{"id":5170,"date":"2020-07-14T22:42:10","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T22:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.ssdnodes.com\/blog\/?p=5170"},"modified":"2025-05-18T18:53:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T18:53:07","slug":"sqlite-vs-mysql-vs-postgresql","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/blog\/sqlite-vs-mysql-vs-postgresql\/","title":{"rendered":"SQLite vs MySQL vs PostgreSQL \u2013 The Search For The &#8220;Best&#8221; Relational Database Management System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Relational data structures that organize data in tables of rows and columns form the basis of how most online services we use function. Although there are other data models, <a href=\"https:\/\/db-engines.com\/en\/ranking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">relational database management systems remain the global standard<\/a> for storing and managing data.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>So in this article, we\u2019re going to <strong>dive deep and compare the three most widely-known and adopted relational database management systems <\/strong>(RDBMSs) \u2013&nbsp;MySQL, SQLite, and PostgreSQL \u2013&nbsp;as well as the situations in which each makes the most sense...<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Some Background About Database Management Systems<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Before we begin, here's some important context on databases and database management systems you should know... <\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1594765258687\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What Is a Database Management System?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>As the name suggests, <strong>databases<\/strong> are collections of information\u00a0 \u2014 or data\u00a0 \u2014 that have been logically modeled.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The computer programs that interact with databases are called <strong>database management systems<\/strong>, or <strong>DBMSs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The purpose of a <em>DBMS<\/em> is to enable its user to execute database management related tasks, such as:\u00a0<br \/>- <strong>writing data<\/strong>,\u00a0<br \/>- <strong>running queries<\/strong>,\u00a0<br \/>- <strong>controlling database access<\/strong>, and so on.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1594765905206\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What Is The Difference Between A \u201cDatabase\u201d And \u201cDatabase Management System\u201d?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>DBMSs are commonly referred to as <em>databases<\/em>. While this simplifies everyday conversation on the subject, it is not completely accurate\u00a0 \u2014 these two terms are not synonyms.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, <strong><em>database<\/em><\/strong> is somewhat of a generic term for any set of data, not just IT-related data. DBMS, on the other hand, is a specific term for the software that enables users to interact with computer-stored databases.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Different Models of DBMSs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Database management systems use different models that determine the way users store and interact with databases:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Hierarchical database model<\/li><li>Relational model<\/li><li>Network model<\/li><li>Object-oriented database model<\/li><li>Entity-relationship model<\/li><li>Document model<\/li><li>Entity-attribute-value model<\/li><li>Star schema<\/li><li>Object-relational model&nbsp; \u2014 a mixture of the relational and the object-oriented model<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>The relational database management systems, which we are analyzing here, use the relational data model for these tasks. This model organizes data in tables made up of columns and rows \u2014 or <strong>relations<\/strong>, as they are referred to in relational database management system terminology.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/VrFLCMl0FdJNAmMQI-5d14JwewI_qCNHJBuSJZ1DUNYZu-2jimyh7obAbYIH2hJAh1mO_9clU9ogrnXeGalHI4JJngmBiPBs2sS8psZGyRLhBrzfOo9rIfkZtYPZdfq342dQ1YrR\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>These relations (tables) consist of <strong>tuples<\/strong> (table rows), and each of those tuples has a set of <strong>attributes<\/strong> (table columns) that they relate to in the relation.<\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1594766088334\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What Query Language Do RDBMSs Use?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The most commonly used <strong>query language<\/strong> RDBMSs use for handling and querying data is structured query language or SQL. That being said, a lot of relational database management systems use a unique dialect of SQL instead of the generic structured query language in order to circumvent the limitations of the standard dialect and use extensions that enable users to execute more advanced functions.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>On Standard SQL<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll use the term <strong>\u2018standard SQL\u2019 to refer to this generic SQL query language<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>When it comes to SQL standards, there are a number of institutions that are in charge of regulating them. To clarify, when we use the term \u2018standard SQL\u2019 or \u2018the SQL standard\u2019, we will be talking about the to-date version of the standard for SQL issued by the following institutions:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iec.ch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IEC<\/a>&nbsp; \u2014 The International Electrotechnical Commission;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/home.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ISO<\/a>&nbsp; \u2014 The International Organization for Standardization;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ansi.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ANSI<\/a>&nbsp; \u2014The American National Standards Institute.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Additionally, bear in mind that the full structured query language standard is quite complex and needs to have all 179 features to qualify for the full core SQL:2011 compliance. For this reason, the majority of relational database management systems don\u2019t comply with the whole standard. However, the degree to which a particular RDBM complies with the full core can vary, as some relational database management systems comply with the SQL:2011 more than others.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Does It Work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Each column in the table receives a designated data type. This determines (and limits) the type of entries that could be entered in that particular column.