Db;
 use crate::api::engine::local::File;
 use crate::api::engine::local::RocksDb;
-use crate::api::err::Error;
 use crate::api::opt::Config;
 use crate::api::opt::Endpoint;
 use crate::api::opt::IntoEndpoint;
@@ -17,9 +16,10 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				type Client = Db;
 
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
-					let url = super::make_url("rocksdb", self);
+					let protocol = "rocksdb://";
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(protocol).unwrap(),
+						path: super::path_to_string(protocol, self),
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				type Client = Db;
 
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
-					let url = super::make_url("file", self);
+					let protocol = "file://";
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(protocol).unwrap(),
+						path: super::path_to_string(protocol, self),
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/speedb.rs b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/speedb.rs
index f3a3d624..83ae2716 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/speedb.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/speedb.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use crate::api::engine::local::Db;
 use crate::api::engine::local::SpeeDb;
-use crate::api::err::Error;
 use crate::api::opt::Config;
 use crate::api::opt::Endpoint;
 use crate::api::opt::IntoEndpoint;
@@ -16,9 +15,10 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				type Client = Db;
 
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
-					let url = super::make_url("speedb", self);
+					let protocol = "speedb://";
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(protocol).unwrap(),
+						path: super::path_to_string(protocol, self),
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/tikv.rs b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/tikv.rs
index 4854e191..84b72072 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/tikv.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/tikv.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use crate::api::engine::local::Db;
 use crate::api::engine::local::TiKv;
-use crate::api::err::Error;
 use crate::api::opt::Config;
 use crate::api::opt::Endpoint;
 use crate::api::opt::IntoEndpoint;
@@ -17,7 +16,8 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
 					let url = format!("tikv://{self}");
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(&url).unwrap(),
+						path: url,
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}
diff --git a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/ws.rs b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/ws.rs
index ceaaed13..0d6f8387 100644
--- a/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/ws.rs
+++ b/lib/src/api/opt/endpoint/ws.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
 					let url = format!("ws://{self}");
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						path: String::new(),
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}
@@ -40,7 +41,8 @@ macro_rules! endpoints {
 				fn into_endpoint(self) -> Result<Endpoint> {
 					let url = format!("wss://{self}");
 					Ok(Endpoint {
-						endpoint: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						url: Url::parse(&url).map_err(|_| Error::InvalidUrl(url))?,
+						path: String::new(),
 						config: Default::default(),
 					})
 				}