What is a Database Server?

When you are dealing with a large system, you always need data for storage and usage. As times have advanced, data storage systems too have advanced. These systems are called as database servers.

For IT programmers, it is a very essential tool for storing and retrieving data. Instead of consuming the memory of their in-built devices, they just have to dump data in these large storage memories. These database servers have many types for use. In this post, we will see the various types of database servers

Table of Contents

As discussed earlier, a database server system is a software tool that is used to store data for retrieval or manipulation. It is used for large-scale systems and not small data requirements. Simply, suppose you have an application where you are required to dump data in memory every minute.

If this data was stored in local storage areas, then it would overflow within a few days. Local memory storage is not designed for such bulk data. So, these software tools are designed to store bulk data. It works in a background process and is not compulsorily required to open the software.

As it is a server, it works on a client-server model. It stores data and then whichever client requests for data, it will pass on to it. The server will take data from multiple clients and then manage which is required by whom. Besides all this, security is maintained and no one can access data easily. The visualization of the tools is good enough for programmers to use them efficiently. A computer system is required first of all for installing this software. Once done, you can integrate it with your various programs for dumping data in it and then use it for some other work.

Database servers are majorly of two types – relational and non-relational. Relational uses tables, rows, and columns where every data is related to real date and time. It is always on dependency with each other. Non-relational one uses different methods for storing like keying, documents, or graphs. In this, data is not structured or queues and is based on how they just come and how they go. There are no boundaries of time and date in it.

Types of Database Servers

Some of the popular database servers are MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL, SQLite, Microsoft Access, and MongoDB.

MySQL

MySQL is a relational database. MySQL is open license software and can be expanded only to a certain limit. MySQL is easy to learn. MySQL can work with multiple OS types like Windows, Linux, IRIS, etc. MySQL supports structured and semi-structured data.

MariaDB

MariaDB can be said as an extended version of MySQL. MariaDB possesses a higher memory storage than MySQL. Also, you can write additional queries in it. MariaDB is also more secure.

Oracle

Oracle is a highly advanced database software which is relational in nature, but also supports models like graphs, documents and keys. So, Oracle can be termed as a mixture of relation and non-relation, through it is on a relational higher side. Oracle is a proprietary license, meaning it is fully owned by Oracle company and not a public one. Oracle supports all structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. But it is very hard to learn.

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is too a mixture of both relational and non-relational types. PostgreSQL is an open-source type and supports all types of data structures. PostgreSQL is also available in Android and iOS versions. One main advantage is that programmers can create their data types here.

Microsoft SQL Server

This one is a relational database system. You can write queries in C++, C or assembly language. Though it is hard to learn, it has more features inside for supporting programmers. It is a proprietary license version and fully owned by Microsoft.

Microsoft Access

Microsoft SQL Server is similar in looks to MS Excel, which makes it easy for programmers to work upon. Microsoft SQL Server can collect all types of data formats and also easy for writing of queries and reports. In fact, it’s query writing is very powerful. As it similar to Excel, you can also create macros for doing automatic works easily. But it is not easy to learn; though it is very useful for large scale projects due to it’s size.

SQLite

SQLite is used for small-scale applications due to its size limitations. You can write queries in only C language. SQLite is the easiest to learn in all types. But it lacks advanced features and is not suitable for large-scale applications.

MongoDB

MongoDB is a non-relational type of database. Basically, MongoDB uses document type language and dumping style for the same. This means data is stored in form of documents. MongoDB uses horizontal scaling approach for programming.

Comparison of Servers

Criteria	MySQL	MariaDB	Oracle	PostgreSQL	Microsoft SQL Server	SQLite	Microsoft Access	MongoDB
Type	Relational	Relational	Relational	Relational	Relational	Relational (Embedded)	Relational (Desktop)	NoSQL (Document)
License	Open Source (GPL)	Open Source (GPL, LGPL)	Proprietary	Open Source (PostgreSQL License)	Proprietary	Public Domain	Proprietary	Open Source (SSPL)
Primary Use	Web applications, e-commerce, online transactions	Similar to MySQL, with additional features	Enterprise solutions, large-scale applications	General purpose, advanced features	Enterprise environments, business applications	Embedded systems, mobile apps, small to medium applications	Small-scale applications, desktop applications	Big data, real-time analytics, content management
ACID Compliance	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (with limitations)
Scalability	High (with optimization)	High (with optimization)	Very high	High	Very high	Low (not designed for scalability)	Low (not intended for large-scale applications)	High (horizontal scaling)
Replication & Clustering	Supported	Supported	Advanced features	Supported	Advanced features	Not supported	Not supported	Advanced features
Stored Procedures & Triggers	Supported	Supported	Supported	Supported	Supported	Limited support	Supported	Limited (JavaScript functions)
Query Language	SQL	SQL	PL/SQL	SQL, PL/pgSQL	T-SQL	SQL	SQL-like	BSON, JavaScript
Security Features	Good	Good	Advanced	Good	Advanced	Basic	Basic	Good
Community & Support	Large community, extensive third-party tools	Growing community, strong open-source support	Extensive enterprise support, large community	Large community, strong open-source support	Extensive enterprise support, large community	Large community, extensive documentation	Limited, mostly community-driven	Large community, commercial support available

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