Editing Databases

'''This article is about choice of database models and implementations.''' 

''' Types of databases of interest being evaluated'''
* [[#Relational databases|Relational databases]] provided by a [[w:Relational Database Management System|RDBMS]] and queried with [[w:SQL|SQL]]. Track-proven technolog applied, since the early 70's.
* [[#NoSQL databases|NoSQL]]-type databases, ( "Not Only SQL" or have your pick on the other supposed significations ) variates include among others:
** [[#Subject-predicate-object databases|Subject-predicate-object databases]] are implemented by [[w:graph databases|graph databases]], specialized native [[w:Triplestore|triplestore]]s and piggy-packing solutions that use an RDBMS to store and query the triplets and the networks they compose.
** [[#Graph databases|Graph databases]] would intuitively appear more advanced than using RDF-triplet composed semantic networks but are not much different on the outside. Both jump through the same hoops but with different efficiency and grace.
** [[#Object databases|Object databases]] are old but on the rise with NoSQL-based thinking and the modern needs, like leanness, real-time need  and scaleability for which the other solutions might be too limiting.

All of these may be used to store semantic data though advantages and disadvantages vary depending on task at hand.

For more options and information see the '''[[w:Database model|Wikipedia article on database models]]'''.
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== Relational databases ==

Relational databases work by storing data in [[w:Table (database)|tabular form]] where [[w:column (database)|columns]] represent data items of predetermined type and [[w:row (database)|rows]] represent the values each "item" has. Relational databases are accessed mainly with [[w:SQL|SQL]] ( Structured Query Language ). However the RDBMS converts that into [[w:relational algebra|relational algebra]] and optimizes that and the relational algebra query actually returns the result table that has those columns and rows you requested.

Together Consumerium and Consumium run all the 3 major free full fledged RDBMS: 

* [[w:MariaDB]], a binary compatible drop-in replacement for MySQL that provides some technical advantages and the warm feeling that this is a fork of MySQL by the original MySQL AB founders.
* [[w:MySQL]], the most widely known of free databases powering this [[Development Wiki]]
* [[w:PostgreSQL]] powering the https://media.consumium.org [[w:GNU MediaGoblin]]

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== NoSQL databases ==
{{Q|A '''NoSQL''' (originally referring to "non SQL" or "non relational") database provides a mechanism for storage and retrieval of data which is modeled in means other than the tabular relations used in relational databases.|Wikipedia|[[w:NoSQL|NoSQL]]}}

{{Q|Honestly 'Not Only SQL' sounds best from what I've read.|Lowest Troll|[[w:NoSQL|NoSQL]]}}
All the following database types can be considered variations of NoSQL.
* [[#Subject-predicate-object database|Subject-predicate-object database]]
* [[#Graph database|Graph databases]]
* [[#Object database|Object database]]

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=== Subject-predicate-object databases ===
Subject-predicate-object databases basically construct [[w:semantic]] networks from interlinked atomic units called a [[w:triplet]] so they are not fundamentally different from graph databases in functionality and utility offered.

These networks may be queried with a suitable query language such as [[w:SPARQL]] which in practice allows you to compose semantic queries.

{{Q|'''SPARQL''' is a [[w:recursive acronym|recursive acronym]] and stands for '''SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language'''). It is an [[w:RDF query language|RDF query language]], that is, a [[w:Semantic_Query|semantic]] [[w:query language|query language]] for [[w:database|database]]s, able to retrieve and manipulate data stored in [[w:Resource Description Framework|Resource Description Framework (RDF)]] format.|Wikipedia|[[w:SPARQL|SPARQL]]}}

{{Q|A '''triplestore''' or '''RDF store''' is a purpose-built [[w:database|database]] for the storage and retrieval of [[w:Resource Description Framework#Overview|triples]] through [[w:Semantic Query|semantic queries]].|Wikipedia|[[w:Triplestore]]}}

==== Relevant subject-predicate-object database powered systems to interoperate with ====
* [[Semantic MediaWiki]]
* [[DBpedia]]
* [[Wikidata]]

==== Things to consider in selection of triplestore ====
{{Q|Some '''subject-predicate-object databases''' (also known as ''[[w:triplestore|triplestore]]s'') have been built as database engines from scratch, while others have been built on top of existing commercial relational database engines (e.g., SQL-based).|Wikipedia|[[w:list of subject-predicate-object databases|list of subject-predicate-object databases]]}}

==== Lists and comparisons of subject-predicate-object databases and SPARQL implementations ====
* [[w:List of subject-predicate-object databases|Wikipedia's list of subject-predicate-object databases]]
* [[w:List of SPARQL implementations|Wikipedia's list of SPARQL implementations]]

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=== Graph databases ===
A [[w:graph database|graph database]] stores and queries [[w:Graph (abstract data type)|graphs]].

These graphs may be stored in and constructed from RDF triplets readily so they are quite alike and overlapping in functionality offered but the query performance varies (see talk page for more). 

''' Lists of graph databases '''
* [[w:Graph_database#List_of_graph_databases|Wikipedia's list of graph databases]]

''' Free reading on graph databases '''
* [https://neo4j.com/graph-databases-book/ Free Graph Databases book from the great O'Reilly] kindly provided by [[w:Neo4j]]

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=== Object databases ===
{{Q|An object database stores complex data and relationships between data directly, without mapping to relational rows and columns, and this makes them suitable for applications dealing with very complex data.|Wikipedia|[[w:Object_database#Comparison_with_RDBMSs|functional difference between object and relational databases]]}}
''' Lists of object databases '''
* [[w:Object_database#Timeline|Wikipedia's list of object databases by publication date.]]

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== Useful resources for database related matters ==
* [http://swat.cse.lehigh.edu/projects/lubm/ Lehigh University Benchmark] may be useful in evaluating [[w:semantic query|semantic query]] performance
* [http://www.cambridgesemantics.com/semantic-university/sparql-by-example A very good SPARQL tutorial Cambridge Semantics]