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The data types implemented by the different relational database management systems can vary, and they are not always interchangeable by rule. Some commonly used data types are:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Integers<\/li><li>Booleans<\/li><li>Dates<\/li><li>Strings<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>There are two kinds of numeric data types: <strong>signed<\/strong> and <strong>unsigned<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Signed numeric data types indicate the data can stand for both positive and negative numbers. Unsigned types, on the other hand, indicate data that represents positive numbers only.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take MySQL\u2019s \u2018smallint\u2019 data type as an example. Its storage capacity is 2 bytes or 16 bits of data&nbsp; \u2014 when it comes to possible values, this translates into 65536 possible values. This means that the signed value range of this data type ranges from -32768 to 32767, and the unsigned value range, on the other hand, can go from 0 to a maximum value of 65535.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are SQL Constraints?<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>In some cases, database administrators can institute a&nbsp;<strong>constraint<\/strong>&nbsp;on the number of values that can be inserted in a table. These constraints can apply to either a single column (which is more frequent) or to the whole table.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Some of the constraints that are widely used in structured query language are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>UNIQUE<\/strong>: Ensures that all values in a column are unique.<\/li><li><strong>NOT NULL<\/strong>: A constraint that disallows the use of NULL entries within the relevant column.<\/li><li><strong>PRIMARY KEY<\/strong>: This constraint is a shortcut for the UNIQUE and NOT NULL constraints. It ensures that no entry in a particular column can be identical to another and that that same column can\u2019t have a NULL value.<\/li><li><strong>FOREIGN KEY<\/strong>: A constraint used to link two tables together via a field (or collection of fields) in the \u2018child\u2019 table that points to the PRIMARY KEY in the \u2018parent\u2019 table.<\/li><li><strong>CHECK<\/strong>: Restricts the range of values that users can insert in a relevant column. If you wish to, let\u2019s say, make your software available only to people that live in the state of Colorado, you can apply the CHECK constraint to a ZIP code column and set it up to permit entries from 80001 to 81658 only.<\/li><li><strong>DEFAULT<\/strong>: A constraint which serves to assign a default value to a column. The SQLite RDBMS, for example, will automatically insert this default value, except in cases where the user inserts a different value.<\/li><li><strong>INDEX<\/strong>: This is a constraint that helps the user extract data from a table faster, in a way that resembles an index in a textbook, as the name indicates. The query simply has to look into entries from the indexed column in order to reach the results it\u2019s searching for, which saves you the time you\u2019d spend looking into each separate entry from the table.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>The above is a short and generalized glance at relational database management systems. From here on we will continue by analyzing each of the three open-source RMDBSs that we are set to compare within this article. So, without further ado, let\u2019s begin with the first one.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SQLite<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The first relational database management system we\u2019ll look into is SQLite, which is an entirely open-source RDBMS.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The majority of the relational database engines use servers, that is, they relay requests to a host server. However, the SQLite website <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlite.org\/serverless.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">qualifies SQLite as a \u2018serverless\u2019<\/a> and self-contained RDBMS, also known as an embedded database. SQLite\u2019s engine works from within the application software that accesses the data.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This means that a process that needs to access the database can do so directly, without needing intermediation from a server to read from or write on the disk file.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This simplifies things when it comes to the setup of SQLite. Moreover, any program that uses SQLite doesn\u2019t need any additional configuration apart from access to the disk file.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SQLite is famous for being very reliable, portable, and for performing solidly even in low-memory environments. It has a library that is often under 600 kilobytes.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SQLite is a file-based RDBMS&nbsp; \u2014 it stores data in one file, which means it\u2019s simple to copy, store, and share it. Its transactions comply with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/23949\/atomicity-consistency-isolation-durability-acid-database-management-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACID<\/a> in a stable way, even during situations of a system crash or electrical failure.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>As an open-source program, you can use this RDBMS free of charge and without having to acquire a special license.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019d like to get additional extensions that help with compression and encryption, these come with a one-off charge. Some of them include:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The <strong>SQLite Encryption Extension (SEE) <\/strong>for $2000<\/li><li>The <strong>Compressed And Encrypted Read-Only Database (CEROD) <\/strong>for $2000<\/li><li>The <strong>ZIPVFS Read\/Write Compressed Database Extension<\/strong> for $4000<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Additionally, there are also several packages for commercial support that require a yearly subscription:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The <strong>Annual Maintenance Subscription<\/strong> for $1500 a year<\/li><li>The <strong>Technical Support<\/strong> package for $8000-50000 a year<\/li><li>The <strong>SQLite Consortium Membership<\/strong> for $85000 a year<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SQLite\u2019s Supported Data Types<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at the data types that SQLite allows, and the storage classes they belong to:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>null<\/strong> \u2014 Used for NULL values.