Top 6 Databases to Use in 2022

Any organization, regardless of its size, requires a database and a database management system to store, organize, and manage data. The availability of various databases in the market today makes it a bit difficult to decide which one would perfectly fit a particular case.

Without further ado, let us walk you through the most popular databases to use in 2022.

Also Read: Top 7 Local Databases For Building React Native Apps

1. MySQL

MySQL is an open-source relational database management system that was developed by Oracle corporation in 1995. It is written in C and C++ and uses a structured query language. It has occupied first place on a consistent basis in the top-rated databases. MySQL is rated as one of the stable open-sourced databases and comes packed with extremely useful and robust features. It has a variety of editions, each of which has its own set of features.

The database is also highly scalable and possesses the ability to run on multiple platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Unix. Some of the perks of opting for MySQL are-

1. Easy to deploy and manage

2. Can be configured with any programming language but is primarily used with PHP

3. Delivers high-performance results without compromising on important functionalities.

4. Foolproof data security

The latest version of this database is MYSQL 8.0 (precisely 8.0.28 considering the minor version) which was released four years back in April 2018. The database is being used by some of the big names like Facebook, Uber, and YouTube.

2. MongoDB

MongoDB is a source-available document-oriented database program and uses a different approach to store data than RDBMS. It was developed by MongoDB Inc and had its initial release in 2009. MongoDB uses JSON-like documents with optional schemas and is ideal to store a high volume of data. The database is suitable for hierarchical data storage and is nearly 100x faster than Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). A few features of MongoDB are-

1. It is highly scalable. Many organizations leverage MongoDB to create Clusters with more than 100 nodes and millions of documents within the database.

2. It is very flexible and adaptable as it stores the data in documents.

3. MongoDB can run over multiple servers in case of any hardware failure, thereby balancing the load or duplicating data to keep the system running.

Read: MongoDB vs MySQL

3. Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server was first released in 1989 by Microsoft Corporation. The database is considered to be one of the best for both on-premise and cloud environments. It possesses built-in intelligence that allows companies to scale the performance, security, and availability as per the requirements. It’s a great choice for environments that require high performance and a multitude of features. Let’s take a look at some of the features of Microsoft SQL Server-

1. It helps users gain insights by querying across the entire dataset without having to move or copy the data.

2. The database along with other Big Data tools can be used to build a superior shared Data Lake.

3. Built-in features for Data classification, Protection, and Monitoring.

4.. The database supports Structured, Semi-structured, and Spatial data.

4. PostgreSQL

Released in 1989 (initially named Postgres), PostgreSQL is written in C and is used by organizations that have to deal with vast amounts of data. It has received immense popularity over the last few years. The database management system is used by a lot of gaming apps, automation tools, and domain registrations. If we have to pick a database in terms of the feature set and how innovative it is, PostgreSQL would probably be in the top three. PostgreSQL handles semi-structured data such as JSON and provides remarkable support for distributed SQL. It is compatible with all major operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.

Some of the features of PostgreSQL are-

1. It comprises a lot of constraints that include Primary Keys, Foreign Keys, Explicit Locks, Advisory Locks, Exclusion Constraints, etc. They ensure Data Integrity.

2. PostgreSQL supports multiple SQL features such as Multi-Version Concurrency Control, SQL Sub-selects, Streaming Replication, and more.

3. It works with multiple data types, including Structured, Primitives, Customizations, Geometry, and Document.

5. Oracle

Oracle is one of the most widely used commercial RDBMS, especially for enterprise-grade as it supports all data types involving Relational, Graph, Structured, and Unstructured information. It is also one of the most stable and mature databases today that is used by several Fortune 500 companies. Oracle is quite an advanced database that provides some remarkable features to both structured and semi-structured data. Additionally, it supports blockchain tables, makes transactions faster, and helps create both OLAP and OLTP in a single database instance.

Let’s take a look at some of its key features-

1. The database is scalable, and features like Real Application Clustering and Portability make this RDBMS more scalable.

2. Oracle offers a high-performance computing environment to run real-time applications. It is powerful enough to provide all-time data availability, and also ensures that the data remains available during unplanned downtimes.

However, Oracle isn’t open-source and is a bit expensive too compared to the other databases. So, it might not always be the primary choice for everyone.

6. Redis

Remote Dictionary Server or Redis is a very popular open-source database project primarily in gaming industries, Fintech, and IoT as it possesses the ability to process millions of requests for apps that run in real-time. It runs on Linux, macOSX, and more. Redis is also the most loved database platform as per Stack Overflow’s Annual Developer Survey. It is an in-memory key-value database that supports multiple data structures. It is because of being an in-memory database that it offers an unmatched speed to process numerous requests. The database is generally used for Cache Management and to improve the speed of web applications. Redis doesn’t require a disk or SSDs to store data.

A few other points about Redis-

1. Redis is compatible with Python, Java, C, C++, PHP, etc.

2. Supports data structures like strings, lists, hashes, etc.

3. Supports mission-critical applications by providing easy access to data for training, building, and deploying applications for business operations like fraud detection

Conclusion

Having a database or DBMS is crucial for any organization. It is something without which businesses cannot thrive these days. Until a few years ago, selecting a database was a pretty straightforward process. All one had to do was to choose a Relational Database for most of their requirements. However, in modern software development, the selection process has become more intrinsic. There are many databases that you may come across during your search, however, the above-mentioned six databases are the ones that you should pay more attention to in 2022.