HSQLDB

HSQLDB

HSQLDB is a relational database management system written in Java. It supports embedded and server modes, ACID transactions, standard SQL, JDBC API, and has a small footprint.
HSQLDB image
java jdbc sql rdbms embedded server

HSQLDB: Lightweight Relational Database for Java

HSQLDB is a relational database management system written in Java. It supports embedded and server modes, ACID transactions, standard SQL, JDBC API, and has a small footprint.

What is HSQLDB?

HSQLDB (HyperSQL DataBase) is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) written in Java. It offers a small, fast multithreaded and transactional database engine with in-memory and disk-based tables and supports embedded and server modes.

Key features of HSQLDB include:

  • Full support for standard SQL, JDBC API and PCI drivers
  • Embedded, in-process, memory-only operation as well as client-server modes
  • Disk-based, persistent databases and tables
  • ACID transactions with rollback and atomicity
  • User authentication
  • Small footprint (around 2MB jar file size) and fairly fast speed

HSQLDB is commonly used for development, testing and prototyping applications where a relational database is required but native performance is not essential. It offers a good balance of SQL standard compliance and a small runtime footprint.

HSQLDB Features

Features

  1. Relational database management system
  2. Written in Java
  3. Supports embedded and server modes
  4. Supports ACID transactions
  5. Implements SQL standards
  6. Provides JDBC API
  7. Small memory footprint

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and fast

Easy to embed in Java applications

Open source with liberal license

Cross-platform

Active development and support

Cons

Lacks features of larger databases

Not ideal for large or complex applications

Limited ecosystem compared to MySQL, PostgreSQL etc

Not optimized for large datasets


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