SQLite vs. MySQL: Choosing the Right Database for Your Application

SQLite is a C-language library that implements a small, fast, self-contained, high-reliability, full-featured, SQL database engine. SQLite is the most used database engine in the world.

• Built into all mobile phones and most computers and comes bundled inside countless other applications that people use every day.

The SQLite file format is stable, cross-platform, and backward compatible and the developers pledge to keep it that way. SQLite database files are commonly used as containers to transfer rich content between systems and as a long-term archival format for data.

• Serverless: doesn’t require a server process or system to operate
• Flexible: Facilitates working on multiple databases in the same session at the same time.
• Configuration not required: Doesn’t require configuration, set up
• Storing Data is easy: Efficient way to store data
• Provides a large number of APIs: for a large range of programming languages - PHP, Python, .NET, Java etc.

MySQL is an open-source, relational database management system (RDBMS) that implements a powerful, reliable, and scalable SQL-based database engine. It is widely used for managing structured data, especially in web applications, and forms the backbone of many internet-based services.

• MySQL is a core component of the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Python/Perl), which powers many web applications, including large-scale ones like Facebook and YouTube.

The MySQL architecture is designed to handle high volumes of data and large-scale systems. It is cross-platform, supports various operating systems, and offers compatibility with many programming languages and applications.

Key features:

• Client-server model: MySQL operates using a client-server architecture, where a database server manages the databases and responds to client requests.
• High performance and scalability: MySQL is designed to handle large datasets and high query loads efficiently, making it ideal for large-scale applications.
• Multiple storage engines: MySQL allows users to choose from different storage engines, such as InnoDB (with ACID-compliant transactions) or MyISAM, based on performance and use-case needs.
• ACID compliance: MySQL supports ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) properties for reliable transactions, ensuring data integrity.
• Replication and clustering: MySQL supports master-slave replication, enabling databases to scale horizontally. It also provides features like MySQL Cluster for high availability.
• Security: MySQL offers strong security features, including user authentication, role-based access control, and encrypted connections.
• Extensive APIs: MySQL has a wide range of APIs for integration with different programming languages such as PHP, Python, .NET, and Java.
• Extensive community and enterprise support: Backed by Oracle, MySQL offers extensive community support, as well as paid enterprise solutions for larger organizations that need professional support and advanced features.

• SQLite is an open-source project available in the public domain
• MySQL is an open-source project which is owned by Oracle
• SQLite is a server-less database and is self-contained. This is also referred to as an embedded database which means the DB engine runs as a part of the app.
• On the other hand, MySQL requires a server to run. MySQL will require a client and server architecture to interact over a network.

• SQLite supports these data types: Blob, Integer, Null, Text, Real.
• MySQL is way more flexible and supports the below-mentioned data types: Tinyint, Smallint, Mediumint, Int, Bigint, Double, Float, Real, Decimal, Double precision, Numeric, Timestamp, Date, Datetime, Char, Varchar, Year, Tinytext, Tinyblob, Blob, Text, MediumBlob, MediumText, Enum, Set, Longblob, Longtext.

The SQLite library is about 250 KB in size, while the MySQL server is about 600 MB. The SQLite directly stores info in a single file, making it easy to copy. No configurations are required, and the process can be done using minimal support.

Before copying or exporting MySQL you need to transfer it into a single file. For larger databases, this will be a time-consuming activity.

• SQLite does not have any specific user management functionality and hence is not suitable for multiple user access.
• MySQL has a well-constructed user management system that can handle multiple users and grant various levels of permission.
• SQLite is suitable for smaller databases. As the database grows the memory requirement also gets larger while using SQLite. Performance optimization is harder when using SQLite. This has a few write constraints.
• MySQL is easily scalable and can handle a bigger database with less effort.

• SQLite does not have an inbuilt authentication mechanism. The database files can be accessed by anyone. However, MySQL comes with a lot of inbuilt security features. This includes authentication with a username, password, and SSH.
• SQLite does not require too many configurations and is easy to set up.
• MySQL requires more configurations as compared to SQLite. MySQL also has more setup guides available.

There are certain times when SQLite can be more effective than the alternative. Some of these scenarios are:

• Developing small standalone apps
• Smaller projects that do not require much scalability
• When you have a requirement to read and write directly from the disk
• Basic development and testing

Below are a few scenarios where MySQL is the superior option:

• Multiple user access to apps
• When users require strong security and authentication features
• With distributed systems
• With apps requiring a larger database
• With projects that require more scalability
• Web-based applications
• When developing customized solutions

• File-based and easy to set up and use
• Suitable for basic development and testing
• Easily portable
• Uses standard SQL syntax with minor alterations
• Easy to use

• Lacks user management and security features
• Not easily scalable
• Is not suitable for big databases
• Cannot be customized

• Easy to use
• Provides a lot of database-related features
• Good security features
• Easily scalable and suitable for big databases
• Provides good speed and performance
• Gives good user management and multiple access controls

• Requires some technical expertise to setup

---

Artemisa shared this with me before she left, I thought it would be a good idea to have it somewhere accessible instead of buried and lost in some Google document.

HTH