Database are needed to store your data. On daily basis huge dark is created every minute, every hour and every day. For accessing this kind of data, storage is relevant. We are having different databases. In this tutorial, we will discuss what is the difference between SQL and NoSQL.
Read the full article to know the SQL vs NoSQL
What is SQL?
(SQL) Structured Query language defines as an “S-Q-L” & also as “See-Quel” is the usual language for dealing with the Relational Databases Management System. A relational database Management System defines relationships in the shape of tables.
SQL programming can be efficiently used to insert, update, search, delete database records.
It can also do many more things including above, but not limited to, maintenance and optimizing of databases.
Relational databases Management System like MySQL Database, Ms. SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, etc. uses SQL.
What is NoSQL?
NoSQL is a non-relational DBMS, that does not need a fixed schema. It avoids joins and is easy to scale. NoSQL database is also used for distributed data stores with human data storage needs. Moreover, It is used for real-time web apps and Big data. For example companies like Facebook, Twitter, Google which collects terabytes of user data, every single day.
NoSQL database is known as “Not Only SQL” or “Not SQL.” In 1998, Carl Strozz introduced the NoSQL concept. Traditional RDBMS uses SQL syntax to store and retrieve data for additional insights. Instead, a NoSQL database system encompasses a broad range of database technologies. It can store structured, unstructured, semi-structured, and polymorphic data.

Difference between SQL and NoSQL
Features |
SQL |
NoSQL |
1.Definition | SQL databases are known as RDBMS or Relational Databases Management System | NoSQL databases are known as Non-relational or distributed database Management System |
2. Kind of Query Language | It is a structured query language (SQL) | It is no declarative query language |
3. Kind of Schema | It has a predefined schema | It uses a dynamic schema for unstructured data. |
4. Examples | MS-SQL, Oracle, and Postgres. | Neo4j, Cassandra, Hbase, Redis, MongoDB. |
5. Hierarchical data storage | SQL databases are not fit for hierarchical data storage. | it supports the key-value pair method. So it is more fit for the hierarchical data store. |
6. Development Year | For dealing with issues of flat-file storage, SQL was developed in the 1970s | To overcome issues and limitations of SQL databases, NoSQL was Developed in the late 2000s |
7. Stability | It should be configured for strong stability. | It depends on DBMS as some offer strong stability like MongoDB, while others only offer eventual stability, like Cassandra. |
8. Significance | It should be used when data validity is super significant | Use when it is additionally significant to have rapid data than correct data |
9. Hardware | Specialized Database hardware (Oracle Exadata, etc.) | Commodity hardware |
10. Storage Type | extremely Available Storage (SAN, RAID, etc.) | Commodity drives storage (standard HDDs, JBOD) |
11. Top Companies Using | Gauges, Hootsuite, CircleCI | Kickstarter, Airbnb, Uber |
12. ACID Model & BASE Model | ( Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability) ACID is a standard for RDBMS | ( Basically Available, Soft state, Eventually Consistent) The BASE is a model of many NoSQL systems |
13. Considered for | Traditional RDBMS uses SQL syntax and queries to evaluate and get the data for further insights. it is also used for OLAP systems. | NoSQL database system consists of different kinds of database technologies. These databases were developed for the development of the modern application. |
14. Kind | The SQL databases are table based databases | The NoSQL databases can be document based, graph databases, key-value pairs |
15. Ability to scale | SQL databases are vertically scalable | NoSQL databases are horizontally scalable |
16. Suitability | An ultimate choice for the complex query intensive environment. | It is not good for complex queries. |
17. Variations | One kind with minor variations. | Many different kinds which include document databases, key-value stores, and graph databases. |
18. Open-source | A merge of open-source like MySQL, Postgres & commercial-like Oracle Database. | Open-source |
19. Top Used for | RDBMS database is the right option for solving ACID problems. | NoSQL is mostly used for solving data availability problems |
20. Requirement | When you require to support dynamic queries | Use when you require to scale based on changing requirements |
21. Network | Highly available network (Fabric Path, Infiniband, etc.) | Commodity network (Ethernet, etc.) |
22. Best features | Cross-platform support, free and secure. | High performance, Easy to use, and Flexible tool. |
23. Average salary | The salary of any professional “SQL Developer” is higher than a “NoSQL developer” | The salary of “NoSQL developer” is less than a professional “SQL Developer”. |
Conclusion
SQL and NoSQL databases deploy for the same purpose i.e. storing data. But are wide differences between the SQL and NoSQL databases. It is vital to know them to make a knowledgeable excellent about the kind of database essential. In this tutorial, we have discussed the differences between SQL and NoSQL. If you are having any doubt, feel free to ask me in the comment box.
Also, attempt the free DBMS Practice Test