<\/li><li><strong>integer<\/strong> \u2014 Used for signed integers. Depending on the magnitude of the value, these integers are stored in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 bytes.<\/li><li><strong>real<\/strong> \u2014 Used for real numbers or floating-point values, stored as 8-byte floating-point numbers.<\/li><li><strong>text<\/strong> \u2014 Used for text strings. The following database encoding can be used to store them: \u2014 UTF-8, UTF-16BE, or UTF-16LE.<\/li><li><strong>blob<\/strong> \u2014 Used for data blobs. Each blob is stored in the same way it was put in.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>You can use either \u2018data type\u2019 or \u2018storage class\u2019 when it comes to SQLite, as both of these terms refer to the same thing. You can visit SQLite\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlite.org\/datatype3.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">datatypes section<\/a> of its website if you want to know more about its data types and type affinity.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Advantages of SQLite&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Easy-Of-Use<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>One good thing about SQLite is how easy it is to use. Users often consider SQLite needs no prior configuration to work with \u2014 you can start using it right away after you get it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The fact that SQLite is a serverless RDBMS and uses no server process means that it has no configuration files you need to take care of, and is not necessary for you to stop or restart it.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This is what makes SQLite a rather user-friendly database, as all the abovementioned makes the whole process \u2014 from installing this database to its integration with your application \u2014 very quick and easy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lightweight<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>SQLite has one of the most compact libraries among RDBMSs, making it very lightweight, as the name itself suggests. Even though the space its library takes up can be different, its size determined by the system you install it on, it usually requires less than 600 kilobytes of space.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SQLite is also entirely self-contained \u2014 that is, it doesn\u2019t require you to install any external dependencies to work.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Portability<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Having this in mind, we should add that portability is also an important defining feat of SQLite. Other DBMSs store data in large clusters of several files. Unlike these, SQLite stores a whole database in just one file that can be situated anywhere in the hierarchy of the directory. This makes the file easily shareable through portable devices or through online transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Disadvantages of SQLite&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Concurrency Restrictions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Due to the fact that it\u2019s serverless, the SQLite system underperforms when it comes to multi-user capabilities, unlike other RDBMSs such as MySQL and PostgreSQL. Only a single process can modify an SQLite database at a time in SQLite, even though more than one process can access and query the database at once.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The effective concurrency SQLite can sustain is bigger than the majority of embedded DBMSs sustain. However, MySQL or PostgreSQL, as server-process based databases, can sustain a much bigger multi-user concurrency than SQLite.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>User Access Management<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Another setback when using SQLite, also related to the fact it is serverless and directly modifies data from the disk storage, is the lack of user management. Usually, DBMSs include support for their users or preconfigured management of database and table access rights, which is not the case with SQLite.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This RDBMS is rather limited when it comes to access rights. It relies entirely on access rights provided by the operating system it accesses because it reads and writes the files on the disk that uses this system directly. For software that aims to be used by a big number of users that should be given more specific access rights, SQLite is not a great option.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Weaker Security<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>The database files of SQLite are accessible to all who use it because it doesn\u2019t come with an inbuilt authentication mechanism. Server-based DBMSs, on the other hand, provide many inbuilt security features for stronger protection. An example of this would be protection against bugs in the client software&nbsp; \u2014 wild pointers in a client, for instance, cannot tamper with the memory of the server.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>DBMSs that are client-server based are more precise when managing access rights than serverless databases, too, because of the greater concurrency they sustain and the more in-depth locking possibilities they provide. This is due to the fact that servers are single persistent processes.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is SQLite Good For?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Embedded Applications<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>SQLite should be used when you want to have portable applications and you don\u2019t count on expanding them. That means SQLite is good for use by <strong>smart device applications\/games<\/strong> or <strong>single-user local applications<\/strong>, for instance.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Applications that aim to modify disk files without intermediate processes can make good use of SQLite. This RDBMS is useful for <strong>disk access replacement<\/strong>. SQLite makes this process easier because the usage of the structured query language is simple and functional.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Testing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Another thing SQLite is good for is <strong>testing<\/strong>. When you want to test an application, you should avoid doing it through a database management system based on a server process, as you may find it overwhelming. The perfect choice for testing would indeed be SQLite, as it includes an in-memory mode that helps users do tests faster and in a simpler way.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Shouldn't SQLite Be Used For?