Databases in the Real World: From SQL to NoSQL
Databases in the Real World: From SQL to NoSQL Choosing a database is not just a technical decision. It affects how you model data, how fast your app runs, and how easy it is to grow. In practice, teams pick between SQL and NoSQL by weighing structure, flexibility, and scale. The good news is you can mix approaches to match different needs in a single project. Where SQL shines Structured data and clear relationships Complex queries, joins, and precise aggregations Strong consistency and ACID guarantees Mature tooling, standards, and a large talent pool Where NoSQL shines Flexible or evolving schemas Large volumes of data and high write throughput Easy horizontal scaling across many servers Diverse models: document, key-value, column-family, graph Common patterns live in the real world. An online store often uses SQL to manage customers, products, and orders, while product catalogs with varied attributes fit a document store. Logs and session data can sit in a key-value or column-family store for fast access. A social app may blend a graph database for relationships with a relational store for transactions. ...