SQLite is an embedded SQL database engine for applications that need structured local storage without a separate server. It reads and writes directly to a database file containing tables, indexes, views, and triggers. Applications use SQL to query and update data, while transactions help keep related changes consistent. The cross-platform file format is easy to copy and back up, and the compact engine suits desktop software and resource-constrained devices. SQLite is free for commercial and private use.
| Author: | Richard Hipp |
| License: | Freeware |
| Price: | FREE |
| Released: | May 24, 2024 |
| File size: | 614 kB |
| Downloads: | 1675 |
| Keywords: | SQLite Database, serverless database, sqlite database, SQLite3, sqlite database engine, embedded sql database, sql database file, SQLite, database management, lightweight software, local database library, Access, cross-platform compatibility, Access Database, Database, Richard Hipp, SQL Command, open-source database |
| Author URL: | http://www.sqlite.org/support.html |
SQLite is an embedded relational database engine for developers building applications that need structured local data without running a separate database server. It is supplied as a software library that an application can include and call directly. Because the engine runs in the application's process, it suits desktop software, utilities, and devices where a standalone database service would add unnecessary setup or resource use.
The engine stores a complete database in an ordinary disk file. Tables, indexes, views, and triggers can live together in that file, which makes the database straightforward to keep with an application or copy between systems. SQLite reads and writes the file directly rather than communicating with a server. Its database format is cross-platform, so files can be moved between different processor architectures without converting the data.
Applications use SQL to create tables, query and change records, and define database structures. Transactions group related changes so they are committed together or rolled back, helping preserve consistency if an operation fails. SQLite is transactional and designed to maintain ACID behavior, including when the operating system encounters a crash or power loss. The engine also handles common database features such as indexes and triggers, allowing applications to organize data and automate actions within the database.
SQLite is compact and can be configured for different performance and resource requirements. That makes it useful for application settings, catalogs, caches, and other structured information that needs to remain on a device. Its single-file format also provides a practical application file format for data that should be easy to back up or transfer. It is not intended as a direct replacement for a server database when an application needs centralized access from many clients over a network.
SQLite is free to use for private and commercial purposes, and its code is in the public domain. The Windows download is intended for use with Windows systems; SQLite itself is a database engine, not a graphical database management application. Working with it generally requires software that incorporates the library or a separate tool that can open SQLite databases. Its small footprint and lack of server configuration make it a practical choice for developers who need reliable local SQL storage.