SQL vs NoSQL Databases: Which one to chose?

Databases are a crucial part of any application. They are used to store various types of data, such as user accounts, purchase transactions, products, and more. Databases are divided into SQL and NoSQL databases. What are SQL and NoSQL databases? What are the differences? When should you use them? Let’s discuss them together!

SQL vs NoSQL Databases: Understanding the Basics

What is a Database?

A database is a system used to store, manage, and access data in a structured and organized manner. A database typically consists of a collection of tables with columns and rows, each representing a data entry. Databases allow data to be stored, modified, and deleted efficiently, and they can be managed and accessed using queries provided by the database system. Databases are very useful for managing large amounts of data, especially when the data is related to large organizations or businesses.

SQL: Structured Query Language

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a language used to access and manage data in a database. Moreover, SQL provides steps for writing commands used to retrieve data from a database, manage existing data in the database, and add new data to the database. SQL is very useful for managing large, structured data and is often used in web applications, business information systems, and many other applications.

SQL vs NoSQL Databases: What is a SQL Database?

A SQL database is a database that uses SQL (Structured Query Language) to access and manage data. A SQL database consists of tables that store data and structures used to manage that data. Also, SQL databases are very useful for managing large, structured data sets and are often used in web applications, business information systems, and many other applications. Some well-known SQL databases include MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server.

For example, here is an example SQL query to display all data from the “customers” table in the database:

SELECT * FROM customers;

The query above will display all columns and rows from the “customers” table. If you want to display only a few columns, you can replace the * (wildcard) with a list of desired column names, separated by commas. For example:

SELECT first_name, last_name, email FROM customers;

The query above will display the “first_name”, “last_name”, and “email” columns from the “customers” table.

Advantages of using a SQL database

The following are some of the advantages of using a SQL database:

• Efficient: SQL is very efficient at managing large amounts of data. SQL queries can quickly access and manage data from a database, especially when compared to managing data using separate files.
• Easy to set up: SQL provides easy steps for organizing and managing data in a database. Users can define table structures, build interactions between tables, and manage the data within them.
• Scalable: SQL can manage very large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. This makes it suitable for managing large-scale data, such as in business information systems.
• Many tools available: Tools like MySQL Workbench, Oracle SQL Developer, and Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio simplify SQL database management.
• Industry standard: SQL is the standard language used in the industry. It’s easy to find developers and DBAs skilled in SQL, and it ensures compatibility across platforms using standard syntax.

Also Read: Database Management System (DBMS)

Disadvantages of SQL Databases

Alongside its strengths, SQL databases also come with some limitations:

• Less flexible: SQL is not ideal for unstructured or rapidly changing data.
• More difficult to develop: It often requires more coding compared to NoSQL, which can increase complexity, especially for small teams.
• Less suitable for unstructured data: SQL excels at managing structured data like customer or product records.
• More maintenance needed: Indexing and storage optimization need to be managed regularly.
• Higher costs: SQL databases like Oracle may involve higher licensing costs compared to free or open-source NoSQL options like MongoDB.

SQL vs NoSQL Databases: When to Use SQL

SQL databases are a type of database that can be used in a variety of situations. Hence, they are well-suited for managing large and complex data, such as customer, product, or transaction data. SQL databases can also support web or mobile applications that require real-time access to data.

Also Read: Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and Their Functions

If you plan to develop an application that uses large or complex datasets, or if you need immediate access to data from different sources, then SQL may be the right choice. However, if your needs are minimal, a simpler alternative may suffice.

SQL vs NoSQL Databases: What is a NoSQL Database?

A NoSQL database is a type of database that does not use relational data structures like those used in MySQL or PostgreSQL. Instead, it uses a more flexible data model that can handle unstructured or variable data structures.

NoSQL databases are commonly used for handling large, distributed datasets or for applications that demand low latency. Examples include MongoDB, Cassandra, and Redis.

Advantages of NoSQL databases

Some of the key advantages of NoSQL databases include:

• Flexibility: Unlike SQL databases, they are not tied to relational schemas, making them ideal for unstructured or frequently changing data.
• Scalability: NoSQL databases can scale out horizontally with ease.
• Immediate Access: Simple indexing and schema-less design allow fast data access.
• High availability: Easy replication increases resilience and uptime.
• Cost-effective: Often cheaper to implement and maintain at scale.

Disadvantages of NoSQL databases

Some of the key drawbacks of NoSQL databases include:

• Query limitations: Many NoSQL databases lack advanced querying capabilities.
• Data consistency: Some NoSQL systems compromise consistency for availability and partition tolerance.
• Limited documentation and support: Certain NoSQL platforms may have smaller communities and fewer learning resources.
• Integration issues: May lack seamless integration with traditional BI or data management tools.
• No ACID support: Many NoSQL systems do not support full ACID-compliant transactions, which can impact reliability in transactional use cases.

Also Read: SQL – Structured Query Language: Basics of SQL

It’s important to note that these disadvantages vary by NoSQL type. Always match your use case with the appropriate database solution.

SQL vs NoSQL Databases: When to Use NoSQL

NoSQL databases are ideal for use cases involving large-scale, unstructured, or dynamic data. If your application must handle flexible schemas or demands for fast performance across distributed systems, NoSQL is a suitable choice.

However, if your use case requires high consistency or complex querying, SQL might still be a better fit.

Conclusion

A database is a system used to store, manage, and access data in a structured and organized manner. There are two commonly used types of databases: SQL and NoSQL databases.

SQL databases use Structured Query Language (SQL) to manage data in table-based formats. They are ideal for structured data in business or web applications. On the other hand, NoSQL databases use flexible data models suited for unstructured or dynamic data and are preferred in scalable, high-availability environments.

Each has its strengths and limitations. Choosing between them depends entirely on your project’s needs, scale, consistency requirements, and budget.