5 Types of Popular Databases 11 April, 2019   

Databases play a crucial role. You must be aware of their worth in the existing scenario in IT environments. They store information which can range from repositories of customer information to product catalogs. Database management is vital for easy access to information as well as comprehension.

These help in sorting information as well as linking the reports to one another. Having said this, the database ecosystem is subjected to continuous evolution to suit the demands of the IT environment, and as such it's necessary for you to know the different types of databases that are most popularly used.

Database based on Application

Monitoring of databases is a topmost priority in any IT installation. It is no wonder that you would want to check out the pros and cons of each database tool that is available today based on your requirements. You need to ask yourself certain questions such as – Where is your business headed to? Or, are you ready to scale up? Answering these questions will help you make the right move when it comes to choosing the most suitable database as per your requirement.  

Most trending types of databases

Currently, if we take a look at the market sector, we will note that the segment is dominated by IBM, Oracle, SQL Server, and DB2. No matter which database you choose, you need to consider certain parameters such as the number of clients you would be servicing, the amount of data that needs to be managed, the response times expected by the clients and the kind of database that your business demands. 

Although all types of databases seem to perform the same task of creating, editing and accessing information, the manner in which this task is accomplished may vary significantly. Moreover, the support, functionality, and features offered by different types of databases may vary significantly.

Hence, it is crucial to look into the features as well as the pros and cons of each database system before adopting one for your business. Here are some of the latest versions of databases that are have been trending currently.   

1. Oracle

If we take a look at the different types of databases, it would not be wrong to call Oracle as the king of databases. It is popular amongst all developers as it has amazing features to offer, is easy to use, has robust codes, well-written documents and plenty of other useful features.

The 12c is the latest version of Oracle which has been designed for the cloud. It can be hosted on both multiple or single servers. It permits the management of databases which hold billions of records. The latest version includes a grid framework which employs both logical and physical structures. 

Pros:

• Ideal for large firms handling enormous databases

• Offers latest features and innovations thereby setting a benchmark for other database tools

• Is robust and reliable  

Cons:

• The cost may not match the budget set by smaller firms

• Demands significant resources and hardware upgrades 

2. Microsoft SQL Server

This SQL Server database system has been developed by Microsoft and is easy to acquire and use. The performance of this database has improved tremendously with its integration with Microsoft Azure. It also allows the integration of information from other servers for enhancing its usability.

This system works with local as well as servers based on the cloud, thus allowing for a highly scalable platform. The latest version of this tool supports temporal data which permits users to track modifications made to the data over time. The version as well supports dynamic data masking which permits only authorized users to handle sensitive data.  

Pros:

• Compatible with Microsoft products

• Stable and fast 

• Visualizations can be accessed on mobile devices

• The core database engine delivers impeccable performance 

• Great additional features offered such as reporting services, analysis services, and integration services

• Ideal for larger firms that use several Microsoft products 

Cons:

• Several individuals have reported issues while importing files using the integration services

• Enterprise pricing is not affordable for small-scale businesses

3. MySQL

This is one of the most popular databases when it comes to web-based applications. It is updated frequently for upgrading the security and other features. Despite being a freeware, the paid versions can prove to be immensely useful for commercial purposes. Users are promised an array of features as well as reliability and speed with the paid versions. 

You can choose from a variety of storage engines which permits you to handle data with much ease as well as change the functionality of your tools. This database runs on Solaris, FreeBSD, OSX, Windows, and Linux. An intuitive graphical interface is offered to the users for designing database tables. Being an open-source community, this database tool is home to ample information and tutorials for getting started and resolving your queries.   

Pros:

• Can be accessed for free

• Offers different functionalities despite being a free database engine

• Can be integrated with other types of databases such as Oracle and DB2 

• Ideal for firms which are looking for a robust tool for database management but with a budget constraint 

Cons:

• You need to pay for additional support services

• No built-in support for OLAP or XML

• You will have to spend some time creating incremental backups which are done automatically on other database tools 

4. MongoDB

This is the most popular NoSQL database management tool which supports a wide range of programming languages such as Java, Groovy, Scala and others. This database has been designed for applications which employ both unstructured and structured data. The engine is very versatile, and it works by connecting applications and databases with the database drivers. 

Owing to the comprehensive list of drivers available, it would not be hard for you to find a driver which is compatible with the programming language that you are using. The latest version of this tool is MongoDB 3.6 which features storage engines that are pluggable. With this, the documents can be validated even during inserts and updates. There is a lot of improvement in the text search functions in this model. Improved performance is assured with the partial index capability of this version.   

Pros:

• Easy to use

• High performance is promised on large databases

• Best for defining indexes and for dynamic queries

• Data can be stored and accessed quickly regardless of the structure

• You can increase the overall efficiency of the setup by adding more RAM and machines 

Cons:

• The default settings are not secure

• The setup process consumes a lot of time

• SQL is not utilized as a query language

• Data sizes could be higher as each and every document is stored with field names  

• Lack of flexibility in approach when compared 

5. DB2 

DB2 offered by IBM has turned into a robust relational database management system over the years. It enjoys a strong market presence despite tough competition from MySQL, Oracle, and other tools. This tool features a powerful SQL dialect as opposed to Microsoft SQL.

DB2 offers multiple platform support including Sun, Linux, HP-UX, Aix, and Windows. This flexibility makes it one of the best in the market in addition to the better performance offered by it. The major advantage offered by this database management tool is that IBM regularly offers updates and patches after thorough testing. The quality support ensures stability throughout. 

The latest version of this tool features a lot of improvements. One such feature is BLU Acceleration which has been designed to make this tool work faster. Data skipping is the reason behind this improvement which also promises disaster recovery functions, analytics, and compatibility.

Pros:

• It can be hosted on both physical and cloud servers at the same time

• Multiple tasks can be run at the same time employing the Task Scheduler

• Exit and error codes help in the identification of the jobs being run via Task Scheduler

• Quality and reliable support offered by IBM

Cons:

• Not suitable for smaller organizations with a fixed budget

• Additional software and third-party tools needed to make secondary nodes work

• Basic support is offered for initial three years after which you need to pay for the services

A database system is very essential for software development. It is crucial to pick the best database management system to render the software architecture concrete. If you are a developer, then you obviously have a lot of choices to pick from. However, business establishments need to look into the usability of the various types of databases in their environment.

If you are running a smaller firm with a fixed budget, then you obviously cannot opt for a database management tool which demands a lot of investment. It only makes sense if you begin with a free or cheaper version and upgrade it later on.