What is the difference between a relational database and a non-relational database?

In the field of database administration, relational databases and non-relational databases are two primary types of database management systems. Here are the key differences:

Relational Databases:

• Structured data in tables with rows and columns
• Follows the ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability)
• Uses SQL for querying data
• Supports complex queries and relationships between tables
• Examples include MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server

Non-Relational Databases:

• Stores data in key-value pairs, documents, graphs, or wide-column stores
• Supports flexible and dynamic schemas
• Scalable and can handle large amounts of data with high availability
• Can be optimized for specific use cases like caching, real-time analytics, etc.
• Examples include MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis

Understanding the differences between relational and non-relational databases is crucial for choosing the right database solution based on the requirements of the project.