Database management systems. Not an unfamiliar phrase when you’re someone who works with websites. Most people only have a vague idea of what a DBMS is. 

Every business/organisation needs a database management system. DBMS is necessary if you want to store, manage and retrieve data on your website. Data could be anything from information about user details, product lists, prices etc. Here we shall discuss some commonly used website database management systems. 

If you need a database management system set up for your business, do give us a try. We’d love to help!

What is a database management system?

A database management system (DBMS) is a program or a collection of programs that enables users to access, manipulate and represent data. 

Databases are essentially containers of data. Your website’s database is where all the information your website needs is stored. 

Databases have to be secure. Your data has to be protected from leaks, theft and it shouldn’t be lost in any way. An efficient database makes your site run better, so choose one according to your needs. 

If your website deals with a lot of data every single day, you must make sure the database you’re using can handle it all. Managing all that data can sometimes prove to be a hassle. Hence we use database management systems to make the whole process easier. Let’s talk about some of the different types of DBMS out there.

Types of database management systems

Navigational database management system is a type of database management system that isn’t used much nowadays. Data is stored in a tree structure here. The Windows registry in Windows XP is an example of Navigational DBMS.

Relational database management systems represent and store information in tables, rows, and columns. If your website or application manages a lot of data, then this is a good choice. You can even link information from other tables by using foreign keys or indexes. Relational databases have predefined data types that they can support. This is the most popular DBMS. MySQL and Oracle are some examples.

Non-relational database management systems store and represent data in collections of JSON documents, which is basically text. Also known as no-SQL databases, these allow greater flexibility and adaptability. Examples of non-relational databases are Oracle NoSQL and Amazon DynamoDB.

Another type of database is called an object-relational database management system (ORDMS). This is similar to a relational database. In ORD’s, objects, classes and inheritance are directly supported in database schemas.

In object-oriented database management systems data is represented in the form of objects. This type supports the storage of new data types. Data is in the form of objects that have attributes, like age gender. They also have methods that define what to do with the data.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popularly used database management systems.

MySQL

MySQL is a relational database management system based on SQL (structured query language). It claims to be the world’s most popular open-source database management system. MySQL can be used as a database for many purposes. However, its primary purpose is that of a web database. It is used in almost all open source websites that require a database.

It is a very robust database management system. More than one user can use a MySQL database at a time. MySQL is used by many of the world’s biggest names. Companies like Facebook, Adobe, and even Google use MySQL to store data.

Microsoft SQL Server 2019

This is yet another relational database. MS SQL is a relational web hosting database management system from Microsoft. There are a few versions of MS SQL available online, the 2019 version is the latest. Their flagship database has a few unique features up its sleeves.

Microsoft SQL Server boasts of having an industry-leading performance. It also has the record for the fewest vulnerabilities for nine years as per the National Institute of Standards and Technologies National Vulnerable Database. MS SQL has tons of features that make managing your data really easy. Fast and consistent database recovery is another feature. 

PostgreSQL

Widely regarded as the world’s most advanced object-relational database management system. It is reliable and is suitable for OS’s like Windows, Linux and UNIX. It is a great choice for people who create websites using PHP and Python. 

Amazon DynamoDB

I was browsing through Twitter one day, and a Tweet from Amazon caught my eye. It was about their database called the Amazon DynamoDB. Right now if you search for website database, DynamoDB is the first result you will see. DynamoDB is a non-relational database. It claims to have seamless scalability. It can manage large amounts of data with ease.  

Amazon Aurora

Aurora is another database from Amazon. The only major difference between them is the fact that Aurora is a relational database. Aurora is even faster than DynamoDB, according to Amazon’s own tests. It is also much cheaper when compared to DynamoDB.

There are tons of database management systems out there that you can use. Each one has unique features. If all of this sounds too complicated to you, let us help you out. We’re well versed in delivering world-class web experiences!