Redis - (RDBMS) MySql

Can Redis replace MySQL?

MySQL:

• A relational database management system (RDBMS).

• Uses structured query language (SQL) for database access.

• Ideal for complex queries and joins.

• Data is stored in tables with rows and columns.

• ACID-compliant (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability).

Redis:

• An in-memory data structure store.

• Not a traditional RDBMS, but a NoSQL database.

• Data is stored as key-value pairs.

• Fast performance due to in-memory storage.

• There is limited support for complex queries and no support for joins.

Similarities:

• Data Storage: Both can store data, but Redis does so in memory and is more limited in data types.

• Persistence: Redis offers persistence mechanisms, allowing it to store data permanently like MySQL.

Differences:

• Data Modeling: Redis doesn't support relational data modeling. Data relationships are managed differently, often requiring denormalization or secondary indexing.

  • Remember 1 - 1, 1 - n, n - n mapping?

• Query Capability: Redis has limited query capabilities compared to MySQL. It doesn't support SQL or complex queries involving multiple tables.

Scenarios where Redis can be used like MySQL:

• Simple Data Storage: For applications that require simple key-value data storage.

• Caching: Redis is often used alongside MySQL to cache query results, reducing load on the MySQL database.

• Session Storage: Storing user session data doesn't require complex querying.

• Queue Systems: Implementing queues for message brokering, which is not a typical use case for MySQL.

So, can Redis finally replace MySQL?

While Redis can handle some database functionalities similar to MySQL, it's not a complete replacement for a relational database system. Redis is often used with databases like MySQL to leverage its fast caching, session storage, and real-time operations performance.