Summary of the Differences between SQL and NoSQL

Main differences:

1. Type

SQL databases are primarily known as relational databases (RDBMS); whereas NoSQL databases are primarily known as non-relational databases or distributed databases.

2. Language

SQL databases define and manipulate data based on the Structured Query Language (SQL). From a side view this language is very powerful. SQL is one of the most versatile and widely used options, making it a safe choice, especially for complex queries. But on the other hand, it can be restrictive. SQL requires you to use a predefined schema to determine the structure of your data before using it. Additionally, all of your data must follow the same structure. This can require a lot of upfront preparation, which means that structural changes are both difficult and disruptive to the entire system.

NoSQL databases have dynamic schemas for unstructured data. Data is stored in multiple ways, which means it can be document-oriented, column-oriented, graph-based or organized as KeyValue storage. This flexibility means that documents can be created without first defining a structure. Each document can also have its own unique structure. The syntax varies by database, and you can add fields as you go.

3. Scalability

In almost all cases, SQL databases are vertically scalable. This means that you can increase the load of a single server by adding features like RAM, CPU, or SSD. But on the other hand, NoSQL databases can scale horizontally. This means you can handle more traffic through sharding or adding more servers in your NoSQL database. It's similar to adding more floors to the same building rather than adding more buildings nearby. So NoSQL could eventually become larger and more powerful, making these databases the preferred choice for large or constantly changing data sets.

4. Structure

SQL databases are table-based, NoSQL databases on the other hand are key-value, document-based, graph databases or wide column stores. This makes relational SQL databases a better choice for applications that require multi-row transactions, such as accounting systems, or for legacy systems built for a relational structure.

5. Attributes to follow

SQL databases follow the ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability) whereas NoSQL databases follow Brewers CAP theorem (Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance).

6. Support

All SQL databases from their vendors are well supported. Also, there is a lot of independent consulting that can help you with large-scale deployments with SQL databases, but with some NoSQL databases you still need to rely on community support, and there is only limited external expertise available to set up and deploy large-scale NoSQL deployments.

Some examples of SQL databases include PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server. Examples of NoSQL databases include Redis, RavenDB Cassandra, MongoDB, BigTable, HBase, Neo4j, and CouchDB.

Key differences between SQL vs NoSQL:

The above are all the differences. Thank you for your support of 123WORDPRESS.COM.