Embedded database
An embedded database system is a database management system (DBMS) which is tightly integrated with an application software that requires access to stored data, such that the database system is "hidden" from the application’s end-user and requires little or no ongoing maintenance. It is actually a broad technology category that includes
- database systems with differing application programming interfaces (SQL as well as proprietary, native APIs),
- database architectures (client-server and in-process),
- storage modes (on-disk, in-memory, and combined),
- database models (relational, object-oriented, entity–attribute–value model, network/CODASYL), and
- target markets.
The term embedded database can be confusing because only a small subset of embedded database products is used in real-time embedded systems such as telecommunications switches and consumer electronics devices.[1] (See mobile database for small-footprint databases that could be used on embedded devices.)