Getting a good database is important as it ensures that you get the best features out of your database application. Additionally, the database adds to your efficiency and overall productivity by letting you have convenient access to data. A good database is also safe and secure, and as such, you are guaranteed of keeping your data for as long as you need it.
Additionally, the database is also easy to use. When you need to build other features and functionalities on top of the database application, developing applications will be a lot easier. A good database should not be complicated for your users and should present them with straightforward features.
In this post, we discuss the features that define a good database and identify the best database for you. This information should be useful as you go about making a comparison of the various database applications that are available out there. The market has a lot of options for you to choose from, and without a good guide, you might end up choosing a complicated database for your company.
The complicated database will make work harder for your employees, and it will bring in many complications for every user. Additionally, you will not be able to use the database as much as you would intend to since the complicated nature of the database prevents customizations and extensions of the features that already exist in the database.
Ease of Use
Databases should be easy to use, no matter how complicated the internal features might be. The database should present an easy interface to the users and the programmers even when the underlying features are very complicated. A good database should be able to abstract its internal features from the user by presenting them with an easy to use interface.
For the programmers, the database should present a simple API that they can use to program applications that will interact with the database. Even when the database has features known to perform complex calculations and operations, the interface between the database and the users or programmers should be simple.
This will ensure that you can fully make use of the features that are exposed by the database. The user of the database should interact with the database with ease, and there should be no reason that they cannot utilize the features built with the database. The users of the database should also be able to get familiar with the database quickly.
Ease of use also means a shorter learning curve for the database. Such simple databases are typically adopted in businesses and organizations for the ease of learning them. If your programmers and employees can start making use of the database in weeks as opposed to months, you will prefer this database.
A database that is easy to use means that the productivity of the users will be increased. Additionally, the long-term value of the data in the database is also increased whenever the user knows how to interact and use the features exposed by the database.
Ease of use also implies a friendly user interface and plenty of tools that developers can use to inspect the database. Good databases should be easy to interact with. For the programmers, this means being able to view the data in the database while developing their applications.
When this is made possible, the developers will build features and confirm whether they work in the applications they are building to work with the database. The databases should also be useful and friendly with error messages and other useful output for the developer.
The developers make use of the error messages to determine what has gone wrong with the database and so that they can correct any errors in their code. A good and reliable database should provide feedback and warnings when it has run into errors. The error logs are used as a means of diagnosing the errors that take place in the application.
An easy to use database also means that the developers will be able to build applications to interface with the database a lot faster. When the programming syntax for the database is simple, the database programmers will build apps faster and integrate all the features that the end-users might be looking for.
A database that is easy to use is much better than the many other complicated alternatives out there. This database can abstract many of the underlying complexities of the database from the users, and as such, the users are protected from the actual complicated nature of the database. The language used to interact with the database should also be simple enough for the programmers to learn quickly.
The programmers need to interact with the database, and the query language is used to build features that will retrieve and enter data into the database. With a simple language, the developers will have no difficulties dealing with the data or building application features that enter and retrieve data from the database.
The use of simple language and syntax also means that the developers will build more powerful features on top of the database with much ease. The developers will also be more willing to work with a simple database to learn and has less complicated instructions.
With the short learning curve, getting to make use of the entire set of features that have been made available by the database will also be very easy, and the developers will be able to produce features and applications within a short time. Good documentation is part of the ease of use, and any database application that has sufficient documentation should also be easy to use.
The documentation ensures that the developers and other database users have a guide or reference to ensure that they do not lose their way when developing applications to use with the database. The use of documentation also ensures that the developers build the apps according to the specifications of the database. They will not build features that are in contrast with what the database provides.
The documentation is also useful for troubleshooting features and problems that the developer might encounter when developing their application. The use of documentation is very important and one of the determining factors for a good database. When you are looking for a database, ensure that you get well documented and have an active community of users.
The users tend to generate many useful real-world usage examples and challenges that they might have run into while using the database. This information will be very useful for your use and ensure that you do not get into the same complications others have been experiencing when using the database. The use of online documentation and communities also ensures that you know what to do when you encourage any difficulties and complications with the database.
With sufficient documentation, developing applications to interface with the database will also be much faster. Faster development means features and applications will be ready in less time, and the time for the concept to get deployed to the market is shortened. The database end-users will also enjoy features from the developers much faster when the developers have detailed documentation of the database.
An easy to use database will also make your experience with it a lot easier and even enjoyable. As you use the database, the ease of use will ensure that you enjoy using and interacting with the database. Interacting with the database and building more useful functionalities will be made possible with a database that is easy to use and sufficiently documented.
