Databases come in all shapes and sizes. They all have different features and are designed differently depending on their area of usage. Whenever you intend to get a database for your organization or for your own personal use, you will need to know the kind of database that you need.
The different types of databases are also specialized for different types of use and the area that you intend to use your database will factor into the choice of database that you make. When you know the different types of databases that are available, you will be better informed when you make your decision.
Centralized Database
These databases are designed to work from a centralized location. All the data is usually stored in a central location where it can be accessed by all the users. The benefit of the centralized database is being easier to control and all the information is accessible from a convenient place. Whenever you have a centralized database in your organization, you will not need to worry about where the database is.
You will also be able to work with more people on the same database as it collects all the data and stores it in one place. The other advantage of the centralized database is its ability to handle redundancy. The database gets rid of the repetition of data in any information system by ensuring that the data is only stored in a single place.
In order to keep the centralized database secure, the users of the system have an authentication process that lets them access the database. Before they can be allowed to make any changes in the databases or manipulate it, they will have to provide a form of authentication for their verification.
The use of federated identity management is usually preferred for companies and organizations that need to give many of their employees access to the database. Even when the database is not directly accessible to the users of the system, the applications that have been connected to the database will need to provide verification tokens for when they are making changes to the information. The use of authentication keeps the database secure as well as preventing any unauthorized access and modification to the information that is stored on it.
Keeping backups of your data in a centralized database is very useful for your company or business as you will be able to access the data more easily. Additionally, the use of the centralized database means that your company will not have to worry about allowing applications and employees access to the data.
As long as you have a policy in place for access restrictions and regulation, you will be able to control access to the database while keeping all the information and data that is stored on it safe and secure. Whenever you need consistency in your data, the use of the centralized database will be quite useful.
The cost of establishing and maintaining the centralized database is also much lower as it is easier to run and does not take much in terms of infrastructure. The servers that will be required to keep your centralized database will be fewer and as such, you will not have to incur high computing costs for the sake of your database.
Access to the database is also much easier to control and you can set your own company policies which will determine who gets access to the database and who does not. As you can see, the centralized database is an easy option for companies that need consistent data that is easy to manage and also less costly to run.
A downside to the centralized database is the fact that the growth of the data usually leads to slowness in access to the data. The response time of the database will be greater when the data has grown which means that the performance of the database will deteriorate over time. This kind of database is only ideal for small sizes of databases as the growth brings complications. It is also riskier to run as an error on the server can lead to the loss of a lot of data.
Distributed Database
In a distributed system, the database is set out across several servers in the same organization. The different computers can have different hardware specifications and operating systems but this is not to mean that the data will not be evenly distributed across the servers on the system.
The use of the distributed database ensures that the company has a point of recovery when some of the servers are not accessible. Additionally, the use of a distributed database ensures that there is always consistent access to the data that is also reliable. Whenever you have a distributed database in your organization, you will realize significant improvements in the performance of your systems.
The use of networks and communication links play a huge role in the use of the distributed databases. A network connection that has a low latency ensures a high-performance and reliable database that the users will keep for a long time.
The network connections ensure that all the servers that run the database will stay connected to each other and as such, well-coordinated. The use of the networks is also important for ensuring that your database can easily communicate with the users of the database system.
Development is quite easy and effective when running a system on a distributed database. The components of the system can be designed and implemented separately which makes it possible to build a very complicated application on top of the distributed database. The databases are quite easy to run and maintenance is also not complicated.
The design of the distributed database is intended for high performance and the best standard of information access. The users will also enjoy secure and comfortable data access from any of the servers that run the database application. The reliability of the system is one of the other reasons it is preferred over centralized databases.
Whenever you need to provide database access to many users, the distributed database will be the best option for you. It will not only prevent your users from running into deadlocks when accessing the data, but it will also streamline and coordinate the access of the data for all the users. The reliability and performance of the database will also be greatly boosted and as such, the users will be a lot more productive.
The waiting time for the databases will be eliminated and there will be no lag when it comes to updating the database. Additionally, whenever new information is added to the distributed database, it gets to be updated across all the servers. As such, you are assured of using accurate information and your users can always have the latest snapshot of the data whenever they need it. Any updates get reflected across all the servers and any users will always have accurate information to use.
The use of a distributed database, however, will require a lot more investment in the hardware. Since there will be a greater number of servers that run the database applications, you will also have to invest a lot more into the networking between the individual computers.
Relational Database
This is the most typical type of database and has been in existence since the very early days of the database. The database is composed of rows and columns which when combined form tables that are the basis for the relational databases. The relational databases are the simplest databases to use and have been designed to get you up and running in as little time as possible.
