LokiJS vs RxDB: What are the differences?

Introduction

LokiJS and RxDB are both popular JavaScript databases, each with their own set of strengths and differences. This article aims to outline the key differences between the two.

1. Scalability: LokiJS is primarily designed for browser-based applications, focusing on client-side storage with limited scalability options. On the other hand, RxDB is built for larger, scalable applications, providing powerful synchronization and replication options that allow for seamless data management across multiple devices and servers.

2. Querying Capability: LokiJS offers a simple query API, allowing developers to easily perform queries on the client-side database. However, the query capabilities of RxDB are more advanced and versatile, supporting complex queries, joins, aggregations, and even full-text search functionality.

3. Synchronization: LokiJS does not offer built-in support for data synchronization, which means that developers need to implement their own synchronization mechanism to keep multiple clients in sync. In contrast, RxDB provides native support for synchronization and replication, making it easier to keep data consistent and up-to-date across multiple devices and servers.

4. Data Schema: LokiJS is a schema-less database, which means that it does not enforce any specific data schema, allowing for more flexible data models. On the other hand, RxDB enforces a schema for data consistency and validation, ensuring that data conforms to a predefined structure.

5. IndexedDB Support: LokiJS uses IndexedDB as the underlying storage engine for browsers that support it, which provides scalability and persistence. Conversely, RxDB also supports IndexedDB as a storage option but also offers additional options like SQLite, WebSQL, and local filesystem storage, providing more flexibility in choosing the storage solution.

6. Ecosystem and Community: LokiJS has been around for a longer period of time and has a mature ecosystem and a large community of contributors. RxDB, although relatively newer, is gaining popularity and has an active community of developers, making it easier to find support and resources.

In summary, the key differences between LokiJS and RxDB lie in their scalability options, querying capabilities, synchronization support, data schema enforcement, storage options, and the size and activity of their respective ecosystems and communities.