Reading about the death of the relational database seems like a regular occurrence. However, here we are in 2021, and the relational data store is going strong. If we look at the DB-Engines Ranking website, six of the top 10, including the top four spots, are all relational data stores. Evidently, structured, or relational, data storage is here to stay. Yet four of the top spots are held by non-relational engines. Could that mean that relational data storage is really dying?

The core of this question is not really which kind of data store is better between a relational, normalized structure or a non-relational, denormalized storage mechanism. No, the real core question is: What kind of data store should your organization be using in 2021?

The shortest possible way I can answer this question is as follows:

All of them.

The fact is, you’re much better off not trying to answer your data needs with one, single methodology. Let’s discuss why.

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