The term "ephemeral" in the database world refers to something temporary, short-lived, and not meant to persist. This concept is particularly useful for branches that need a fresh, isolated copy of a database for previews, CI test runs, or local development. Neon Local is a proxy service that creates a local interface to a Neon cloud database, automatically creating a new branch when the container starts and deleting it when it stops. It adopts a hybrid approach by using a combination of cloud-based, isolated environments and Docker containers to provide a truly ephemeral experience. Neon Local can be used with various Postgres clients and configuration options, such as parent branch IDs and delete branch settings, to suit different needs. The service is designed to simplify working with branches in Docker environments, making it easy to develop, test, or preview features in isolated, clean environments that feel local but behave like production.