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Large Volumes of Data<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>SQLite can basically sustain <strong>a maximum of 140 terabyte-sized databases<\/strong> \u2014 that is, of course, if the disk and system it\u2019s being used on can sustain the same size. This makes SQLite not really ideal if you want to use it for a bigger quantity of data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>As <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlite.org\/whentouse.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stated on the SQLite website<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cSQLite supports databases up to 140 terabytes in size, assuming you can find a disk drive and filesystem that will support 140-terabyte files. Even so, when the size of the content looks like it might creep into the terabyte range, it would be good to consider a centralized client\/server database.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Concurrent Writing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>SQLite can be read simultaneously by an unlimited number of readers but only a single writer at a time. While this is not a problem in many situations where every application can queue up to do its database work, for applications that require more concurrency it can be pretty limiting. If your application needs more concurrent writers at once, you might be better off with a different DBMS.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Work That Depends On Network Access<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Being serverless, SQLite does not give direct network access to its data, but rather, the data is built into the application itself. In cases where <strong>the SQlite data and the application are on different physical devices, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlite.org\/whentouse.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>SQLite themselves<\/strong><\/a><strong> advocate the use of a client\/server database management system<\/strong> as a better solution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>MySQL<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>MySQL is a favorite for many users \u2014 the <a href=\"https:\/\/db-engines.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DB-Engines<\/a> site, which tracks DBMS popularity since 2012, ranks it highest among open-source relational database management systems.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>A number of the biggest websites worldwide \u2014 notably Facebook, Twitter, and Netflix \u2014 use MySQL as their database choice.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>MySQL offers its users many features, and it\u2019s pretty easy to get started with it. This is mostly due to:<\/p>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>There\u2019s a whole mountain of <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.mysql.com\/doc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">accessible documentation on MySQL<\/a>,<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/forums.mysql.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazing forums in their Developer Zone<\/a> where you can seek help,<\/li><li>And plenty of other easily accessible resources for this RDBMS online.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<p>This database does not fully comply with standard SQL but makes up for it by being faster and more stable. Although its developing team is constantly making efforts to make MySQL more adherent to standard SQL, they\u2019re still a bit behind. To compensate, MySQL provides some SQL modes and extensions to improve its adherence to standard SQL.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Applications that work with MySQL access the database through a particular daemon process&nbsp; \u2014 which is not the case with those that use serverless DBMSs like SQLite, for example.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>MySQL uses a server process that applications have to go through to reach the database. This means that users can enact higher levels of control over database access permissions.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Many users have developed separate tools, libraries, and software to help the community work with MySQL and improve its functionality.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Examples of such community-made tools include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.phpmyadmin.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">phpMyAdmin<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/dbeaver.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DBeaver<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heidisql.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HeidiSQL<\/a> and many others.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>MySQL's Supported Data Types&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>The types of data that this RDBMS supports belong to three general categories&nbsp; \u2014 <strong>numeric<\/strong>, <strong>date and time<\/strong>, and <strong>string types<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Numeric Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>tinyint<\/strong> \u2014 A tiny integer that can be signed or unsigned. Its signed allowable range is from -128 to 127 and its unsigned allowable range is from 0 to 255. You can specify a width of up to 4 digits.<\/li><li><strong>smallint<\/strong> \u2014 A small integer that can be signed or unsigned. Its signed allowable range is from -32768 to 32767 and its unsigned allowable range is from 0 to 65535. You can specify a width of up to 5 digits.<\/li><li><strong>mediumint<\/strong> \u2014 A medium-sized integer that can be signed or unsigned. Its signed allowable range is from -8388608 to 8388607 and its unsigned allowable range is from 0 to 16777215. You can specify a width of up to 9 digits.<\/li><li><strong>int<\/strong> or <strong>integer<\/strong> \u2014 A regular-sized integer that can be signed or unsigned. Its signed allowable range is from -2147483648 to 2147483647 and its unsigned allowable range is from 0 to 4294967295. You can specify a width of up to 11 digits.<\/li><li><strong>bigint<\/strong> \u2014 A large integer that can be signed or unsigned. Its signed allowable range is from -9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807 and its unsigned allowable range is from 0 to 18446744073709551615. You can specify a width of up to 20 digits.<\/li><li><strong>float<\/strong> \u2014 A small, or single-precision, floating-point number. It cannot be unsigned, and you can define its display length and number of decimals.<\/li><li><strong>double<\/strong>, <strong>double precision<\/strong>, or <strong>real<\/strong> \u2014 A normal-sized, or double-precision, floating-point number. It cannot be unsigned, and you can define its display length and number of decimals.<\/li><li><strong>dec<\/strong>, <strong>decimal<\/strong>, <strong>fixed<\/strong>, or <strong>numeric<\/strong> \u2014 A packed, or fixed-point, number. When the column is created, the display length of entries for this data type is determined \u2014 all entries must comply with this predetermined length.