MongoDB vs. SQLite

When starting a new project, it is important that you choose the correct database. With several options available, it is hard to decide which one will be suitable for your project.

In this shot, we will dive into two popular databases (MongoDB and SQLite) and highlight some of their differences.

MongoDB is an open-source, cross-platform document-oriented database program. It is most widely known NoSQL database around and uses JSON-like documents with optional schemas. MongoDB is an integral part of the MEAN stack and is popular with enterprises like Facebook, Google, and Adobe.

MongoDB is extremely fast when dealing with high volumes of low-complexity data. MongoDB is schema-less, and together with built-in sharding, it allows for a high degree of horizontal scalability that makes Mongo extremely flexible.

SQLite is a lightweight, serverless relational database management system (RDBMS). SQLite was designed with economy and efficiency in mind and is best suited for small-scale operations like individual apps or IoT devices. Popular mobile applications, and even the Android OS, use SQLite.

Unlike most other SQL databases, SQLite does not have a separate server process. SQLite reads and writes directly to ordinary disk files. SQLite supports having multiple DB users simultaneously; however, it locks the whole database for both reads and writes operations, thus making it unsuitable for large amounts of concurrent read/write operations.

MongoDB vs. SQLite

Choosing between MongoDB and SQLite depends entirely on what you intend to do. Each database has its advantages and disadvantages.

Here’s a summary of the key differences:

What to choose

Use MongoDB if you have high data volume and want low data complexity with horizontal scaling. Examples include enterprise applications.

Use SQLite if you have low data volume and want low complexity, efficiency, and reliability above all. Examples include mobile or IoT applications or any other small programs.