Types of Databases
Here is a nonexhaustive list of the existing types of databases and how they differentiate from one another.
Table of Contents
- Define “Database”
- Relational Database
- Navigational Database
- Object-Oriented Database (OOD)
- NoSQL
- Cloud Database
- Self-Driving Database
Define “Database”
A database is an organised collection of structured information/data typically stored electronically in a computer system; the most common type of databases is in the form of tables.
Relational Database
- a type of database that stores and provides access to data points that are related to one another
- in the form of tables
- became popular in 1980s
Navigational Database
- hierarchical database
- tree-like model
- one-to-many relationships
- network database
- multiple relationships
- the earliest type of databases
Object-Oriented Database (OOD)
- information in OOD is represented in the form of objects
- popular in 1990s
NoSQL
- “no sequel”
- non-relational database
- unstructured and semi-structured data
- e.g. key-value pairs
Cloud Database
- a database that is built, deployed, and accessed in a cloud environment
Self-Driving Database
- newest & most groundbreaking
- cloud-based
- use machine learning to automate database tuning, security, backups, updates, and other routine management tasks traditionally performed by database administrators