The Case Against Always Using Relational Databases
The Relational Database Conundrum Relational databases have been the cornerstone of data storage for decades, but they are not without their criticisms. As a developer who has wrestled with the intricacies of SQL and the rigidity of relational database schemas, I’m here to make the case against always using relational databases. It’s time to explore why these legacy systems might not be the best fit for every project. The Object-Relational Impedance Mismatch One of the most significant complaints about relational databases is the object-relational impedance mismatch. This mismatch arises because relational databases are based on sets and relations, while object-oriented programming (OOP) is based on objects, hierarchies, and references. Mapping these two paradigms is tedious and often ugly, requiring the use of Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tools that can be complicated and vendor-specific. ...