Choosing between SQL and NoSQL

Choosing between SQL and NoSQL

When it comes to choosing database between SQL and NoSQL, it’s become tough and sometimes developer makes mistakes to choose correctly maybe under someone influence OR just wanted to learn new technologies.

I personally saw a case where the project was not qualified for NoSQL database but still developer(s) chose MongoDB, because they just wanted to experience it and were great fond of MongoDB.

In this article, I will briefly explain all points that need to be considered while choosing between SQL and NoSQL. So, before comparing both, let’s have a little bit understanding of both database types.

SQL databases are primarily called Relational Databases (RDBMS), whereas NoSQL databases are primarily called non-relational or distributed databases.

SQL databases let you pre-defined schemas to determine the structure of data before you work on it. Users need to define tables, data types, view etc. to work with SQL database. Also, the user can define relationships between tables which avoid duplicate records. Like when you think of data like order

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Like the order table holds reference of Product ID which customer has ordered.

Whereas NoSQL is un-structured data which can be Document-oriented, column-oriented, graph-based OR key-value store. When you imagine order in NoSQL, you can think of something like

Where single order has everything need to define Order at this node only. This doesn’t need to be joined with any other table etc.

Now, you got some understanding of both databases, lets compare

So, till here we got some understanding of both database types and compared both.

When To Use: SQL vs NoSQL

SQL database is a very good choice for relational data which is structural. A benefit of a relational database is that when one user updates a specific record, every instance of the database automatically refreshes, and that information is provided in real-time.

While NoSQL is good when the availability of big data is more crucial, SQL is valued for ensuring data validity. It’s also a wise decision when a business needs to expand in response to shifting customer demands. NoSQL offers high performance, flexibility, and ease of use.

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Still confused about what to use?? SQL/NoSQL

The answer to this question is completed based upon the target audience. Let understand by an example in more details

There is a book shop, so to manage Shop, owners have ordered racks and put all related books into same rack to manage this, exactly like you see any shopping malls where all similar items are been placed in a single rack. (SQL database types)

Now, the same bookstore has tied up with a school and supply schoolbooks. At time of admission, everyone comes to the shop to purchase book. Let’s I went to store to take 6th class books which is set of 12 books and 10 copies. To get me a complete set of books, owners must visit 12 racks (assuming 1 rack for each book type), which is very time consuming. ?

What if the shopkeeper took a bag and packed all books and copies (complete set) into bags already. When I went to bookstore, I ordered for 6th class book set, and he handed over already packed bag to me. (NoSQL database types)

But now, admissions are over, and customers are coming to purchase single items, so bags don’t seem like a good choice for handling single item purchase items. Shopkeeper must switch back to rack system (SQL database types)

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In the above example, you see very closely that data is same. But in some cases, SQL seems best choice and come cases NoSQL seems best choice.

Choosing database, target audience plays a crucial role to choose correct type of database.

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