<\/li><li><strong>bool<\/strong> or <strong>boolean<\/strong> \u2014 A type of data with just two applicable values, and in most cases, those two are \u2018true\u2019 and \u2018false\u2019.<\/li><li><strong>bit<\/strong> \u2014 A data type that lets you determine how many bits (1 to 64) there are per value.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Date and Time Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>date<\/strong> \u2014 A date in the YYYY-MM-DD format.<\/li><li><strong>datetime<\/strong> \u2014 Used to display date and time in the YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format.<\/li><li><strong>timestamp<\/strong> \u2014 A timestamp that shows how many seconds have passed since 00:00:00 on January 1se, 1970&nbsp; \u2014 that is, the Unix epoch.<\/li><li><strong>time<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates time in the HH:MM:SS format.<\/li><li><strong>year<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates the year. There are two possible formats here&nbsp; \u2014 a 2 digit or a 4 digit, but the 4 digit is the default one.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>String Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>char<\/strong> \u2014 A string type whose length is fixed to the length you determine when you create the table length, this data type\u2019s entries are right-padded with spaces to this length.<\/li><li><strong>varchar<\/strong> \u2014 A string whose length can vary.<\/li><li><strong>binary<\/strong> \u2014 This type is similar to the char string, but the difference is that it isn\u2019t a nonbinary but rather a binary byte string with a determined length.<\/li><li><strong>varbinary<\/strong> \u2014 This type is similar to varchar, but the difference is that it isn\u2019t a nonbinary character string but rather a binary byte string whose length can vary.<\/li><li><strong>blob<\/strong> \u2014 This type is another binary string that has a maximum set length of 65535 bytes of data, that is 2^16&nbsp; \u2014 1.<\/li><li><strong>tinyblob<\/strong> \u2014 A blob that has a maximum set length of 255&nbsp; bytes of data, or 2^8&nbsp; \u2014 1.<\/li><li><strong>mediumblob<\/strong> \u2014 A blob that has a maximum set length of 16777215, or 2^24&nbsp; \u2014 1.<\/li><li><strong>longblob<\/strong> \u2014 A blob that has a maximum set length of 4294967295 bytes of data, or 2^32&nbsp; \u2014 1.<\/li><li><strong>text<\/strong> \u2014 A string that has a maximum set length of 65535 or 2^16&nbsp; \u2014 1.<\/li><li><strong>tinytext<\/strong> \u2014 A text that has a maximum set length of 255 characters, or 2^8&nbsp; \u2014 1.<\/li><li><strong>mediumtext<\/strong> \u2014 A text that has a maximum set length of 16777215 characters, or 2^24&nbsp; \u2014 1.<\/li><li><strong>longtext<\/strong> \u2014 A text that has a maximum set length of 4294967295 characters, or 2^32&nbsp; \u2014 1.<\/li><li><strong>enum<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates an enumeration, a string object taking one value from a list of values determined when creating the table.<\/li><li><strong>set<\/strong> \u2014 This type, similarly to the enumeration, is a string object with zero or more possible values, and every value has to be picked from a list of permitted values determined when creating the table.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Advantages of MySQL&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Established Reputation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>MySQL is one of the most famous DBMSs in the world, which means that <strong>many database admins are familiar with it already<\/strong>. Consequently, there are also many written guides, both on paper and online, that take users through the process of installing and working with MySQL. Some online resources include MySQL\u2019s official <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.mysql.com\/doc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">documentation<\/a>, its basic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mysqltutorial.org\/basic-mysql-tutorial.aspx\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tutorial<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.oracle.com\/javacomponents\/advanced-management-console-2\/install-guide\/mysql-database-installation-and-configuration-advanced-management-console.htm#JSAMI116\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">advanced management guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>There are also many separate tools and applications developed by the community that make the usage of MySQL easier for both beginners and more experienced users.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Security<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>The installation of MySQL includes a script that enables users <strong>to strengthen database security<\/strong> through determining the level of the installation\u2019s password security, assigning the root user with a password, eliminating anonymous accounts as well as test databases which all users have permissions to access by default.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>MySQL enables you to give access rights to each separate user as well, which is not the case with SQLite, for example.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Speed<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>The team behind MySQL created this database management system to be optimized for speed through purposefully not including some standard SQL features. MySQL is <strong>famous for being a fast database management system<\/strong>, even though tests have recently demonstrated that other RDBMSs like PostgreSQL are able to work nearly as fast.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Replication Support<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Another advantage of MySQL is that when it comes to <strong>database replication<\/strong>&nbsp; \u2014 the process of sharing information between multiple hosts in order to strengthen availability, reliability, and fault-tolerance \u2014 this DBSM supports several different kinds. Support for different replication types is useful if you want to scale your database or create a backup solution for it.