What database technologies are you using?

1 Relational databases

Relational databases are the most widely used type of database technology, and they store data in tables that are linked by keys and constraints. Relational databases are based on the relational model, which defines how data can be manipulated and queried using structured query language (SQL). Some of the popular relational database systems are MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, and SQLite. Relational databases are suitable for storing structured and consistent data, enforcing data integrity and security, and supporting complex queries and transactions.

2 NoSQL databases

NoSQL databases are a category of database technologies that do not follow the relational model, and they store data in different formats, such as key-value pairs, documents, graphs, or columns. NoSQL databases are designed to handle large volumes of unstructured or semi-structured data, provide high scalability and availability, and offer flexible schema and query options. Some of the popular NoSQL database systems are MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra, Neo4j, and HBase. NoSQL databases are suitable for storing dynamic and heterogeneous data, supporting fast and simple queries and operations, and handling distributed and parallel processing.

3 NewSQL databases

NewSQL databases are a new generation of database technologies that combine the features of relational and NoSQL databases, and they aim to provide high performance, scalability, and reliability for transactional and analytical workloads. NewSQL databases are based on the relational model, but they use advanced techniques, such as distributed architectures, in-memory processing, or columnar storage, to overcome some of the limitations of traditional relational databases. Some of the popular NewSQL database systems are CockroachDB, MemSQL, VoltDB, and TiDB. NewSQL databases are suitable for storing structured and consistent data, supporting complex queries and transactions, and handling large-scale and real-time data processing.

4 Cloud databases

Cloud databases are database technologies that are hosted and managed by a cloud service provider, and they offer various benefits, such as cost-efficiency, scalability, availability, and security. Cloud databases can be relational, NoSQL, or NewSQL, depending on the service model and the data type. Some of the popular cloud database services are Amazon RDS, Google Cloud SQL, Microsoft Azure SQL Database, and IBM Cloudant. Cloud databases are suitable for storing any type of data, supporting diverse workloads and applications, and leveraging the advantages of cloud computing.

5 Graph databases

Graph databases are a type of NoSQL database technology that store data as nodes and edges, representing entities and relationships. Graph databases are based on the graph theory, which defines how data can be modeled and analyzed using graphs and algorithms. Some of the popular graph database systems are Neo4j, OrientDB, ArangoDB, and JanusGraph. Graph databases are suitable for storing complex and interconnected data, supporting semantic and network analysis, and enabling rich and expressive queries and operations.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?