Detailed documentation will be a useful tool for the developers to develop powerful and features that are ideal for use with the database. The users of the database will be able to do much more with a database that is not complicated. An easy to use database will mean greater productivity for the users of the database, and they will be able to achieve a lot more from the database.
Ease of use should be your main deciding factor whenever you look for a database application to use in your business or organization. Complicated databases take longer to learn, and this might be a resource that you do not have to spare, owing to the many projects you have to undertake in the organization.
The ease of use is also an added advantage as it will spare you from the complexities involved in modern database applications. It will shorten your development time, and the developers will have an easier time building application that will be intended to work with the database.
Speed and Performance
When you choose a database, you are often looking for one that will return results to queries in a fraction of a second. Speed and performance are some of the other determining factors for what is a good database.
A database that takes a long time before returning any results should not be used for demanding and intensive applications. For instance, customers looking for items on your online store will need to interact with the fast database to make any purchases. Having to wait for minutes before getting the results from your online store means that your customers will not purchase the items and products they are looking for.
Additionally, a slow database usually brings about many headaches for the users. The experience is highly degraded due to the huge waiting period before getting any useful information from the database.
When the time required to fetch items from the database is short, the developers will build dependable applications that are excellent in their performance. The use of a fast and responsive database is also important to make any useful features and applications that will use the data.
For the data in the database to be useful to the end-users, it has to be instantly available whenever needed. When the database users can get the data from the database in a short time, they will not have to spend hours waiting for data while carrying out their operations.
Additionally, data that is immediately available is known to be a lot more useful to the end-users as they will save on time.
The interaction with the database will also be more efficient and effective when the database can respond in the least time possible. The round trip that the query has to take before the user can have their result displayed on the application they are currently using should also be very short. The application should return data and results to the user in as little time as possible.
Performance is a very important factor when you are looking for a good database. High levels of performance will ensure that the user can easily make use of the database features. As a result, the users’ productivity that is interacting with the database also increases when using a high-performance database, fast enough and responsive for the queries that the users are making of the database.
A database that can handle many queries at any one instance without slowing down is more reliable than slower databases. Slower databases have been less reliable, and they do not always have the best experience for the end-users. The slowness of the database means that the users will be kept waiting for a long time and the overall usefulness of the database also gets to be reduced. A slow database will also suck the productivity out of the users and the developers.
As the developers are building and testing features in their applications, using a slow database will reduce their productivity very greatly. Using a slow database means that getting to build excellent features to work with the database will also be a lot more complicated. The developers will not build as many features as they would have loved when working with a slow database that does not perform to expected standards.
High-performance levels are usually required when the developer builds an application that many simultaneous users will use. When many users are accessing the database simultaneously, the database needs to return results for all the users without much delay. This means that the database should be of high performance and very reliable.
The level of performance determines the database’s usefulness and how much utility can be derived from the database. A slow database will cause a lot of inconvenience for the end-users, and they will not be able to make full use of the database application.
Additionally, lower levels of database performance have been attributed to a poor experience for the end-users, and as they interact with the database, their experience is highly degraded. The users will, for instance, be unable to get the data they need in the time that they need it as a result of the database being slow and not as responsive as they would expect it to be.
Whenever you are looking for a good database, be sure to ask for a benchmark for its performance compared to the many other options available out there. The benchmark should be enough to show you how good the database can perform under the most demanding usage scenarios.
Additionally, the benchmark should show you clear figures of the performance level of the database compared to other options in the market. Some databases tend to be a lot faster and responsive than others, and they should make good choices for a database to use in your business or organization.
The use of a high-performance and fast database also means that your users will spend less time waiting for results useful for the modern kinds of applications used in businesses and other online applications. A fast database has made it possible for companies to present their features and make their information available to the public.
The people who need the information can obtain it in less time, and they no longer have to wait for long before getting back the data they need. Fast databases are known to be a lot more reliable and are preferred over a slow database. The performance of the database, however, should not be degraded by the growth of the database.
The amount of data inside the database scaling up should not be a reason for the database to get any slower. This is an important factor to keep in mind when you are observing the performance of a database. Databases that keep slowing down as they are scaled up in size will let you down when you need them the most and are best avoided.
Scaling up has often been an inhibitor to the performance of many modern database applications. An increase in the amount of data in the database has often led to the overall performance of the database reducing and the database getting slower. Distributed databases can comfortably handle this challenge and will not get slow no matter how big they grow.