As long as you have your data ready to be stored in a tabular form, this database will reduce the stress of having to create new schemas for each new record. The database is also known for its performance and high consistency. The records are atomic in nature which means that an entry can either be a success or a failure. For instance, if you try to enter the same record twice in the same database, then the entry will be rejected by the database.
The relational database also boasts of the feature of being consistent. The consistency means that the value of the data is preserved before and after it has been modified. With this in mind, the database is able to keep your data consistent and all the changes easy to track. As such, your database will serve you better and you will be able to see the value of entries even before they are changed.
The use of a relational database brings with it several benefits such as isolation whenever the database is being used by several users at the same time. Any changes that are made to the database also become permanent which shows the durability of the database. Anyone that makes changes to the data can modify the information on the database and the edits will be permanent on the database.
For a company or a business that needs the simplest and most basic type of database, this is the kind of database for you. It is simple to use yet very powerful with its search and sort features. It has also been designed to be used by one or several users without losing the integrity of the data.
Additionally, the data on the database can be shared with other users very easily as other database applications usually have the ability to open the relational database file types. Whenever you need a good database for your company, this is the database that will be easy to use and will not be stressful when you are getting started with it.
NoSQL Database
This is the database that has been designed to store a wide variety of data sets. It allows for all types of data and can even allow for multimedia to be stored. It is ideal for more complicated applications and systems that will need to handle information in more customizable ways.
With the database, you can create your own custom features such as schemas and queries that follow your own rules and requirements. Whenever you need a powerful, versatile and useful database application, the NoSQL database will be the best for your needs.
Building modern applications requires a database that can handle the complex requirements of these applications. These applications need to have access to the data in a more refined kind of way and the database ensures that the developers of the applications have all the features they need to develop solutions for the modern world.
Modern companies, businesses and even research organizations make use of these databases to create solutions for their use. The creation of custom applications on the NoSQL databases is also a lot easier and the application can include as many features as you need.
When developing applications that will not need to store data in a structured format, this is the best database solution for you. You will easily create custom database features using the key-value and document capabilities of the database.
Usually, JSON is used to store and represent the content that is stored on these databases. Real-time applications make use of such database applications as they can easily store the information as a set of key-value pairs that will be used to represent the information to the end-users.
Scalability and the ability to handle huge amounts of information is also assured whenever you use the NoSQL databases. As a database user, you will be able to deal with massive amounts of information much easily which makes the database ideal for the users that need to work with vast datasets.
MongoDB is one of the typical examples of the NoSQL database and has been known to offer graph capabilities as well as key-value storage for the information that is in the database. The users of the database will find it to be quite powerful and ideal for most of the challenging scenarios that they will face when dealing with information.
Cloud Database
The use of the cloud has been increasing with more businesses taking up the cloud as a replacement for their legacy premise-based servers. Instead of hosting their information and applications locally, companies and businesses are migrating to the cloud where they can easily store the information for a fraction of the cost.
The cloud is more affordable for modern businesses in addition to being a lot more efficient for them. The storage of data on the cloud means that the company no longer needs to worry about the maintenance of the computer systems.
There will be no local servers to worry about when the database is running on the cloud and the company will be able to focus on its core functions in this way. Cloud-based databases are software as a service which means that the users only get to pay for as much database and storage as they use. The more they use means that they will pay more for the database.
Additionally, the databases that are hosted on the cloud are also automatically backed up which makes the cloud databases a more reliable and dependable option for the users. The companies that are migrating to the cloud will find the cloud database to be quite a useful means of handling their data. They are easy to access and they are also safe for the users. The cloud provider will be tasked with all the maintenance and updates that are required for the database and the users will no longer have to worry about this.
The use of the cloud means that companies and businesses get to have greater convenience when dealing with data. They will be able to store the data in reliable places as well as get to deal with a lot more information. The size of the data is no longer a limitation when you are using the cloud database. You can have as much data on your database as you need and not have to worry about storage space.
The cloud service provider will be charged with taking care of the additional storage. Additionally, these databases are very easy to scale up and are designed to be used by growing companies without having to migrate servers or move to alternative providers when the data storage and processing needs grow.
Provided your company has a reliable and safe internet connection, the use of cloud database applications and solutions will be very easy. You will be able to store your data on the cloud with much ease in addition to accessing it without worries.
A steady and powerful connection will be required to ensure that you always have access to the cloud and can easily make changes on your data and have them effected instantly. The use of the cloud is also a growing trend and moving your database to the cloud can be a huge boost and improvement for your business or company.
