A database is an organized collection of structured information or data, typically stored electronically in a computer system.
It is usually controlled by a database management system (DBMS) . Together, the data and the DBMS, along with the applications that are associated with them, are referred to as a database system.
SQL (Structured Query Language) is the most widely used programming language for writing and querying data in databases.
SQL vs NoSQL: What's the difference?
SQL and NoSQL are two primary databases used for storing digital data. SQL databases are also known as relational databases,
while NoSQL databases are non-relational databases. SQL databases use Structured Query Language (SQL) to query, manipulate, and change data in a relational database.
On the other hand, NoSQL databases store data in a manner other than the tabular relations used within SQL databases. They are suitable for structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.
So, what sets them apart? SQL databases work best with well-defined structured data in which relations exist between different entities.
They are organized into columns and rows within a table and linked through “foreign keys” that form relations between different tables and fields. SQL databases are scalable vertically.
On the other hand, NoSQL databases have more flexible structures to accommodate their data-types and don't follow a rigid schema. Furthermore, instead of using SQL to query the database,
NoSQL databases use varying query languages (some don’t even have a query language). NoSQL databases are scalable horizontally, meaning that they use multiple nodes in a cluster to handle increased workloads.
This allows data architects to simply scale them by supplementing clusters with additional servers.
popular SQL databases:
MySQL
PostgreSQL
Oracle
Microsoft SQL Server
MongoDB
popular NoSQL databases:
Couchbase Server
Amazon DynamoDB
Redis
IBM Cloudant
how to choose a database for a project:
Understand your data: Before choosing a database, it’s important to understand the type of data you’ll be storing and how it will be used.
Consider scalability: Choose a database that can scale with your needs as your project grows.
Evaluate performance: NoSQL databases are faster than SQL databases when it comes to handling large amounts of unstructured data.
However, SQL databases are still faster than NoSQL databases when it comes to handling structured data.
Consider security: Ensure that the database you choose has robust security features such as encryption and access control.
Evaluate cost: Consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) when evaluating different options.
Consider support: Ensure that the database you choose has adequate support and documentation available in case you run into issues.
Consider ease of use: Finally, consider how easy it is to use and maintain the database system.
Top comments (0)