In-Memory Versus On-Disk Databases: Best Practices, Use Cases and Architectural Designs
Ana-Maria Dincă, Sabina-Daniela Axinte, Ioan C. Bacivarov · 2023
The performance of an information system is first and foremost determined by the database architecture's design. An unresponsive software application or an increased latency in transaction duration often indicates an incongruous compatibility between the implemented persistence mechanisms and the business features. This paper highlights the differences between in-memory and on-disk databases, starting with the memory types used by each, and their functionality differences. The research continues with the execution of performance tests on two different databases, conducted with the assistance of specific benchmarking tools for each type of tested technology. The investigation continues with a follow up analysis on the previous results, guided by performance indicators, that underlines the importance of choosing the most suitable solution imposed by the business requirements. A dedicated section is focused on the best practices that should be considered when designing a new database or refactoring a legacy architecture, in order to obtain a performant persistence mechanism.