Object-Oriented Database
If you are familiar with object-oriented programming languages, then you will find this model of dealing with data to be quite familiar. The object-oriented database makes use of the concept of objects for all the components of the database. Every entry in the database is considered to be an object and treated uniquely.
The database is very powerful and there are so many operations that can be carried out on the data. With the use of the object-oriented database, you can easily build applications on top of the database and carry out more complicated operations on the data.
Companies that already use object-oriented applications for their everyday use will discover the object-oriented databases to be quite useful for their needs. The databases will keep their information well managed. Additionally, the use of the object oriented database ensures that the users can deal with the entries as if they were objects in themselves.
This means storing data, files, multimedia, documents, videos and even other programs in the same database. The databases are ideal for scientific applications which will need more complex features and a database that will not be complicated to use.
Hierarchical Database
This is the kind of database that keeps everything in a parent-child relationship. The data is usually stored in a tree-like structure and can be used to store data in a sorted nature. The tree-like nature of the hierarchical database means that searches are a lot faster.
Finding any data that is stored on the database will be made very easy when you have the hierarchical database as it has been designed for easy traversal. Getting through all the nodes of the database will also be very easy and you will not have to worry about performance and response time when you are using this database.
Making references to the information that is stored on the database is also very easy and you can easily form relationships between the elements in the database. Getting the children of a given parent node in the database is also very easy which makes it easy to obtain the different types of any given element in your database.
For instance, if your database has been designed to store different vehicle models, you can easily obtain all vehicles that are designed to run on electricity. As such, your database will be a lot more effective and when it comes to getting information from a single category, the database will provide you with results that you need in no time.
When it comes to sorting through records, the hierarchical database is the best option. Any company that needs to always have sorted information that can be fed directly to a web application will find this database to be quite useful. With the database, your web applications will be a lot more responsive and you will also not have to worry about the performance of the database.
The design means that it is of high performance and will always give you the results that you need in no time. The database has also been designed for fast searches which is made possible by the use of the tree-like structure. Traversals on the nodes and edges of the tree are very simple and as you use the database, you will find it very easy to find out more about the database itself and all that it currently contains.
Network Database
Networked applications are known to be of high performance and are very reliable means of storing information. The network database is no exception and when you need truly unique performance from your database, this is what you will choose. With the network database, you get to enjoy a lot of high performance features such as instant updates across all the nodes on the database.
Searches are also a lot faster and more effective on the databases and you will find them to be a pleasure to use. The use of the network database also enables you to enjoy graph features that will keep the data connected and easy to reference.
When you have a graph database, making the connection between the various elements that make up the database will be very easy and you will find the database to be very effective and the ideal solution for all your data storage and referencing needs.
The network database design has also been designed to keep all the nodes connected and in sync with one another. As such, any change that is made to the database gets to be reflected across the entire database and this keeps the users aware of all the changes that are made to the database.
The use of the network database is also very useful for when you need high performance and faster responsiveness without having to give up other features such as reliability and the networking feature. The ability to network your data means that you will rarely lose any object that you store and all the elements in your database will be made much easier to refer to.
The database is also easy to program and you can use it with many of the other networked applications that you use on your business or organization.
When you are using a network database, you will be able to access it from different computers and applications. The fact that it is networked also means that more people will be able to use it at the same time. As such, you will be able to enjoy greater productivity from all your users as they have a reliable and high-performance database to work with.
The convenience of the database also means that it is a good solution for your needs and its design is reliable and similar to the other networked applications that you make use of in your organization. The database is also great at performance and you will have no trouble working with it in your company. As a business or an organization that needs an easy-to-implement data storage solution, this will be the ideal solution for you.
Personal Database
Most of the databases that we have covered in the previous sections are intended for use in companies and organizations. The businesses that use these databases usually have several people and applications accessing and making changes to the data in the database at the same time.
However, when you are working on a personal project, then a personal database will be the ideal solution for you. A personal database is designed specifically for personal use and you do not have to share the data that is stored on your personal database.
Your data storage needs will not be as great as that used by businesses when you are working with a database which makes the personal database the best solution for you. When you need simple features and not the complicated features that are provided by the other kinds of database, then a personal database will be the best fit for you.
Whenever you are working on a personal project that will need you to store and refer to data, then the personal database will ensure that you are successful with the project.
The benefits of the personal database include their small size as they only keep your data. They are also easy to run and maintain which makes management easy for you and you will not have to worry about the many complications that the companies and businesses that use the other databases have to deal with whenever they are working with a database.
