Short Story: I downloaded a java/flash uploader and one of the files was a .db. After some research I found that is a database. Which prompted the question. Can I make a database (.db) file and save it in a folder in my root directory instead of having to rely on another server and sql query’s? Thereby theoretically speeding up my website by accessing only local files.
The Problem: I have done lots of research and found no answer. Mainly I think because I have never dealt with this before so i don’t know where to look.
The Question: Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? And if so, could you refer me to a tutorial website or provide a brief definition/ explanation/ example of how this would work and what type of communication language would be used between the files? SQL? something else? I just don’t know!
Thank you all for your help.
[The good part]
Theoretically, yes, you can do it. One example would be sqlite database. This database is a single file that you store wherever you want. If you’re coding in PHP, you’ll need to have the corresponding extension installed with your PHP to access/query this database.
[The bad part]
This only makes sense if you’re dealing with small amounts of data and your queries are relatively simple. Sqlite databases are slow and support only a limited set of sql operations. They also don’t have support for many standard datatypes and lack a lot of built-in functions that you may rely on. Sqlite databases are very good if you want a simple db support in a standalone app (e.g. mobile application with local data), but not very good for storing large amounts of transactional data.
[The verdict]
If you’re looking to speed up your web application, switching from a proper database to sqlite will probably only hinder your app, not help it.