What is an Embedded Database?

An article by Jorge Reis    Comments Off on What is an Embedded Database?

When your work relies heavily on the computer or you basically keep all your important information in your desktop or laptop, it is very important that you get to access all your data at any given time without having any trouble doing so.

Your database software helps you do all the organizing and storing of all your data in such a way that your task is cut in half, and you generally have a more organized filing system as well as better computing applications to help you.

The question now is which database software can help you with your requirements, or better still, what sort of database application is perfect for you?

Embedded Database

Basically, when you want your database to be as organized and efficient as possible, you seek the help of a database administrator who, in turn, hooks you up with a reliable database software. However, there are individuals and offices who do not want to be troubled with looking for a good DBA or having to keep checking on their database system every so often to make sure that everything is in perfect order. What happens then is that they turn to embedded databases to do the work for them and fully maximize these to their advantage.

An embedded database is not a separate application in your Operating System, for instance, that you have to install. These embedded databases are included in the applications that you are already running in your computer such as your existing Operating System, so much so that you are actually not aware that they are there. Nevertheless, these embedded databases work just as efficiently, if not, more than the ones that you have to download and install and integrate into your computer system and network.

Some users, in fact, feel that there are more advantages to simply using an embedded database system than installing a new one separate from their applications/system.

Embedded Database Versus Database Software

An embedded database does need any administration at all, hence, or, at least, very little administration. You also won’t be troubled with regularly checking up on it or requiring permission from the administrator to access your files.

With a database software application, you not only have to have an expert database administrator to hook you up and run it for you, but you also need to closely work with a system administrator so the DBMS or database management system will run as smoothly as possible in your system.

Another downside to these large-scale database applications is that they are more costly than the embedded type. They also work slower than embedded databases because of their size.

If you’re worried about the dependability of an embedded database, don’t be. They are just as reliable as any other database software, and they also perform such tasks as backups and recovery of your data.

In a word, your use of an embedded database or a regular database software system largely depends on your requirements. If you are working on a huge network of computer systems or your requirements are large-scale, you would probably be better off not using an embedded database.