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Disadvantages of MySQL&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>License Limitations<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>MySQL has an open-source free version with a GPLv2 license, as well as multiple commercial versions with proprietary licenses. <strong>A number of its plugins and features can be accessed solely by users of the commercial editions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lacks SQL Compliance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>This RDBMS is known for being fast and user-friendly, but in turn, it\u2019s <strong>not entirely SQL compliant<\/strong>. This means that MySQL has a more restricted functionality&nbsp; \u2014 for instance, it doesn\u2019t support <a href=\"https:\/\/fthiella.github.io\/mysql-full-outer-join\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">full outer joins<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Slower Development<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Users have also reported that development for MySQL isn\u2019t going as fast as before since Sun Microsystems <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20080116005349\/en\/Sun-Microsystems-Announces-Agreement-Acquire-MySQL-Developer#:~:text=%2D%2D(BUSINESS%20WIRE)%2D%2DSun,%241%20billion%20in%20total%20consideration.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">took over<\/a> the project in 2008 (and later Oracle Corporation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oracle.com\/sun\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bought Microsystems<\/a>). From then on the community is unable to enact changes and solve issues fast enough.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is MySQL Good For?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Distributed Operations<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>One thing you should use MySQL for is <strong>distributed operations<\/strong>, like primary-secondary or primary-primary architectures. The fact that it supports different kinds of replications makes MySQL great for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Internet Sites and Applications<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Another good use for MySQL would be <strong>the creation of sites and internet applications<\/strong>. It already supports many of these, mostly because of how fast it is, its simple installation and startup, and its long-term scalability.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Scaling<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>The replication support this DBSM boasts can also make <strong>horizontal scaling easier<\/strong>. It is also pretty easy to switch to a paid MySQL license, some of which support other horizontal scaling processes as well, like for instance automatic sharding.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Shouldn't MySQL Be Used For?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Work That Requires SQL Compliance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>In <strong>cases where it is obligatory to have full \u2014 or at least near-full \u2014 SQL compliance<\/strong>, MySQL is not an option.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Reaching full compliance with the SQL standard is not a priority for MySQL. If it\u2019s a priority to you, you should look for another DBMS.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Concurrency<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Another situation in which you shouldn\u2019t use MySQL is when you want to have multiple users writing data on your software all at the same time. Such operations are best handled by different RDBMSs, such as PostgreSQL for example.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>MySQL is mostly good with read-heavy operations, but an issue may arise when multiple read-write processes are done concurrently.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>PostgreSQL<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>PostgreSQL, \u0430 system that was initially called Postgres as it was a successor to the Ingres relational database management system, is an RDBMS that prioritizes on extensibility and standards compliance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>PostgreSQL sought to achieve two objectives in particular:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>to be well suited for allowing adding new capabilities and functionality;<\/li><li>to attain standards compliance.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<p>This is an object-relational database, in other words, in addition to being a relational database, PostgreSQL also includes more complex features that are usually connected with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/encyclopedia\/term\/object-database\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">object databases<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Moreover, PostgreSQL has high concurrency, that is, the ability to do parallel, non-blocking transactions with efficiency. By implementing Multiversion Concurrency Control (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.keydb.dev\/docs\/pro-mvcc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MVCC<\/a>), it can simultaneously handle various tasks with no read locks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This, in turn, guarantees adherence to ACID, i.e. the characteristics of its database transactions that ensure validity even in cases where errors occur.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>In terms of popularity, MySQL is much more widespread among users in comparison to PostgreSQL, which means that there are many more software packages that help you work with it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Nevertheless, there are various third-party tools and libraries, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/hexdocs.pm\/postgrex\/readme.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Postgrex<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pypi.org\/project\/psycopg2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Psycopg<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pgadmin.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pgAdmin<\/a>,&nbsp; and <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/paxa\/postbird\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Postbird<\/a>, which can streamline your work with PostgreSQL as well.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>PostgreSQL's Supported Data Types&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Like MySQL, PostgreSQL allows numeric, string, and time data types, in addition to types for bit strings, geometric shapes, network addresses, text searches, JSON entries, and various idiosyncratic types.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Numeric Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>bigint<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates a signed 8-byte integer.<\/li><li><strong>bigserial<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates an autoincrementing 8-byte integer.<\/li><li><strong>double precision<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates an 8-byte double-precision floating-point number.<\/li><li><strong>integer \u2014 <\/strong>Indicates a signed 4-byte integer.<\/li><li><strong>numeric<\/strong> or <strong>decimal<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates a number of selectable precision, best used when you must be exact, like in sums of money for instance.