Back to Basics by Prudvi

How to choose right database for your project

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Prudvi
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Table of contents

Picking the right database for your project is very important which can make your app fast, easy to use and maintain. This article explains how to pick the right one, with real-life examples to make it super clear, no matter if you're new or a pro!

Assess the nature of your data

  1. Structured vs. Unstructured Data: If your data is highly structured (like in a typical e-commerce site with products, users, orders), a relational database like MySQL or PostgreSQL is suitable.

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    For example, Amazon uses relational databases for its complex and structured inventory system. On the other hand, if you’re dealing with unstructured data (like JSON documents), a NoSQL database like MongoDB would be more appropriate, similar to how Twitter manages its massive datasets.

  2. Scalability Needs: For applications expecting rapid growth in user base and data (like a social media app), scalability is a key factor. NoSQL databases like Cassandra or DynamoDB, used by companies like Netflix, offer excellent horizontal scalability.

Evaluating Database Types

  1. Relational Databases (SQL): Ideal for complex queries and data integrity. They use structured query language (SQL) for defining and manipulating data.

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    For example, banks often use SQL databases for transactional data due to their consistency and reliability.

  2. NoSQL Databases: They are flexible and scalable, suitable for unstructured data and real-time applications. Types include document (MongoDB), key-value (Redis), wide-column (Cassandra), and graph databases (Neo4j). Social media platforms like Facebook use various NoSQL databases for different data types.

Considerations Beyond Data

  1. Development Speed and Maintenance: Some databases offer ease of use and faster development. For instance, Firebase is popular among mobile app developers for its simplicity and real-time data syncing capabilities.

  2. Cost and Hosting: Consider the total cost, including cloud-hosted solutions vs. on-premises. Cloud databases like AWS’s DynamoDB offer a pay-as-you-go model that can be cost-effective for startups.

  3. Community Support and Documentation: A robust community and good documentation can accelerate development and troubleshooting.

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    For example PostgreSQL has a strong community and extensive resources for developers.

Real-World Examples

  1. E-commerce (Structured, High Transactions): An e-commerce platform may use PostgreSQL for its product inventory and transactional data due to its robustness in handling complex queries and relational data integrity.

  2. IoT Applications (High Volume, Variety): IoT applications often deal with massive volumes of diverse data. Here, a combination of databases like Cassandra for time-series data and MongoDB for device data can be ideal.

  3. Mobile Apps (Real-time, Scalable): Mobile applications, especially those requiring real-time updates like chat apps, often benefit from Firebase or similar databases for their real-time synchronization and ease of development.

DatabasesbasicsSQLNoSQLdatabase design