MongoDB vs PostgreSQL

MongoDB and PostgreSQL are the two main databases that are present in the market for enterprise application use. Both of them being open sourced yet they have major differences between them. Now let us have a look at how MongoDB and PostgreSQL are different from each other.

What is MongoDB?

MongoDB can be defined as a document oriented, cross platform, open-source database that is written using the C++ programming language. The major benefits provided by the MongoDB database are:

  • MongoDB database is a very rich query language.
  • It can be used for the storage of higher volumes of data.
  • MongoDB database also delivers high performance while retrieving data from the database.
  • MongoDB database also provides high availability

MongoDB is a NoSQL database where each record stored is treated as a document that will comprise some key-value pairs that are very much similar to the JSON( JavaScript Object Notation). The documents that are identified by some primary key make up the basic building block of the MongoDB database.

The user can use the MongoDB database once the MongoDB is installed at its machine with the help of Mongo shell which provides a Command Line Interface for using the database and the user can easily execute various queries in the mongo shell.

The basic object of the MongoDB database is to provide a database that helps to easily handle the big data that is getting generated these days and to provide a platform for the fast and flexible usage of various database features.

The MongoDB database is established and maintained by an American software company named 10gen later renamed MongoDB INc. having its headquarters in New York City.

MongoDB being a document-based database that supports various features like Indexing, Aggregation, File Storage, and many more.

Now let have a look at how to create a basic document in MongoDB and use that document.

MongoDB vs PostgreSQL

As shown in the image we have created a collection named ‘student’ using the createCollection() function whose first parameter is the name of the collection to be created. After successful creation of the collection, the next step is to insert the data in that newly created record and we have inserted the data using the insert() function whose parameter will be the actual data passed in a JSON format. Once the data is inserted successfully, the next step is to display the inserted data from the collection and we have find() function to display the data. As seen in the output of the find() function is the inserted data as well as an ObjectId, as we know each record within a collection is treated as an object and that particular object is assigned a unique objectID for its identification.

What is PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL is an open-source object-relational database system based on SQL language combined with many new features that are capable of storing and scaling complicated workloads securely and efficiently.

Initially, the name was POSTGRES derived from INGRES, which is a proprietary SQL-based relational database management system (RDBMS). Later on, it was changed to PostgreSQL to depict the support of SQL in 1996. It was developed at the University of California in the state of Berkeley. Finally, after a review in 2007, the project is named PostgreSQL and alias Postgres.

PostgreSQL is managed by PostgreSQL Global Development Group which is a worldwide team of contributors. The source code of PostgreSQL is accessible under the PostgreSQL License, with the help of which we can change and use it in our own way.

PostgreSQL is one of the major databases that support JSON queries and SQL queries. PostgreSQL provides the user with a vast number of data types and a huge feature set that helps to attain extensibility, reliability, and data integrity.        

Let us see how to create a table in PostgreSQL and insert data in it.

MongoDB vs PostgreSQL

As shown in the image, we have created a table named student having two columns using create command and after the creation of the table, we have inserted values in the table and we have done it with the help of the insert command. And then the values successfully displayed with the help of select command.

So, with the help of this article, we are able to get a clear perspective towards the difference between the MongoDB database and the PostgreSQL database.