<\/li><li><strong>real<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates a 4-byte single-precision floating-point number.<\/li><li><strong>smallint<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates a signed 2-byte integer.<\/li><li><strong>smallserial<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates an autoincrementing 2-byte integer.<\/li><li><strong>serial \u2014 <\/strong>Indicates an autoincrementing 4-byte integer.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Character Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>character<\/strong> \u2014 A fixed-length character with space padded.<\/li><li><strong>character varying<\/strong> or <strong>varchar<\/strong>&nbsp; \u2014 A character of a variable but restricted length.<\/li><li><strong>text<\/strong> \u2014 A character of a variable, unrestricted length.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Date and Time Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>date<\/strong> \u2014 A date in a calendar showing the day, the month, and the year.<\/li><li><strong>interval<\/strong> \u2014 A period of time.<\/li><li><strong>time<\/strong> or <strong>time without time zone<\/strong> \u2014 A time of the day, not showing the time zone.<\/li><li><strong>time with time zone<\/strong> \u2014 A time of the day and the time zone.<\/li><li><strong>timestamp<\/strong> or <strong>timestamp without time zone<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates date and time, not showing the time zone.<\/li><li><strong>timestamp with time zone<\/strong> \u2014 Indicates date and time as well as the time zone.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Geometric Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>box<\/strong> \u2014 A box of rectangular shape.<\/li><li><strong>circle<\/strong> \u2014 A closed circle.<\/li><li><strong>line<\/strong> \u2014 An infinite set of points.<\/li><li><strong>lseg \u2014 <\/strong>A segment from the line.<\/li><li><strong>path \u2014 <\/strong>A geometric path.<\/li><li><strong>point \u2014 <\/strong>A geometric point.<\/li><li><strong>polygon<\/strong> \u2014 A closed geometric shape.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Network Address Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>cidr<\/strong> \u2014 An IPv4 and IPv6 network.<\/li><li><strong>inet<\/strong> \u2014 An IPv4 and IPv6 host and network.<\/li><li><strong>macaddr<\/strong> \u2014 A <a href=\"https:\/\/techterms.com\/definition\/macaddress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MAC<\/a> address.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bit String Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>bit \u2014 <\/strong>A bit string of fixed length.<\/li><li><strong>bit varying \u2014 <\/strong>A bit string of variable length.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Text Search Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>tsquery<\/strong> \u2014 A text query.<\/li><li><strong>tsvector<\/strong> \u2014 A text document.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>JSON Types&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>json \u2014 <\/strong>A data type for storing JSON textual data.<\/li><li><strong>jsonb<\/strong> \u2014&nbsp; JSON textual data stored in decomposed binary format.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other Data Types&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>boolean \u2014 <\/strong>Indicates a Boolean with two possible values&nbsp; \u2014&nbsp; \u2018true\u2019 and \u2018false\u2019.<\/li><li><strong>bytea \u2014 <\/strong>It stands for \u201cbyte array\u201d and allows the storage of binary strings.<\/li><li><strong>money \u2014 <\/strong>A sum of money.<\/li><li><strong>pg_lsn<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>\u2014 <\/strong>Used for storing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibm.com\/support\/knowledgecenter\/SSEPGG_9.7.0\/com.ibm.db2.luw.admin.ha.doc\/doc\/c0057411.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LSN<\/a>.<\/li><li><strong>txid_snapshot<\/strong>&nbsp; \u2014 Used for taking a&nbsp; snapshot of a transaction ID on a user level.<\/li><li><strong>uuid<\/strong> \u2014 Used for storing a <a href=\"https:\/\/searchapparchitecture.techtarget.com\/definition\/UUID-Universal-Unique-Identifier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UUID<\/a>.<\/li><li><strong>xml<\/strong> \u2014 Used for storing <a href=\"https:\/\/whatis.techtarget.com\/definition\/XML-Extensible-Markup-Language#:~:text=Extensible%20Markup%20Language%20(XML)%20is,well%20as%20via%20corporate%20networks.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XML data<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Advantages of PostgreSQL&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SQL Compliance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>The first advantage of using PostgreSQL is the fact <strong>it complies with the SQL standard much more than SQLite or MySQL<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>PostgreSQL\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.postgresql.org\/docs\/current\/features.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official documentation<\/a> indicates that this relational database management system supports 160 out of 179 features needed for a database to fully comply with SQL:2011, and it also supports a number of optional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.postgresql.org\/about\/featurematrix\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">features<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Focuses On Community&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>What is more, Postgres is <strong>a 100% open source project<\/strong>, whose source code is developed by a committed Postgres community of non-negligible size.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This community also takes care of and contributes to various resources online, where one can gain insight into what working with PostgreSQL is like. If you want to explore it, feel free to visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/wiki.postgresql.org\/wiki\/Main_Page\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PostgreSQL wiki<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Very Extensible<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Finally, the fact that <strong>PostgreSQL is highly extensible<\/strong> is another critical aspect to consider. It stores more information in catalogs than other DBMSs, facilitating the extension process for users. This RDBMS\u2019s extensibility is great for research and scientific projects.