SQLite is a lightweight, self-contained, and serverless relational database management system (RDBMS). It is embedded directly into applications, requiring no standalone server process.
Key Features
- Zero Configuration: No setup, installation, or administration required.
- Self-Contained: Entire database is stored in a single file.
- Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile devices (iOS, Android).
- ACID-Compliant: Ensures reliability through transactions.
- Small Footprint: Less than 1MB in size.
- Public Domain: Free to use for commercial and personal projects.
Why Use It?
Advantages
- Lightweight & Fast: Ideal for small applications and embedded systems.
- Portable: A single file can be moved across devices.
- No Configuration Needed: Works out of the box.
- Reliable: Uses rollback journal or WAL (Write-Ahead Logging) for data integrity.
- Highly Scalable: Supports terabytes of data (though not for high concurrency).
Disadvantages
- Not Ideal for High Concurrency: Limited to one write operation at a time.
- Lacks Some Enterprise Features: No built-in user authentication, stored procedures, or fine-grained access control.
- Not for Large-Scale Web Apps: Best suited for local storage, not distributed databases.
When to use it: Mobile apps (iOS, Android), Embedded systems (IoT, Smart TVs, Game Consoles), Desktop applications (Browsers, Media Players), Lightweight websites (Local storage, caching)
When NOT to use it: High-concurrency applications (use PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MariaDB), Large-scale distributed applications, Multi-user applications requiring extensive security