Relational vs. Non-Relational Databases: Identifying the Right Fit for Your Project

Introduction

As a software engineer, I've had the opportunity to work on diverse projects, including an School Management (SMS) ERP platform, a food delivery platform, e-commerce website. Each project presented unique challenges and requirements, leading me to explore the fundamental question: Should I choose a relational or non-relational database? The choice of a database is then critical. Let me take you behind the scenes of these projects to reveal why the database choice can make or break your system. In this article, I’ll share insights from my experiences and help you determine which database type is best suited for your next project.

Understanding the Basics

Before we start, let us clearly define what is  a databases, why do we need a database. AWS (https://aws.amazon.com/what-is/database/) define it as an electronically stored, systematic collection of data where you can store any types of data including words, numbers, images, videos and files. You can then use a DBMS (Database Management System) to store, retrieve and edit your data. It is then crucial to any person or organization to handle his data ! Either a database is Relational or non-relational.

Relational Databases

Relational databases, like MySQL and PostgreSQL, store data in structured tables with defined relationships. They excel in scenarios where data integrity and complex queries are essential.

Strengths:

• ACID Compliance: Relational databases offer Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability (ACID) properties for transactions, ensuring data integrity and reliability even in case of system failures.
• Structured Query Language (SQL): Powerful querying capabilities.
• Data Integrity: Enforced through relationships and constraints.
• Joins and Aggregates: Complex querying capabilities in relational databases enable easy data aggregation and joining of related tables, providing a comprehensive view of data relationships and trends.

Non-Relational Databases

Non-relational databases, such as MongoDB and Cassandra, offer flexibility in data storage, often using JSON-like documents. They are ideal for unstructured data and rapid scaling.

Strengths:

• Scalability: Easily handles large volumes of data across distributed systems.
• Flexible Data Models: The schema-less nature of NoSQL databases allows for more adaptable data storage models, simplifying the management of diverse and unstructured data types commonly found in e-commerce applications.
• Performance: Optimized for high-speed operations and real-time analytics.
• High Availability and Fault Tolerance: NoSQL databases often provide built-in support for replication and data partitioning, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance even in case of node failures or network outages.

So in conclusion, Let’s skip the jargon and think of that as libraries and warehouses:

1. A Relational (SQL) Databases can be identified as A Library: Which is a strict organization, labeled shelves (tables), and rules to keep everything in place.
2. A Non-Relational (NoSQL) Databases is assimilated as A Warehouse: Which has Flexible storage, toss boxes (documents) anywhere, and scale horizontally when space runs out.

Why does this matter? Your project’s data behavior decides the winner !        

When to Use one database over another ?

When to Use Relational Databases

During the development of the School Management Platform ERP platform, the need for strict data integrity and complex reporting led me to choose a relational database. Here’s why:

• Complex Transactions: The platform required reliable transaction processing for managing user accounts and messages while ensuring tuition fees payment is recorded seamlessly.
• Data Relationships: The interconnected nature of user data and message logs benefitted from the structured approach of relational databases.

When to Use Non-Relational Databases

In contrast, the food delivery platform called for rapid development and flexibility. Here’s how a non-relational database proved advantageous:

• Rapid Scaling: The platform experienced fluctuating user demand, necessitating a database that could scale seamlessly.
• Dynamic Data Models: As the menu items and user preferences changed frequently, a flexible schema allowed for quick adaptations without downtime.

Lesson Learned: If your app involves money, compliance, or intricate reporting, relational databases are your ally. If not, using a NoSQL database will be the best choice for you solution.

Case Study: E-commerce Website

The right database ensures your online shop's high performance, reliability, and scalability, directly impacting customer satisfaction, sales, and revenue generation. A properly chosen and managed database can offer the following benefits: performance, scalability, reliability, data-driving decision. You can check more here https://appmaster.io/blog/the-ideal-database-for-e-commerce-store

So for the e-commerce website, you can choose a hybrid approach:

• Relational Database for Transactions: Ensured data integrity for orders and payments.
• Non-Relational Database for Product Catalog: Managed a diverse and evolving range of products with ease.

Your Decision Framework Can be as follows, to decide on which database you will be using:

Ask these questions:

1. Is data consistency life-or-death? (e.g., banking) -> SQL.
2. Will your data model evolve unpredictably? (e.g., startups) -> NoSQL.
3. Do you need both? Hybridize!

Answering these questions will help you Identify which one best fit your project. But there are some questions we need to point out! When using a hybrid database approach (combining SQL and NoSQL), one common concern is: Will managing two databases be too difficult? Specifically:

• Complexity: Is it challenging to maintain and synchronize two systems?
• Latency: Could there be delays when the system needs to interact with one database before querying the other?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have you worked with hybrid database setups? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? Share your experiences in the comments below!        

 Conclusion

Choosing between relational and non-relational databases is not a one-size-fits-all decision. It’s essential to assess your project’s requirements, including data structure, scalability, and transaction integrity. By leveraging my experiences from various projects, I hope to guide you in making an informed decision that aligns with your goals.

Let’s Connect!

👋 I’m Aubin SIAHA , a software engineer passionate about turning technical puzzles into scalable solutions.

• Comment below: What’s your database war story?
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more insights on tech deep dives.

#DatabaseDesign #SoftwareEngineering #TechTips #RelationalDatabases #NoSQL #LinkedInTech #maautech