Tech Notes: Choosing the Right Database: Matching Data Models to Use Cases

Authors: Steve Petruzza, Giorgio Scorzelli, Valerio Pascucci

Introduction:

In today’s data-driven landscape, selecting the appropriate type of database is critical to the success, scalability, and maintainability of software systems. With a wide range of database technologies available — ranging from traditional relational models to flexible NoSQL (Not only Structured Query Language) and specialized data stores illustrated in Figure 1— the choice depends heavily on the structure of the data, access patterns, performance requirements, and the specific needs of your application. This article explores the major types of databases adopted by large-scale scientific facilities, and outlines when and why each is most suitable.