The Most Popular Database Model, Ranked

Choose the database model you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Jul 20, 2024 06:46
Choosing the right database model is crucial for developers and organizations as it can significantly impact the performance, scalability, and manageability of applications. Different models offer unique advantages and are suited for various types of data and usage scenarios. By having a clear understanding of which models are favored by the community, users can make informed decisions tailored to their specific needs. This ranking provides a snapshot of current preferences and trends in the world of database models based on user votes. It serves as a dynamic reflection of what is being used effectively in the industry today. Your participation is valuable; each vote helps refine the ranking and guide newcomers and experienced professionals alike in choosing a model that best fits their project requirements.

What Is the Most Popular Database Model?

  1. 1
    64
    points
    Relational Database Model

    Relational Database Model

    A model based on the concept of tables (relations) to manage data, where data is structured in rows and columns.
    • Introduced by: E.F. Codd in 1970
    • Popular Systems: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server
  2. 2
    27
    points
    Graph Database Model

    Graph Database Model

    A database model that uses graph structures for semantic queries, with nodes, edges, and properties to represent and store data.
    • Key Feature: Efficient in handling interconnected data
    • Popular Systems: Neo4j, ArangoDB
  3. 3
    24
    points
    Object-Oriented Database Model

    Object-Oriented Database Model

    A model that represents information in the form of objects as used in object-oriented programming.
    • Key Feature: Supports objects, classes, inheritance
    • Popular Systems: db4o, ObjectDB
  4. 4
    17
    points
    Key-Value Database Model

    Key-Value Database Model

    A simple model where each item contains keys and values, suitable for storing and retrieving large volumes of data.
    • Key Feature: High performance for read/write operations
    • Popular Systems: Redis, DynamoDB
  5. 5
    8
    points

    Multi-Model Database Model

    A database model designed to support multiple data models against a single, integrated backend.
    • Key Feature: Supports various data models like document, graph, key-value
    • Popular Systems: ArangoDB, OrientDB
  6. 6
    5
    points

    Column-Family Database Model

    A database model that stores data in column families as rows that have many columns associated with a row key.
    • Key Feature: Suitable for analytical queries and aggregations
    • Popular Systems: Cassandra, HBase
  7. 7
    0
    points

    Time Series Database Model

    A database model optimized for time-stamped or time series data, like metrics, events, and measurements.
    • Key Feature: Efficient storage and querying of time series data
    • Popular Systems: InfluxDB, TimescaleDB
  8. 8
    0
    points
    Network Database Model

    Network Database Model

    A flexible model allowing each record to have multiple parent and child records, forming a lattice structure.
    • Key Feature: Complex data relationships are efficiently represented
    • Popular Systems: IDMS, Raima Database Manager
  9. 9
    0
    points

    Hierarchical Database Model

    A model where data is organized into a tree-like structure, implying a single parent for each record.
    • Key Feature: Data is structured in a tree-like format
    • Popular Systems: IBM Information Management System (IMS)
  10. 10
    0
    points

    Document-Oriented Database Model

    A model that stores data in document collections, usually in JSON, BSON, or XML format.
    • Key Feature: Schema-less
    • Popular Systems: MongoDB, CouchDB

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About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular database model. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or model is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1883 views
  • 145 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Movers & Shakers

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each model once every 24 hours. The rank of each model is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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Additional Information

More about the Most Popular Database Model

Relational Database Model
Rank #1 for the most popular database model: Relational Database Model (Source)
Databases store and organize data. The most popular database model is the relational model. It uses tables to represent data and relationships. Each table has rows and columns. Rows represent records, and columns represent attributes.

The relational model emerged in the 1970s. It changed how people managed data. Before this model, databases were hierarchical or network-based. These older models had rigid structures. They were hard to modify and scale.

The relational model brought flexibility. It allowed users to create, read, update, and delete data with ease. This model uses a language called SQL. SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It helps users interact with the database. Users can write queries to retrieve specific data. They can also join tables to find related information.

Tables in the relational model have keys. A primary key uniquely identifies each row. Foreign keys link tables together. These keys maintain data integrity. They ensure that relationships between tables are consistent.

Normalization is a key concept in the relational model. It organizes data to reduce redundancy. It involves dividing large tables into smaller ones. This process eliminates duplicate data. It also makes the database more efficient.

The relational model supports transactions. A transaction is a sequence of operations. These operations must be completed together. If one operation fails, the entire transaction is rolled back. This ensures data consistency and reliability.

The relational model is scalable. It can handle large amounts of data. It also supports many users at the same time. This makes it suitable for various applications. Businesses, governments, and organizations use it worldwide.

Security is another strength of the relational model. It offers features to control access to data. Users can grant or revoke permissions. This ensures that only authorized users can access or modify data.

Despite its strengths, the relational model has limitations. It may struggle with very large datasets. It can also be less efficient for certain types of data. For example, unstructured data like images or videos. In these cases, other database models may be better.

In recent years, new database models have emerged. However, the relational model remains popular. Its balance of flexibility, reliability, and efficiency keeps it relevant. It continues to be a cornerstone of data management.

In summary, the relational model transformed data management. It introduced flexibility, efficiency, and reliability. Its use of tables, keys, and transactions set a new standard. Despite new models, it remains a popular choice for many applications.

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