Temporary Tables vs Materialized Views

Developers should use temporary tables when handling large datasets that require multiple-step processing, such as in data transformation, reporting, or complex joins, as they improve performance by reducing query complexity and enabling reuse of intermediate results meets developers should use materialized views when dealing with slow, complex queries in read-heavy applications, such as reporting dashboards, data analytics, or caching frequently accessed data. Here's our take.

Temporary Tables

Nice Pick

Developers should use temporary tables when handling large datasets that require multiple-step processing, such as in data transformation, reporting, or complex joins, as they improve performance by reducing query complexity and enabling reuse of intermediate results

Pros

• They are particularly useful in stored procedures, batch operations, or when working with session-specific data that doesn't need to persist beyond the current operation, helping to avoid locking issues and maintain data isolation
• Related to: sql, database-design

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Materialized Views

Developers should use materialized views when dealing with slow, complex queries in read-heavy applications, such as reporting dashboards, data analytics, or caching frequently accessed data

Pros

• They are ideal for scenarios where real-time data is not critical, as they reduce database load and latency by serving precomputed results
• Related to: postgresql, oracle-database

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Temporary Tables is a concept while Materialized Views is a database. We picked Temporary Tables based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Temporary Tables wins

Based on overall popularity. Temporary Tables is more widely used, but Materialized Views excels in its own space.