IndexedDB vs Pouchdb: What are the differences?
Introduction:
IndexedDB and PouchDB are both database technologies that provide offline storage capabilities for web applications. However, there are several key differences between these two technologies that developers should be aware of.
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Data Synchronization: One of the main differences between IndexedDB and PouchDB is their approach to data synchronization. IndexedDB does not provide built-in synchronization capabilities, meaning that developers need to implement their own synchronization logic if they want to keep the data in multiple instances of an application in sync. On the other hand, PouchDB is designed to seamlessly sync data between the client-side database and a remote database, such as CouchDB or Cloudant.
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Platform Support: Another difference between IndexedDB and PouchDB lies in their platform support. IndexedDB is natively supported by modern web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. PouchDB, on the other hand, is built on top of IndexedDB and provides a consistent API across different platforms, including web browsers, Node.js, and mobile devices.
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Querying Capabilities: When it comes to querying capabilities, IndexedDB and PouchDB also differ. IndexedDB provides a powerful query language that allows for complex queries using indexes. PouchDB, on the other hand, has a simpler querying mechanism that supports basic queries but lacks the advanced querying capabilities of IndexedDB.
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Conflict Resolution: Conflict resolution is another area where IndexedDB and PouchDB differ. In IndexedDB, conflict resolution is left to the developer, requiring them to handle conflicts manually in their application logic. PouchDB, on the other hand, provides automatic conflict resolution by following the principles of CouchDB's conflict resolution mechanism.
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Event-Based Architecture: IndexedDB and PouchDB also differ in their event-based architecture. IndexedDB uses events to notify applications of changes in the database, such as the completion of a transaction or changes to the data. PouchDB, on the other hand, provides a powerful event system that allows for real-time updates and synchronization with remote databases.
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Offline Workflow: Lastly, IndexedDB and PouchDB have different approaches to handling offline workflows. IndexedDB is primarily designed for offline storage and retrieval of data, but does not have built-in mechanisms for handling offline workflows, such as queuing of requests. PouchDB, on the other hand, is built with offline-first principles in mind and provides features such as automatic queuing of requests and conflict resolution to support robust offline workflows.
In Summary, IndexedDB and PouchDB differ in their data synchronization capabilities, platform support, querying capabilities, conflict resolution mechanisms, event-based architecture, and support for offline workflows.
