MongoDB Vs. MySQL: Which One is Better

Databases are what make everything possible today. Be it fetching your favorite songs to making online transactions, data is stored and retrieved as and when necessary. Database Management Systems make all of this possible. This tutorial on MySQL vs. MongoDB will compare the two widely-used Database management systems. 

What is MongoDB?

MongoDB is a NoSQL (Not only SQL) database that stores large volumes of data in the form of documents. MongoDB removes the concept of "rows" of conventional and relational data models by introducing "documents." This offers the developers the flexibility to work with evolving data models. 

What is MySQL?

MySQL is a free, open-source, relational database management system that stores data in the form of tables containing rows and columns. It uses RDBMS to ensure referential integrity between the rows of a table and interprets queries to fetch information from the database.

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MySQL vs. MongoDB: One-on-one Comparision

Now that you the objectives of these database management systems, let’s look at some of the differences between them.

Feature

MySQL

MongoDB

Data Structure

It stores each individual record as a table cell with rows and columns

It stores unrelated data in JSON like documents

Schema

MySQL requires a schema definition for the tables in the database

MongoDB doesn’t require any prior schema

Languages

Supports Structured Query Language (SQL)

Supports JSON Query Language to work with data

Foreign Key

Supports the usage of Foreign keys

Doesn’t support the usage of Foreign keys

Replication

Supports master-slave replication and master-master replication

Supports sharding and replication

Scalability

SQL Database can be scaled vertically

MongoDB database can be scaled both vertically and horizontally

Join Operation

Supports Join operation

Doesn’t support Join operation

Performance

Optimized for high performance joins across multiple tables

Optimized for write performance

Risks

Prone to SQL injection attack

Since there’s no schema, lesser risks involved

Community Support

There are currently (always increasing) about 222k repositories and 7Million commits on GitHubfor support on MySQL

There are currently (always increasing) about 177k repositories and 923k commits on GitHub for support on MongoDB

According to Google trends, MySQL has been largely adopted over recent years. 

/MySQL-vs-MongoDB

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Which One to Choose?

Applications, like an accounting system that requires multi-row transactions, would be better suited for a relational database. MySQL is an excellent choice if you have structured data and need a traditional relational database.

MongoDB is well-suited for real-time analytics, content management, the Internet of Things, mobile, and other types of applications. It is an ideal choice if you have unstructured and/or structured data with rapid growth potential.

Next Steps

We hope this article on MySQL vs. MongoDB' has helped you better understand the two DBMS. Also, understand the difference between SQL and MySQL. If you wish to make a career as a developer, then Caltech Post Graduate Program in Data Science certification will come in handy. 

Simplilearn’s MongoDB Certification Training Course will help you master popular and essential topics like query, ingestion, sharding, data modeling, and data replication with MongoDB, along with the installation, update, and maintenance of the MongoDB environment. This course will also help you gain high-level proficiency in handling MongoDB configuration and backup methods, and the required monitoring and operational strategies. 

Have any questions for us regarding MongoDB? Please place them in the comments section of this page, and our industry experts will get back to you soon!

Happy learning!

About the Author

Chinmayee DeshpandeChinmayee Deshpande

Chinmayee is a Research Analyst and a passionate writer. Being a technology enthusiast, her thorough knowledge about the subject helps her develop structured content and deliver accordingly.

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