A personal database is easy to run and handling it is simple. You do not need to learn a lot or read through tons of documentation to start using the personal database. As such, you will find the database to be quite effective for your own use and you will also be able to get all your projects completed with this database.
Whenever you need a database that will keep your data safe but is also light enough and easy to use, then a personal database is the best solution. The lightweight database applications that are available in the market are some of the best examples of personal databases.
SQLite, for instance, is one of the personal databases that you can use for your own personal use. It is light yet effective in its functions making it one of the best database applications that you can have. Your personal projects will be much easier to implement when you have a personal database to handle all your data storage and processing needs.
Additionally, you are not limited in terms of the editions and modifications that you can make to the configuration of the personal database which makes it one of the easiest databases that you can have. Whenever you have a personal database, you will easily stretch it to fit your needs as well as making modifications to support some of the more fancy features and functionalities that you need included into the database.
Operational Database
Real time applications of databases are many and varied. Companies and businesses that need to handle transactions in real time need to have a database that can easily be stretched to handle daily transactions without a hitch. These databases have one of the best performance in the world of databases and have been known to give companies the best services.
Whenever the company is carrying out transactions, this database will create new records and update them in real time. As such, they will be ideally suited to real time applications and heavy demand usage scenarios where the companies and businesses have to provide their services to a huge number of customers within a short time.
Whenever your business is being pressed with many transactions to carry out in a single day, the operation database is the best solution for you. With this database, you will be able to keep track of the transactions and record them in real time. As such, you will not be able to lose any of the transactions and the quality of the services that you provide to your customers will be the best.
Without a doubt, the use of the operational database makes your companies more effective and productive at rendering services to their customers. The customers will be able to get their transactions done while you get to have a steady stream of all the data in real time.
The nature of the operational databases make them the best solution for companies that need real time solutions for their problems. The responsiveness of the operational databases is quite effective and has been known to make businesses capable of delivering their services to a higher number of customers.
The development of applications that can work with the operational databases is also very simple which makes it suitable for heavy demand deployment scenarios such as the military and field use. The operational database is ideal for use in the field where spinning up applications to handle a given challenge is much easier.
The use of the database also makes it possible to deliver services to companies and research firms that need to have databases that can be molded to handle and solve their particular challenges and problems. These databases are also very powerful and they are also easy to use. As such, the people that need to get something up and running in less time will resort to this database.
Enterprise Database
These are the database applications that are ideal for enterprise use. Companies and internet businesses will find these databases to be quite useful. Logistics companies also make use of the enterprise database to deal with massive amounts of data.
These databases are great at their performance and will ensure that companies can easily track huge amounts of data with ease. The enterprise databases are also meant to keep data manageable no matter how big it gets. The use of these databases has been known to keep modern businesses running with much ease.
The databases are ideal for high-demand computing and data storage and can be used with web and mobile applications. The users of the database can create interfaces that will be used to feed data into the database as well as retrieving the information from the database.
For instance, businesses that are handling millions of transactions in a week will need a database that will be able to comfortably take care of all these transactions. The amount of data that is stored in these databases is also very large and the performance of the enterprise databases has to be reliable.
The databases are also known to grow to very large sizes and as they keep growing, the enterprise database ensures that they are easy to handle. The amount of work that is put into these databases ensures that they can perform reliably.
Modern companies are also able to handle unforeseen growth in the amount of information they have to process thanks to the enterprise databases. These databases have been specifically designed for enterprise use and will not leave the companies that use them out of options whenever they are faced with a challenge when it comes to storing data reliably.
These databases have also been designed to work with most of the other applications and systems that are used in the enterprise such as cloud servers and other applications. These applications accept various data types and can be expanded and configured to handle specific challenges and issues that might arise for the enterprise to deal with.
Conclusion
Whenever you are looking for a database solution for your data storage problems, it is important that you know what is available. The available databases are different from each other and each option presents a unique set of features that makes them ideal for certain areas of applications.
With the information that has been provided in this post, you will get to choose database solutions better. Whenever you need to use a database in your company or for your own personal use, knowledge of the features that are available with the different databases will serve you well. You will not be in the dark when making your selection and you will also get to go for the database that will store your data reliably for much longer.
The capabilities that are available with each of the different types of database also determines what you can do with the database. You can accomplish a lot more with your own database when you know how to program the database and benefit from the many features that it provides.
Some of the databases are hosted locally while others such as the cloud databases will be stored off site where they will be managed by another party. The databases also vary in their costs and the maintenance of each can be very different.
When you are fully aware of the different database options that are available to you, you will be able to achieve the best performance when handling your data. Hopefully, this guide will help you make the best database choice for your data storage and management needs.
