PostgreSQL vs SQLite
Tags: postgres, sqlite, difference, database
Published: 2022-10-24 18:33:29



## Definition

**PostgreSQL** is an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) that is compatible with various SQL features. It follows the transaction along with the ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability) properties. It provides the complete support for foreign keys, View, Joins, Triggers, and Stored procedures.

**SQLite** is an embedded, relational database management system. It has a stable file format. It is cross-platform that why it can be run on various platforms. 
And it required zero configuration and transactional SQL database engine.

## Developed
**PostgreSQL** was developed by the PostgreSQL global development group.
**SQLite** was developed by the Dwayne Richard Hipp.

## Released
**PostgreSQL** was released in 1996.
**SQLite** was released in 2000.

## License
**PostgreSQL** license comes under the MIT-style.
**SQLite** contains only one license of GPLv2.

## Programming languages
**PostgreSQL** supports several programming languages such as C, C++, Java, .Net, Perl, Python, Tcl, JavaScript (Node.js), and PHP.
**SQLite** supports various programming languages such as C, C++, Java, C#, Ruby, Scala, JavaScript, Python, MatLab, and so on.

## Platforms
Primarily **PostgreSQL** supports Unix, Window, Linux, FreeBSD, HP-UX, NetBSD, OpenBSD, OS X, and Solaris.
Primarily **SQLite** supports UNIX (Linux, Mac OS-X, Android, iOS) and Windows (Win32, WinCE, WinRT).

## Other accessing methods and APIs
In **PostgreSQL**, we can access the following methods JDBC, ODBC, native C library, ADO.NET, and streaming API for large objects.
In **SQLite**, we can access the following methods, including ODBC, ADO.NET, JDBC.

## Server-side scripting
**PostgreSQL** is compatible with user-defined functions.
**SQLite** does not support server-side scripting.

## Ease to set up
**PostgreSQL** is easy to install as it contains advanced features. But the configuration is a bit complex.
**SQLite** is easy to install and work with, as its database is easy to use even for the beginner.

## Partitioning methods
**PostgreSQL** can be divided by List, Range, and hash (later PostgreSQL 11).
**SQLite** does not include partition methods.

## Features
Following are the characteristics of **PostgreSQL**:

- It is free to download.
- It is highly extensible.
- It is compatible with Data Integrity.
- It supports various programming languages.
- It supports multiple features of SQL.
- It is compatible with secondary indexes.
- It provides the XML support.
- It is highly reliable.
- Compatible on several operating systems.
- PostgreSQL is consistent with the data scheme.

Following are essential features of **SQLite**:

- It is open-source. Thus, no license is needed to operate with it.
- It is flexible that's why It enables us to work on various databases in the same session at the similar time.
- It does not require any further Configuration.
- It is a cross-platform database management system where we do not require a large number of various environments such as Linux, Windows, Unix, and Mac OS.
- It can also be compatible with a lot of embedded operating systems such as Window CE and Symbian.
- It offers an effective way to store data.
- It also offers a large number of API for a vast range of programming languages such as C, Java, PHP, .Net (Visual Basic, C#), Python, and another several programming languages.

## Extensibility
**PostgreSQL** is extensible with stored procedures.
As compare to PostgreSQL, **SQLite** is rather limited to basic operations through the asset of an advanced RDMS.

## Authentication and Security
To protect the database, **PostgreSQL** provides many security features, along with complex built-in configurations.
**SQLite** does not offer any authentication system because the database files itself can be updated or read by everyone.

## Storage
**PostgreSQL** is more significant compared to SQLite.
In **SQLite**, the library size is less than 500kb as compare to PostgreSQL.

## Multiple access
In **PostgreSQL**, several users can access it with proper authorization.
**SQLite** does not offer access to various users as they do not have user management.

## When to use
**PostgreSQL** is mostly used when we have the following conditions:

- It gives us the functionality to keep the complex database efficiently without any restrictions.
- It is used when the data reliability and data integrity are highly concerned.
- It is compatible with the customs procedures that are extensible to execute challenging jobs.

**SQLite** is most widely used when we have the following conditions:

- In the small application which does not need any expansion.
- It is the most recommended software for Standalone applications
- It is used in developing as well as testing.
- When the form is necessary to write and read data files to disk directly.

## Replication
**PostgreSQL** supports Master-slave Replication, such as cascading, streaming, and synchronous replications.
**SQLite** does not support replication.

## Portability
**PostgreSQL** is portable only after we export it to a file and upload it to another server because sometimes it is tedious.
**SQLite** stores the database in a single regular disk file, which can be set anywhere in the directory. And the file format can also be used in cross-platform. Therefore, it is easy to copy and move.

## In memory competences
**PostgreSQL** does not have memory capabilities.
**SQLite** does have memory capabilities.

## Supported Data Types
**PostgreSQL** is compatible with most of the data types.
**SQLite** is compatible with limited data types such as Integer, Null, Blob, Real, and Text.

## Official website
**PostgreSQL** : https://www.postgresql.org/
**SQLite** : https://www.sqlite.org/index.html

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