The time taken to bring back results from the distributed database will always be the same even when the database grows in size. This is due to the design of the database that distributed data across several nodes that might also be geographically distributed to ensure easy access for all users of the database on the globe.
No matter where the database users are located, a distributed database will ensure that the queries are handled in the least time possible, and the users of the database can get the data they need in the least time possible. Distributed databases are also known to be more reliable than typical databases, and even when your demands are growing, they will not become slow.
The databases will not be degraded in performance, and upgrading and maintaining them is a lot easier. There are usually no disruptions on your overall information architecture and database when you are upgrading the database since there are always active nodes that will handle the queries from the end-users.
The users of your database will still access your database even when you have some of the nodes turned off and inactive. If some of the nodes are offline, the processing load on the entire swarm will be shared across the nodes that remain, thus ensuring that the level of performance of your clusters is maintained.
The performance of the distributed database does not slow down even when there are a lot of users and huge amounts of data being transacted. The distributed nature of the database ensures that the end-users can get the data they need from the node that is closest to them. As such, queries are returned in as little time as possible, thus creating the best kind of experience for the end-users of the database.
A high-performance database should be the main choice for you, no matter what area of application the database will be used. Good performance means that the utility value of your database is increased, and the end-users can enjoy the experience of interacting with the database.
Reliability
As a user of the database, you expect your data to be available to you all the time. You do not expect any downtimes when using your database, which means that your database should be reliable. A reliable database should handle your requests in good time and be always there whenever you need to make use of it.
Databases prone to crashing are not reliable and will always be put off service most of the time. This database will not be useful for the users since they will not be available when they are required. It would help if you compared the crashing rate of the options available before making your choice.
Reliability is an important aspect of any database and determines the usefulness of the application. When the database can be accessed at any time, the end-users will be able to use the data they need without running into any complications. The databases will also be available round the clock, and no matter what time of day or night the users need to access the data, the database will always be there for them.
A good database can be trusted to be available all the time needed and not keep going offline or crashing when it is most needed. When you have reliable database applications to work with, you will no longer have to worry about availability for your database.
Availability is one of the main features that determine the reliability of a database and should be handled by the deployment architecture used for the database. For instance, a database deployed to different servers on different data centres on different continents will be more reliable than a database that only exists on a single server.
The database that is spread out across the entire globe will provide reliable services to its users, and the clients and applications that need to access the data from the database will be able to do so in the least amount of time possible. The use of a distributed database ensures that there are backup and recovery plans in plenty for the database. It can be used for mission-critical operations without a problem.
An availability plan for your database is also important for handling unforeseen events such as natural disasters. If one of the servers is not currently available, then your application will be able to make use of the remaining servers to handle the requests from the customers.
The end-users will not even notice that your database is failed on some servers since they can always access the data they need. When you have availability in mind when you are choosing your database, you will develop an application that will keep your database running all the time.
The database will also handle a greater number of transactions and keep your business operational in the face of a disaster when there is an availability plan in place. Nodes that are on different cloud service providers, for instance, will enable you to provide data at all times, even when some of the service providers are offline or out of reach.
The recoverability aspect of the database is also an important factor when you are looking for a good database. A database that you can depend on to provide your users with the information they need should also handle requests in the least amount of time possible.
Availability can be handled in different ways, but your database should also support replication for this to work.
When your database can allow for the same data to reside on different servers, you will ensure that the data is always accessible by the end-users. The client applications will always be able to handle the data requests on behalf of their users.
Cloud service providers are one of the main options for making your data highly available to your users. You can use the services from several cloud service providers and integrate your database on all the clouds. When there is a cloud available to handle the requests from your users and client applications, you will have no problem meeting your customers’ needs.
The database will always be available. No matter how many customers you are dealing with simultaneously, the database will always provide the data that the users so much need. With an availability plan for your database, your data will be so much more accessible, and the users will not be disappointed in the level of services you are providing to them.
The use of high-availability clusters is also known to make your database more useful for the end-users. When you have designed your database for high availability, meeting your users’ needs will no longer be a challenge for you. The users will always get the data they need no matter the time they are using your application.
An availability plan ensures that your database is available round the clock and easily accessible for the millions of customers you are dealing with. The use of the database will also make your life more comfortable as you will not have to deal with customers who are not happy with the level of service they are getting from your applications.
High availability will ensure that your end-users can make the most out of the database in addition to getting the data they need when they need it. The value of data is determined by when the data is needed compared to when it can be availed to the users that need this data.
Recovery Plans
A good database should have enough plans for recovery in case the worst ever happens to your information system.
