Server and Database are both computing terms that are often confused for one another. For large organizations, Virtualization has become a famous option, where servers and databases can work as virtual instances. Both Servers and Databases have redundancy abilities, backup, and recovery. They can also manage the simultaneous processing of data by a number of users and also have security properties.
Server vs Database
The main difference between a Server and a Database is that a Server provides services to other programs and connected devices, that are often known as ‘clients’. On the other hand, the Database is responsible for back end data processing. It helps to store, organize, manage, and access data on a computer system.
Comparison Table Between Server and Database (in Tabular Form)
| Parameter of Comparison | Server | Database |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | It is a computer program that offers serviceability to other devices and programs that are known as clients. | It is a collection of data that is organized, stored, and accessed from a computer system electronically. |
| Services | A web server offers web-based services only. | A database controls and manages the business based, enterprise-based, and web-based services simultaneously. |
| Language | A server uses a regular language such as PHP, HTTP, JSP, or ASP. | A database does not have a common language, but its own query language or program language. |
| Usage | A server supplies services to numerous hosts or clients at the same time. | A database manages and stores the data of a computer program or the computer. |
| Examples | Mail servers, application servers, and web servers are a few examples of Servers. | Operational databases, relational databases, cloud databases, and non-relational databases, are a few examples of databases. |
What is Server?
The server is a computing term that refers to a section of computer software or hardware that provides services to other devices or programs that are called ‘clients’. Servers supply numerous serviceabilities, such as executing computations, sharing resources or data among various clients.
A server can be formed to control a number of functions on the network, depending on the network size of the organization, the storage capacity, the accessibility requirements, the number of users, etc.
A server is defined by its allocation and arrangement as a devoted resource, such as:
- A Mail server is one that manages and controls the exchange of emails for a business. It is accountable for receiving and sending emails quickly.
- A Print server controls user printing and synchronizes all connected printers.
- An FTP server helps in easy transfer of files and it also stores the files.
- A Web server governs the interaction and accessibility with the content of the web.
- A File server is committed to store all network data files and user files.
- A Database server manages several databases.
- A Single server also has the ability to manage numerous functions simultaneously, provided the hardware conditions to meet the network demands.
- Servers are drafted for a particular server function in data centers and huge enterprise companies.
What is Database?
‘Flat Files’ is what database was initially known as. It used to display simple rows and columns for storing data. But today, it permits complex queries across various database sets and database tables.
Databases that are relational provide more ease to users to manage data by using the database programs. Examples can include MySQL and Microsoft SQL.
A Database Management System is formed by three elements. These elements include the physical database, the database engine, and the database schema. The first one being the repository, the next is the software that allows data access, the last one is the stated structure of data.
All file types can be stored in databases, ranging from text, numeric to multimedia. A data structure is present in databases to arrange the stored data. Let us take an example. An employee database in a company will include applicable columns for different data and details of the employees, such as their names, surnames, age, sex, address, and so on. A profile picture can also be added for each employee.
There are various types of databases depending on the need of the organizations, users, or the network. Few examples include:
- Operational database that permits users to modify, add, or delete the data.
- Relational Database Management System.
- Big Data, that manage and control huge and complex data sets, that cannot be managed by the standard databases.
- In a Cloud Database, the database access is provided via service with the cloud host and it is provided mainly in remote data centers.
- Object-oriented databases are databases that store data in lumps and it eases the manipulation of data.
Main Differences Between Server and Database
- A Server manages the fixed content and data of a website, while a database stores and manages the data of the computer.
- Only web-based services are provided in the case of Servers, whereas a database can manage the web-based services, business, and enterprise-based services at the same time.
- The server has a few types, namely application servers, web servers, and mail servers. Databases can also be classified into more categories, such as cloud databases, relational and non-relational databases, and operational databases.
- PHP, HTTP, JSP, or ASP, and such regular languages are used in the case of a server. On the other hand, regular or common language is not used in a database, it has its unique program or query language.
- A few examples of Servers include Google web server, Microsoft Internet Information Services, Sun Java System, and Apache HTTP Server. A few examples of databases include MySQL, Oracle, DB2, and SAP.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be said that databases store, manage, organize, and provide access to data, whereas Servers provide services to other programs and devices, that are known as ‘clients’. Organizations that need to store and manage huge amounts of data require powerful databases.
Servers that manage huge and concurrent transactions and are linked to high volume network, must have the necessary technical make-up so that they can hold up the network effectively and efficiently.
References
- https://academic.oup.com/nar/article-abstract/35/suppl_2/W512/2922221
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-59623-0_30