What is a Database? - Definition & Meaning
Learn what a database is, the difference between relational and non-relational databases, and how SQL works. Discover PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MongoDB.
Definition
A database is an organized collection of structured data stored and managed electronically. Databases form the foundation of virtually every modern application, from e-commerce stores to enterprise software.
Technical explanation
Relational databases (RDBMS) such as PostgreSQL and MySQL organize data in tables with rows and columns, establishing relationships through foreign keys. SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard language for querying and manipulating this data. PostgreSQL offers advanced features including JSONB columns, full-text search, and comprehensive indexing options like GiST and GIN indexes. MySQL excels at read-heavy workloads due to its speed optimizations. Non-relational databases (NoSQL) like MongoDB store data as documents (BSON/JSON), enabling flexible schemas. Redis functions as an in-memory key-value store for ultra-fast data access. The choice between SQL and NoSQL depends on data structure, query patterns, and scalability requirements. ACID compliance ensures transaction integrity in relational databases, while NoSQL databases often follow the BASE model for higher availability. Connection pooling through tools like PgBouncer optimizes database connections in production environments.
How MG Software applies this
At MG Software, we use PostgreSQL as the primary database for most client projects due to its robustness and rich feature set. For projects requiring flexible data models, we combine this with MongoDB. We deploy Supabase as a managed PostgreSQL platform, providing our clients with real-time database functionality without complex infrastructure management.
Practical examples
- An e-commerce store using PostgreSQL to store products, orders, and customer data, with indexed queries returning search results within milliseconds.
- A healthcare application leveraging MongoDB to flexibly store unstructured patient records where each document can have a different schema.
- A SaaS platform implementing row-level security with Supabase so each tenant can only access their own data.
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Frequently asked questions
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