Comparing SQL and NoSQL

Deciding which database to use

The decision of which database to use depends on the data structure. If we have structured data, SQL is the way to go. However, if we have flexible or large amounts of data and need to deliver a real-time experience, NoSQL is the way to go.

Scalability and flexibility

NoSQL databases are scalable and flexible and adhere to the BASE (Basic availability, Soft-state, Eventual consistency) consistency model. SQL is an excellent choice if the data is highly structured and ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability) compliance is required. If the data is well-structured and organized, querying it with an SQL database is very efficient. Querying data in a NoSQL database is not as efficient as querying in a SQL database due to potential differences in the data structures. Databases can be scaled vertically or horizontally.

SQL databases are difficult to scale because they run on a single server to ensure data integrity. When we try to scale them, we must do so vertically.

NoSQL databases scale horizontally, and this makes scaling very easy. NoSQL contains objects that can be stored on multiple servers without being linked.