Key Differences Between a Relational Database and NoSQL Database

A relational database is a structured database that stores data in tables with rows and columns, while a NoSQL database is a non-relational database that stores data in a flexible, schema-less format.

Relational Database:

• Structured data storage in tables with defined relationships
• Uses SQL for querying data
• ACID properties for transaction consistency

NoSQL Database:

• Flexible schema-less data storage, such as key-value pairs, documents, or graphs
• May not support complex relational queries
• Can be horizontally scaled more easily

Situations to Choose One Over the Other

Choose a relational database when:

• Need for complex queries and transactions
• Structured data with defined relationships
• Data integrity is crucial

Choose a NoSQL database when:

• Handling large amounts of unstructured or semi-structured data
• Scalability and high availability are the main concerns
• Don't need complex queries or transactions