What is the difference between MongoDB and CouchDB?

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Difference between MongoDB and CouchDB:

  • MongoDB is faster than CouchDB while CouchDB is safer than MongoDB.
  • Triggers are not available in MongoDB while triggers are available in CouchDB.
  • MongoDB serializes JSON data to BSON while CouchDB doesn’t store data in JSON format.

MongoDB and CouchDB are both NoSQL databases, but they have some key differences in terms of their architecture, data model, and use cases.

  1. Data Model:
    • MongoDB: MongoDB uses a flexible, JSON-like document data model. Data is stored in BSON (Binary JSON) format, and collections contain documents with varying fields.
    • CouchDB: CouchDB uses a schema-free document model based on JSON. Each document is a JSON object, and documents within a database can have different structures.
  2. Architecture:
    • MongoDB: MongoDB uses a master-slave architecture for replication, where one node is the primary (master) and others are secondary (slaves). It also supports sharding for horizontal scaling.
    • CouchDB: CouchDB uses a distributed architecture with a Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC) system. It supports a master-master replication model, allowing any node to act as a master.
  3. Consistency and Concurrency:
    • MongoDB: MongoDB provides strong consistency by default. It uses a single master for write operations, ensuring that all writes are consistent across the system.
    • CouchDB: CouchDB provides eventual consistency, allowing nodes to diverge temporarily and then converge over time. It uses a conflict resolution mechanism based on revision numbers.
  4. Query Language:
    • MongoDB: MongoDB supports a rich query language for document-based queries, including various operators and indexing for efficient querying.
    • CouchDB: CouchDB uses MapReduce for querying. It allows users to define custom views using JavaScript for querying the data.
  5. Use Cases:
    • MongoDB: MongoDB is often used in scenarios where a flexible schema and real-time data access are important, such as content management systems, e-commerce applications, and real-time analytics.
    • CouchDB: CouchDB is suitable for applications where a decentralized and distributed approach is valuable, such as collaborative applications, offline-first applications, and scenarios where high availability is crucial.

It’s important to choose between MongoDB and CouchDB based on the specific requirements of your application, as each database has its strengths and weaknesses.