A good recovery plan should include making regular backups and saving the backup in a server that is separate from the one on which your database resides. The use of recovery plans is very important for modern database applications, and it ensures that your system can perform smoothly, efficiently and reliably.
A good recovery plan will also ensure that you do not lose any data even when the worst happens to your database. The recovery plan will ensure that you have a recovery point and somewhere that you can start from once you are back in action.
The database should be intact even when the conditions around it are stormy and uncomfortable. Being able to recover from failure is also important for modern database applications. It determines the pace at which businesses and organizations can operate regardless of the challenges that are in their way. The businesses will keep providing their services to the end-users when there are good plans for recovery in place.
Backups are an important aspect of recovery plans, and they ensure that you have a copy of the data on your database. Using the backup, you can easily get back in action and revert to your backup when the main copy of the information is inaccessible or corrupted.
Local and remote backups of your database are quite useful when you need to recover from failure. With the backups, you will get back in action much faster, and the end-users will not be kept in the dark for much longer. Faster recovery also means that you can restore confidence in your database end users by giving them access to the data no matter what has happened to your primary servers.
The use of backups also ensures that you can easily migrate your data to new servers and data centres when there is something wrong with the data centres you currently use. When you need to migrate from one provider to another, backups will make it possible to migrate in less time. Backups also enhance recovery, and your overall information system will be more reliable when you have backups in place.
The use of backups also ensures that your system is also more resilient and can recover from disasters and other unforeseen events. The use of backups ensures that as a business or an organization, you still have insurance for all your data and a way of keeping your operations on and active.
Having several plans for recovery in place for your database also instils confidence in the database users and your organization or business. Knowing that you can always start from somewhere after something disastrous has happened to your database is important, and with the recovery plan, you will be able to restore services in less time.
The fact that you can always recover also makes it possible to provide high-quality and valuable services to the end-users of your databases. The backups act as insurance for your data and ensure that you never lose any of your information. The plan that you have in place for recovery in serious failures should also be effective and capable of deploying in a little time as possible.
The users of the data should be able to have access to the data in very little time. There should be no delay in the recovery process, and the users of the database should barely notice the outage of the services. As a business or an organization, the ability to recover also makes you more competitive, and the end-users will trust your brand.
A good database is usually one of the main determining factors for your database. When you have taken the time to look for a database that can provide you with all the features you need to provide the best services, you will be more productive. A sustainable plan for keeping your data available to all your users is also important.
A modern database application should be capable of making the data available in as little time as possible. This means having a fast database that can retrieve data and display it back to the database users in as little time as possible. A lack of delays means that the end-users of the applications connected to the database will be a lot more productive since they can always get the data they need when they need it.
Conclusion
A good database is one of the main factors that users such as institutions and businesses look for when they need to upgrade their information systems. Upgrading your systems means using a database that is not only easy to use but can also perform as expected. Additionally, the database should also be able to provide high availability for the data it holds and be faster to recover.
There are many databases available on the market, and sometimes, making a decision can be incredibly difficult. When you have the features that make a good and trust-able database in mind, you will make a better decision. Your selection process for a database application will also be made much simpler when you know what you should be looking for.
Additionally, the database that you choose should fit the area of application that you intend for it to cover. With the features that have been listed and detailed above, you will be able to make your selection process for a database application much easier. You will choose features that enhance business processes and make your business more productive and even more reliable. Your area of application will determine the kind of database that you choose.
Still, generally, the database should handle your data queries and enter data with much ease. It should not be complicated to work with and should comfortably handle the amount of data that you will need to work with. No matter your application area, the features listed above will ensure that you choose the best database for your use.
Good databases are a lot different from databases that are not as effective. Knowing the difference is easy when you know the features that separate the good databases from the bad ones. Additionally, your choice of the database should cover all the needs that your business or organization has for the data.
Additionally, your database should be able to cover unforeseen and unexpected events such as failures and crashes. When the database crashes, you should recover a lot faster if you are to keep providing services to your end-users, such as customers. For instance, an online store should be able to provide its services at all times.
With a database with high availability, there will be fewer instances of failure for the applications that depend on the data provided by the database. The end-users of the database will also experience the best interaction with the data since there will be no interruptions to their data access. When they are shopping on the internet, these users will be able to find items they need to buy in less time, and their overall online experience will be enhanced.
Knowing the difference between a bad and a good database will also be important when upgrading to a more resilient information system for your organization or business. The database will ensure that you keep your customers supplied with all the information that they need. You will also be more productive, and your levels of efficiency will be greatly increased when you are using a reliable and high-performance database for your business applications.
