CompTIA IT Fundamentals: Database Concepts

Ask a developer to explain the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases, and they’ll probably launch into a high-level conversation about the characteristics of relational and non-relational databases. And while that is the most notable difference between the databases, you might still be wondering what exactly that means for you.

At some point in your coding journey, you’ll need to learn to use a database, explains David Patlut, Curriculum Manager at Codecademy. “Anybody who’s getting into programming is going to run into using a database, because you have to persist [keep] data on any kind of application that you build,” he says.

Differentiating between the types of databases (namely SQL and NoSQL) is a valuable skill for a couple reasons. If you’re building your own app, you’ll have to choose the right database technology for your budget and needs, explains Ben Stone, Senior Curriculum Developer at Codecademy. And if you’re applying for jobs as a Software Engineer, you might be asked to explain the difference between relational and non-relational databases. “It’s a pretty common interview question, so you need to be able to articulate and compare and contrast them,” Ben says.