What is a database management system?
A database management system (DBMS) is software used to define, manipulate, retrieve, store and manage data in databases.
In a nutshell, database systems are responsible for:
- Define rules for validating and manipulating data.
- Interact with databases, applications and end users.
- Retrieve, store and analyze data.
- Maintaining data.
- Popular database management systems
MySQL
MySQL is a free and open source relational database management system (RDBMS). It was initially owned by MySQL AB, before being acquired by Sun Microsystems (part of Oracle Corporation since 2010). The original developer of MySQL is Ulf Michael Widenius, founder of MySQL AB and current lead developer and CTO of MariaDB.
Developer: Oracle Corporation.
Original author: MySQL AB.
Latest MySQL update: MySQL 8.0.28.
MySQL License: GNU General Public License version 2 and proprietary license.
MariaDB
MariaDB is a free, open source, community-developed relational database management system. It is a fork of MySQL. The original developer of MariaDB is Ulf Michael Widenius, founder of MySQL AB and current lead developer and CTO of MariaDB.
MariaDB is also included in numerous Linux distributions, such as CentOS, Debian and RHEL.
Developer: MariaDB Corporation Ab and MariaDB Foundation.
Latest MariaDB update: MariaDB 10.7.3.
MariaDB License: GPL version 2.
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a commercial relational database management system. It is available in multiple editions, divided into three main categories: mainstream, specialized and discontinued.
Developer: Microsoft.
Latest Microsoft SQL Server update: Microsoft SQL Server 2019.
Microsoft SQL Server license: Proprietary license.
Oracle DBMS
Oracle DBMS is a commercial, multi-model database management system. Also known as Oracle Database or simply Oracle. It is typically used to run: online transaction processing (OLTP) and data warehousing (Data warehousing).
Developer: Oracle Corporation.
Last LT update of Oracle DBMS: Oracle DBMS 19c.
Latest Oracle DBMS update: Oracle DBMS 21c.
Oracle DBMS License: Proprietary license.
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is a free and open source relational database management system (RDBMS). It was initially developed as a successor to the Ingres database, developed by the University of California, Berkeley.
Developer: PostgreSQL Global Development Group.
Latest PostgreSQL update: PostgreSQL 14.2.
PostgreSQL license: PostgreSQL license.
MongoDB
MongoDB is an open source, NoSQL, document database management system. MongoDB Inc. offers an integrated suite of cloud database services as well as a support service. This document-oriented database software is typically used for storing large volumes of data.
Developer: MongoDB Inc.
Latest MongoDB update: MongoDB 5.0.5.
MongoDB License: Server Side Public License (SSPL).
Redis
Redis, short for "Remote Dictionary Server", is an open source, NoSQL, key-value database management system.
Developer: Redis.
Original author: Salvatore Sanfilippo.
Latest Redis update: Redis 6.2.6.
Redis license: Three-clause BSD.
IBM DB2
IBM DB2 is a database management product developed by IBM, formerly known as DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows.
Developer: IBM.
Latest IBM DB2 update: IBM DB2 11.5.7.
IBM DB2 License: Proprietary license.
Elasticsearch
Elasticsearch is a RESTful search and analytics engine, based on the Lucene library. Elasticsearch is the successor of an earlier search engine called Compass, also designed by Shay Banon.
Developer: Elastic NV.
Original author: Shay Banon.
Latest Elasticsearch update: Elasticsearch 8.0.1.
Elasticsearch license: dual license under the Elastic license and server-side public license.
SQLite
SQLite is a public domain database engine that belongs to the family of embedded relational database management systems. It has bindings to multiple programming languages.
Developer: Dwayne Richard Hipp.
Last SQLite update: SQLite 3.38.0.
SQLite license: public domain.
Comparison of database management systems
