How to choose the right database.

Choosing the right database isn’t about picking the most popular option, it’s about matching your database to your workload. The right choice depends on factors like workload type (transactional OLTP vs analytical OLAP), query complexity, schema flexibility, latency requirements, and how much operational overhead your team can handle.

WhatDbShouldIUse helps you evaluate databases across SQL, NoSQL, and modern systems like vector databases for semantic search (RAG), streaming and telemetry stores, HTAP engines, and analytical data warehouses. Instead of overwhelming you with feature lists, it narrows down options based on real-world constraints and trade-offs.

Whether you're building a startup MVP, scaling a production system, or designing an AI-powered application, the goal is simple: create a shortlist of databases that actually fit your use case, not just industry trends.