Choosing File Extensions for Your SQLite Databases: A Guide for Developers
-
Common extensions: Even though extensions aren't mandatory, some common ones are used for clarity:
.sqlite
- This is a widely used and recognized extension for SQLite databases..db
- This is another generic database extension that can be used with SQLite.
-- This code opens a new database connection to a file named "mydatabase"
-- without any extension.
CREATE TABLE customers (
id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
name TEXT,
email TEXT
);
INSERT INTO customers (name, email) VALUES ("John Doe", "[email protected]");
SELECT * FROM customers;
-- This code opens a new database connection to a file named "data.db"
-- with the common '.db' extension.
CREATE TABLE products (
id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
name TEXT,
price REAL
);
INSERT INTO products (name, price) VALUES ("T-Shirt", 19.99);
SELECT * FROM products;
-- This code opens a new database connection to a file named "users.sqlite"
-- with the common '.sqlite' extension.
CREATE TABLE users (
username TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
password TEXT
);
INSERT INTO users (username, password) VALUES ("admin", "securepassword");
SELECT * FROM users;
- Focus on flexible data structures (like documents or key-value pairs)
- Suitable for large datasets or frequent schema changes.
- Examples: Couchbase Lite, Realm [Consider searching for "NoSQL databases for mobile apps"]
Object-Oriented Databases:
- Store data directly as objects, simplifying development for some object-oriented programming languages.
- Might require more complex setup and might not be ideal for all data types.
- Example: ObjectBox [Consider searching for "Object-oriented databases for mobile apps"]
Flat Files (CSV, JSON):
- Simpler to implement, human-readable data format.
- Not ideal for complex queries or large datasets.
- Suitable for small, static data sets.
- Examples: CSV (Comma-Separated Values), JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
In-Memory Databases:
- Store data only in RAM, offering very fast access.
- Data is lost when the program terminates, not suitable for persistent storage needs.
Choosing the right alternative depends on your project's specific requirements. Consider factors like:
- Data size and complexity
- Need for complex queries
- Performance requirements
- Persistence needs (does data need to be saved beyond program execution?)
- Development language and familiarity with different database technologies
sqlite