At a glance, SQLite is a software library, which is providing you with access to a relational database management system. This is a lightweight platform when it comes to database administration, setup, and the resources that are needed. On the other hand, SQLite is offering some outstanding features as well.
What exactly is SQLite?
SQLite is a library-based C-language. This library can implement a fast, small, full-featured, highly-reliable, and self-contained, SQL database engine. This is the most popular database engine that you can find out there in the world as of now. It is inbuilt to most computers and mobile phones that are available out there. On the other hand, SQLite comes along with numerous other applications that people tend to use daily.
One of the most prominent things about SQLite is that the file format associated with it is highly stable. It is backward compatible and cross-platform as well. Due to the same reason, the developers behind SQLite have come up with ha pledge to keep that until the year 2050 as well. All the SQLite database files will be commonly used in the form of containers to proceed with transferring rich content between multiple systems. On top of that, it is possible to use SQLite for transferring long-term archiving of data as well. You will be able to find over 1 trillion active SQLite databases available out there for use.
Features of SQLite
When you are about to use SQLite, you will need to have a good understanding of the features that come along with it. Here are the most prominent features that SQLite will be offering as of now.
- Serverless architecture
SQLite is offering a serverless architecture. When you are using a traditional RDBMS such as PostgreSQL and MySQL, you will be able to gain access to a separate server process to operate. The applications that are required to operate access the database server would be using TCP-IP protocol to receive the requests and send requests. This is being defined under the client-server architecture. However, SQLite is not functioning according to the basics of client-server architecture. That’s because there is no need for SQLite to have access to a server to run.
Instead of needing a server to run, SQLite is directly integrated along with the application, which is accessing the database. This application would interact along with the SQLite database and then read and write directly from the database files that are stored within the disk.
- SQLite is self-contained
Another feature you will need to know about SQLite is that it is self-contained. In other words, it doesn’t require a lot of assistance from an external library or the operating system. Due to the same reason, there is a possibility to go ahead and use SQLite in any given environment. This is the main reason why it is possible to run SQLite on mobile devices such as Android and iOS smartphones. On the other hand, it will b possible to run SQLite on handheld media players, game consoles, and many other similar devices available out there.
One of the key benefits that come along with SQLite is that it is developed along with ANSI-C. in case if there is a need for you to go ahead and develop an application that is using SQLite, you will just need to drop some of the configuration files to the project. Then you will be able to proceed with compiling the code.
- Zero configurations
As a result of the server architecture, there is no need for you to go ahead and install SQLite before you can even start using it. That’s because there is no server process, which requires it to start, configure, and stop as well. Moreover, it is important to keep in mind that SQLite is not using any of the configuration files as well.
- ACID-compliant transactions
All the transactions that take place in SQLite are ACID-compliant. Due to the same reason, all the changes and queries that take place would be durable, isolated, consistent, and atomic. All changes within the transaction would fully take place or might not take place when it encounters an unexpected situation. Some perfect examples of such problems include operating system crashes, power failures, and application crashes.
- Prominent features available with SQLite
Apart from the above-highlighted features, there are a few other prominent features available along with SQLite. For example, SQLite is using dynamic types for the tables. Due to the same reason, you will be provided the chance to store any value within a preferred column. You don’t have to worry too much about the data type when you are trying to get the job done.
Along with the help of SQLite, you will be able to use a single database connection and then proceed with accessing simultaneous multiple database files. This will provide you with some nice features. For example, you will be able to use a single command to proceed with copying data in between databases. On the other hand, you will also be able to join tables with different databases as well. you will be able to easily create in-memory databases, which are super-fast and convenient to work along with.
Final words
Now you have a clear understanding of what SQLite is and what you can get. This product is carefully tested before every single release. Hence, it has been able to earn lots of positive reputation for being a reliable solution available out there. Most resources who are working on it are working on verification and testing. The automated test suites are running millions of test cases within a given time. Therefore, you don’t have to keep any second thoughts in your mind when you are trying to get hold of SQLite and receive the best results that come along with it.