Many new developers wonder what the difference is between SQL and NoSQL. The subjects come up often in theoretical discussions and systems design interview preparation.

In this tutorial, we will be looking at the difference between SQL and NoSQL based on certain parameters. Before we begin, let’s analyze each individually to develop our understanding of these contrasting concepts.

What is SQL?

Some definitions to start:

SQL stands for Structured Query Language. As evident from the name, it is a querying language that is used to perform various data operations. It is supported on almost all Relational Databases.

And what is a Relational Database? A relational database, often synonymous as a SQL Database, is a collection of data records that may have predefined associations or relationships with each other.

By extension, a Relational Database Management System (RDMS) is an interface (application or UI) to manage the records, usually by way of SQL. It's used to store, edit, read, and write such data in the form of tables. It's also often visually shown as a spreadsheet-like shape.