Disk-Based Databases
Disk-based databases are database management systems that store data primarily on persistent storage devices like hard disk drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs), rather than in main memory (RAM). They are designed to handle large datasets that exceed available memory capacity, using disk I/O operations for data retrieval and updates. These databases typically employ techniques like indexing, caching, and transaction logging to optimize performance while ensuring data durability and consistency.
Developers should use disk-based databases when working with large-scale applications where data volume exceeds RAM limits, such as enterprise systems, data warehouses, or historical archives, as they provide cost-effective storage and reliable persistence. They are essential for scenarios requiring ACID compliance, long-term data retention, or handling datasets in the terabyte to petabyte range, as seen in financial, e-commerce, or logging applications. Learning disk-based databases is crucial for backend development, data engineering, and systems where memory constraints or budget considerations make in-memory solutions impractical.