A database, stored electronically, is a digital structure where information is kept in an organized, systematic, and accessible way. Simply put, it allows users, organizations, or applications to add, delete, update, analyze, and query the data they need. It also ensures the secure management of large volumes of data. For example, a bank’s customer information, an e-commerce site’s product inventory, or a social media platform’s user posts are stored in databases. In this article, you will find answers to questions such as what is a database, what are its types, and why is it important!
A database is a digital system where information is stored in an organized manner and can be easily accessed and used when needed. Databases enable the organized electronic storage, management, and quick retrieval of data as required. Database systems prevent data redundancy, save storage space, and maintain data integrity. Discover GlassHouse database services today and entrust your database operations to the industry’s most competent team!
Databases are classified into different types based on the structure and storage methods used. Let’s take a closer look at the most common database types:
Relational Database
Let’s answer the question what is a relational database right away: A relational database is a database model where data is stored in tables, and relationships are established between these tables for management purposes. A relational database can store large amounts of information across a series of interconnected tables. In this model, rows represent records, while columns represent attributes. In other words, a table consists of data organized into rows and columns, with each field having its own data type. Key features of a relational database include its ability to be queried using SQL, organizing data to avoid redundancy, establishing relationships between tables using primary and foreign keys, and offering a secure, consistent, and integrity-preserving structure. Its main advantages include easy and organized data management, better modeling of complex relationships, high data integrity and security, and universal usability through SQL. An example of a relational database could be: For an e-commerce site: Customers table: customer_ID, first_name, last_name, email Orders table: order_ID, customer_ID, product_ID, date Products table: product_ID, product_name, price Here, the “customer_ID” field establishes a relationship between the Customers table and the Orders table.
Object-Oriented Database
Another model for creating a database is the object-oriented database. As the name suggests, this model stores data as objects and manages it using object-oriented database management. In this approach, data is stored in the same way as objects in programming languages. For example, imagine an object as a car. Attributes could be brand, model, and color, while methods could be “accelerate” and “brake.” In an object-oriented database, this car is stored not only as data in table rows but as a whole entity with its attributes and functions. Its main features include storing data and behavior together, managing complex data efficiently, working seamlessly with object-oriented programming (Java, C++, Python, etc.), and supporting OOP concepts like inheritance and polymorphism. Advantages include natural compatibility with object-oriented software, easy handling of complex data types, and more accurate modeling of real-world entities.
NoSQL Database
A NoSQL database stores data across multiple servers rather than in a single centralized location. This allows large data sets (e.g., social media posts, e-commerce records, IoT data) to be stored efficiently. Load balancing ensures the system remains stable even when millions of users connect simultaneously. Real-time analytics can be performed for dynamic data such as user behavior. Its key advantages include suitability for big data and real-time applications, flexible schema support for different data types within the same table, high performance, and easy scalability.
Distributed Database
A distributed database stores and processes data across multiple physical locations rather than a single server. Data is distributed across different points, improving both performance and reliability. However, while data is physically stored in multiple locations, it remains logically interconnected. Key features of distributed database applications include multiple physically separate servers operating as a single database, providing users with a unified system view, supporting replication or partitioning of data for speed and security, and offering high fault tolerance. Advantages include delivering data from the nearest server, maintaining accessibility even if one center fails, easy addition of new servers, and efficient management of very large datasets.
Cloud Database
In the cloud database model, data is distributed through a cloud platform such as Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and hosted on cloud service providers’ servers. As a result, data is accessed over the internet, and users store and manage their data on remote cloud infrastructure rather than on their own hardware. With a cloud database application, data can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Storage capacity and computing power can be scaled up or down as needed. The cloud provider handles server setup, updates, and maintenance. Data is regularly backed up, minimizing the risk of data loss. Key advantages include eliminating the need for hardware investment, pay-as-you-go pricing, high availability and performance, and built-in disaster recovery solutions. Would you like to explore GlassHouse Cloud services in more detail?
Hierarchical Database
A hierarchical database is a database model where data is stored in a tree structure. Each data element is organized with a parent and its associated child records. In this structure, one parent can have multiple children, but each child has only one parent. For example, consider a university database:
● Faculty
o Department
▪ Student
Key features of a hierarchical database include storing data in a tree structure, providing fast reading and access, being less flexible, and having been widely used in legacy systems. Its advantages include simplicity, fast access to large volumes of data, and high data integrity.
Centralized Database
A centralized database stores and manages all data on a single physical server or location. Users and applications connect to this central server to access data. In other words, all data is stored in one place. Users perform read/write operations by connecting to the central server. This model is especially ideal for simple and small-scale systems. Advantages include easy administration, centralized control, high data integrity, and centralized backup management.