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>In addition, PostgreSQL\u2019s dynamic loading further enhances its extensible character, as user-written code can be incorporated into the PostgreSQL server. For instance, users can identify an object code file that implements a new function and PostgreSQL will load it as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Disadvantages of PostgreSQL&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Memory Usage<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Despite the many advantages of Postgres listed above, this RDBMS has its drawbacks, as well. One of the biggest drawbacks is the issue of <strong>memory performance<\/strong>. While Postgres is highly efficient concurrency-wise, the issue here is that it reserves approximately 10MB RAM for each new client connection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This means that Postgres requires more RAM in order to support this concurrency. Therefore, read-heavy operations will perform better on other RDBMSs, such as MySQL.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recently Popularized<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Another disadvantage to bear in mind is its <strong>popularity<\/strong> among users. Recently, Postgres has been growing in popularity, however, historically, this RDBMS was much less widespread than other RDBMS, such as MySQL.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>As a result, PostgreSQL has a lot less to offer in terms of third-party tools that can help you work with it, making it somewhat more complex to use. At the same time, there are many more database admins that are experienced in working with a MySQL database, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is PostgreSQL Good For?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Data Integrity<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>In instances where <strong>data integrity<\/strong> is crucial, you may want to go with PostgreSQL. This is because this system fully complies with ACID (i.e. atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability) since 2001 and does multi-version currency control to make sure data stays consistent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tool Integration<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>In addition, in cases where you have to integrate your database with a particular tool or if you have to migrate it, PostgreSQL should be your DBMS of choice, as it <strong>scores quite high when it comes to compatibility with other platforms and programming languages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Complex Operations<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Finally, PostgreSQL is definitely one of the best DBMSs in terms of performing complex operations, such as <strong>processing online transactions or data warehousing<\/strong>. This is thanks to its ability to sustain concurrent writers, as well as its support for query plans that can use several CPUs for answering queries faster.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Shouldn't PostgreSQL Be Used For?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Speed<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p><strong>In a project where speed is crucial<\/strong>, you may want to avoid PostgreSQL. This DBMS is not the best when it comes to speed, precisely because, as mentioned above, it is highly extensible and compatible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Moreover, <strong>if there are simple database setups<\/strong> in question, then you may want to reconsider choosing PostgreSQL.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Simple Setups<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Postgres has a large set of features and adheres strongly to standard SQL, which means that it can be too much when it comes to simple setups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Complex Replication<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<p>Finally, there is the issue of <strong>complex replication<\/strong>. As is the case with many other applications, replication in MySQL, for example, is simpler than in PostgreSQL.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>If you are interested in DB replication, but you don't want to deal with extensions in PostgreSQL, then you should make the same choice that many users do and go with MySQL instead.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion \u2013 The Search For The Best Relational Database Management System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>MySQL, SQLite, and PostgreSQL are currently the most popular open-source relational database management system in the world. Figuring out which is best for your situation will never solely depend on factors such as speed or the number of features alone.&nbsp; For example, this is how Bento\u2019s founder, Jesse Hanley, came to the decision that PostgreSQL was the right choice for his customer messaging platform for eCommerce &amp; SaaS companies:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>For us, it was an easy decision. PostgreSQL provides us with three things that we couldn\u2019t get (at least not easily)in other solutions: community, time, and peace of mind. Because PostgreSQL has been deployed at millions of companies you will find that there is rarely a question that someone much smarter than you hasn\u2019t already solved. Additionally, there\u2019s a thriving market for companies who are extending it past its limits to make it so much more powerful (such as TimeScaleDB). We\u2019ve also heard one too many stories of businesses who almost went out of business due to their choice of database management system \u2013 a quick search on HackerNews will show the stories \u2013 and frankly, we just don\u2019t want to worry about it. PostgreSQL is here to stay and we couldn\u2019t be happier with our choice 3 years into scaling this business.<\/em> <br><br><strong>Jesse Hanley, Founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/bentonow.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bento<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>And, as covered throughout the article, each option has its advantages, disadvantages, and most importantly also a set of specific situations in which they work best...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Relational data structures that organize data in tables of rows and columns form the basis of how most online services we use function. Although there are other data models, relational database management systems remain the global standard for storing and managing data. So in this article, we\u2019re going to dive deep and compare the three  &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":5178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[226,177,228,227],"class_list":["post-5170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-comparisons","tag-database","tag-mysql","tag-postgresql","tag-sqlite"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5170"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13034,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5170\/revisions\/13034"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ssdnodes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}