Data is an essential component of websites, web apps, and other online services. It is how information is shared and accessed, and it must be stored in an organized, secure, and reliable way. As such, the storage and management of data is typically done through some form of a database.
A database is a structured set of data, stored and accessed electronically from a computer. While there are different types of databases, most include some software that helps organize, store, and manage the data, as well as basic commands that help a user define and manipulate the information.
The most common type of database used in web apps is a relational database, which is one that stores data in multiple tables and uses a SQL, or Structured Query Language, for data manipulation. SQL is a language that allows for the communication between the database and the app, allowing the app to retrieve or store data.
In a relational database, data is organized into different tables, and each table contains related data fields. For example, a financial website may contain a User table with fields such as username, password, first name, last name, and address, as well as a separate Transactions table with fields like account number, transaction date, transaction type, and amount. Through SQL, a website or app can query the database to retrieve or store this data.
Data security is also an essential element of any database. Most databases are secured with SQL injection prevention and encryption tools, as well as regular backups and an audit log to track changes.
Data for web apps is also often stored in non-relational databases such as MongoDB, ArangoDB, and Cassandra, which are all document-based databases. Their structures are more flexible than those of relational databases, making them more suitable for web apps that need to store and query a lot of data. Document-based databases also make it much easier to store, access, and query complex data in less time.
In addition to databases, web apps often also use caching systems to quickly retrieve and store data that is used regularly. Caching helps reduce load times and improve the performance of web apps, as they can read data from the cache instead of having to make a trip to the database.
No matter the type (e.g., relational vs. document-based) or technology (e.g., SQL or MongoDB), data is at the core of any web app. It is how the app stores and interacts with data, and it requires careful organization, management, and security to ensure the data is reliable and safe.