The main difference between relational and hierarchical database is that the relational database follows the relational model and stores the data in tables while the hierarchical database follows the hierarchical model and stores the data in a structure similar to a tree.
A database is a collection of related data. DBMS is software that helps store data in a database in a way that is easier to store, access, and manage. There are various types of databases, and relational and hierarchical databases are two of them.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is a Relational Database
– Definition, Functionality
2. What is a Hierarchical Database?
– Definition, Functionality
3. What is the difference between relational and hierarchical database?
– Comparison of key differences
What is a relational data base
A database model defines the logical design and structure of a database. Where, a relational database is based on the relational model and stores data in tables. Also, the rows represent each entity while the columns represent the attributes.
For example, suppose a database in an organization. The employee table has the attributes emp-id, name, age, and city. Here, the primary key of the employee table is the emp-id. Another table called the project table has the attributes project-id, project-name, duration, and emp-id. Here, the primary key of the project table is project-id. The emp-id in the employee table is a foreign key in the project table. These two tables are associated with each other using the foreign key. Therefore, the tables in a relational database are connected to each other.
Structured Query Language (SQL) is used to store and manage data in a relational database. SQL is divided into three main categories: data definition language (DDL), data manipulation language (DML), and data control language (DCL). Also, DDL changes the structure of tables. DML helps to manipulate data, while DCL helps to grant and retrieve authority from a database user.
What is a hierarchical database?
A hierarchical database is based on the hierarchical model. It stores data in a tree-like structure. Here, the data is stored as records that are connected to each other through links. Also, a record is a collection of fields. Each field contains a single value. On the other hand, the hierarchy starts from the root data. It then expands similar to a tree and adds child nodes to the parent nodes. A child node will only have one parent node. However, a parent node can have one or more child nodes.
For example, suppose a university setting. Split the data into department and infrastructure data. You can divide Department into course, teacher and student. One more course is divided into theoretical and practical. Likewise, the data is organized in a tree-like structure.
Difference Between Relational and Hierarchical Database
Definition What’s difference btw relational and hierarchical database?
A relational database is a database based on the relational model of data, as proposed by EF Codd in 1970. A hierarchical database is a type of database that organizes data in a tree-like structure. Thus, this explains the fundamental difference between relational and hierarchical database.
model based
That is to say; The relational database is based on the relational model. In contrast, the hierarchical database is based on a hierarchical model.
Data storage method What’s difference btw relational and hierarchical database?
Also, another difference between relational and hierarchical database is that the relational database stores the data in tables while the hierarchical database stores the data in a tree-like structure.
Data recovery
Data can be easily retrieved using SQL in a relational database. On the other hand, data retrieval is difficult in a hierarchical database. It is necessary to traverse the entire tree from the root node to retrieve data. Thus, this is an important difference between relational and hierarchical database.
Popularity
Also, relational database is more popular and common than hierarchical databases.
conclusion
In short, relational and hierarchical databases are two main types of databases. The main difference between relational and hierarchical database is that the relational database follows the relational model and stores the data in tables while the hierarchical database follows the hierarchical model and stores the data in a tree-like structure. tree..