In today’s global economy, we have seen the emergence of Big Data in the digital technology industry, and as such, companies ranging from startups to large corporations are setting aside resources on how to harness insights and gain key strategies from the data they produce as well as from the ones available from other companies. Trying to analyze such data will require the use of certain tools and specific skills to fully grasp the opportunities on offer from the data.

This write-up is aimed at looking at Hadoop and SQL, it will differentiate between both of them by highlighting Hadoop vs SQL differences to enable you to choose either of them when presented with certain challenges that need to be solved as they are best suited for specific scenarios.

Organizations today rely on Big Data to power their business and Hadoop and SQL are both popularly used for data management available in the data industry as they can be used to handle large data sets efficiently.

Simplify your Data Analysis with Hevo’s No-code Data Pipelines

Hevo is the only real-time ELT No-code Data Pipeline platform that cost-effectively automates data pipelines that are flexible to your needs. With integration with 150+ Data Sources (40+ free sources), we help you not only export data from sources & load data to the destinations but also transform & enrich your data, & make it analysis-ready.

Start for free now!

Get Started with Hevo for Free

Hadoop vs SQL

In this section, you will be introduced to the differences between Hadoop and SQL and the unique ways they manage data to allow you to decide on which tool to use for specific operations.

Hadoop vs SQL: Architecture

Hadoop: Hadoop supports an open-source framework. In Hadoop data sets are distributed across computer/server clusters with parallel data processing features.

SQL: SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It is based on domain-specific language, used to handle database management operations in relational databases.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Operations

Hadoop: Hadoop is used for storing, processing, retrieving, and pattern extraction from data across a wide range of formats like XML, Text, JSON, etc.

SQL: SQL is used to store, process, retrieve, and pattern mine data stored in a relational database only.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Data Type/ Data update

Hadoop: Hadoop handles both structured and unstructured data formats. For data update, Hadoop writes data once but reads data multiple times.

SQL: SQL works only for structured data but unlike Hadoop, data can be written and read multiple times.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Data Volume Processed

Hadoop: Hadoop is developed for Big Data hence, it usually handles data volumes up to Terabytes and Petabytes.

SQL: SQL works better on low volumes of data, usually in Gigabytes.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Data Storage

Hadoop: Hadoop stores data in the form of key-value pairs, hash, maps, tables, etc in distributed systems with dynamic schemas.

SQL: SQL stores structured data in a tabular format using tables only with fixed schemas.

Hadoop vs SQL: Schema Structure

Hadoop: Hadoop supports dynamic schema structure.

SQL: SQL supports static schema structure.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Data Structures Supported

Hadoop: Hadoop supports NoSQL data type structures, columnar data structures, etc. meaning you will have to provide codes for implementation or for rolling back during a transaction.

SQL: SQL works on the property of Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability (ACID) which is fundamental to RDBMS.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Fault Tolerance

Hadoop: Hadoop is highly fault-tolerant.

SQL: SQL has good fault tolerance.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Availablity

Hadoop: As Hadoop uses the notion of distributed computing and the principle of map-reduce therefore it handles data availability on multiple systems across multiple geo-locations.

SQL: SQL supporting databases are usually available on-prises or on the cloud, therefore it can’t utilize the benefits of distributed computing.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Integrity

Hadoop: Hadoop has low integrity.

SQL: SQL has high integrity.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Scaling

Hadoop: Scaling in Hadoop based system requires connecting computers over the network. Horizontal Scaling with Hadoop is cheap and flexible.

SQL: Scaling in SQL required purchasing additional SQL servers and configuration which is expensive and time-consuming.

Hadoop Vs SQL Comparison: Data Processing

Hadoop: Hadoop supports large-scale batch data processing known as Online Analytical Processing (OLAP).

SQL: SQL supports real-time data processing known as Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) thereby making it interactive and batch-oriented.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Execution Time

Hadoop: Statements in Hadoop are executed very quickly even when millions of queries are executed at once.

SQL: SQL syntax can be slow when executed in millions of rows.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Interaction

Hadoop: Hadoop uses appropriate Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) to interact with SQL systems to transfer and receive data between them.

SQL: SQL systems can read and write data to Hadoop systems.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Support for ML and AI 

Hadoop: Hadoop supports advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques.

SQL: SQL’s support for ML and AI is limited compared to Hadoop.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Skill Level

Hadoop: Hadoop requires an advanced skill level for you to be proficient in using it and trying to learn Hadoop as a beginner can be moderately difficult as it requires certain kinds of skill sets.

SQL: The SQL skill level required to use it is intermediate as it can be learned easily for beginners and entry-level professionals.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Language Supported

Hadoop: Hadoop framework is built with Java programming language.

SQL: SQL is a traditional database language used to perform database management operations on relational databases such as MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, etc.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Use Case

Hadoop: When you need to manage unstructured data, structured data, or semi-structured data in huge volume, Hadoop is a good fit.

SQL: SQL performs well in a moderate volume of data and it supports structured data only.

Hadoop vs SQL Comparison: Hardware Configuration

Hadoop: In Hadoop, commodity hardware installation is required on the server.

SQL: With SQL supported system, propriety hardware installation is required.

Hadoop vs SQL: Pricing

Hadoop: Hadoop is a free open-source framework.

SQL: SQL supporting systems are mostly licensed.

Hadoop vs SQL Summary

ParameterHadoopSQL
ArchitectureHadoop supports an open-source framework. In Hadoop data sets are distributed across computer/server clusters with parallel data processing features.SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It is based on domain-specific language, used to handle database management operations in relational databases.
OperationsHadoop is used for storing, processing, retrieving, and pattern extraction from data across a wide range of formats like XML, Text, JSON, etc.
SQL is used to store, process, retrieve, and pattern mine data stored in a relational database only.
Data Type/ Data updateHadoop handles both structured and unstructured data formats. For data update, Hadoop writes data once but reads data multiple times.
SQL works only for structured data but unlike Hadoop, data can be written and read multiple times.
Data Volume ProcessedHadoop is developed for Big Data hence, it usually handles data volumes up to Terabytes and Petabytes.
SQL works better on low volumes of data, usually in Gigabytes.
Data StorageHadoop stores data in the form of key-value pairs, hash, maps, tables, etc in distributed systems with dynamic schemas.SQL stores structured data in a tabular format using tables only with fixed schemas.
Schema StructureHadoop supports dynamic schema structure.
SQL supports static schema structure.
Data Structures SupportedHadoop supports NoSQL data type structures, columnar data structures, etc. meaning you will have to provide codes for implementation or for rolling back during a transaction.
SQL works on the property of Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability (ACID) which is fundamental to RDBMS.
Fault ToleranceHadoop is highly fault-tolerant.
SQL has good fault tolerance.
AvailabilityAs Hadoop uses the notion of distributed computing and the principle of map-reduce therefore it handles data availability on multiple systems across multiple geo-locations.
SQL supporting databases are usually available on-prises or on the cloud, therefore it can’t utilize the benefits of distributed computing.
IntegrityHadoop has low integrity.SQL has high integrity.
ScalingScaling in Hadoop based system requires connecting computers over the network. Horizontal Scaling with Hadoop is cheap and flexible.Scaling in SQL required purchasing additional SQL servers and configuration which is expensive and time-consuming.
Data ProcessingHadoop supports large-scale batch data processing known as Online Analytical Processing (OLAP).
SQL supports real-time data processing known as Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) thereby making it interactive and batch-oriented.
Execution TimeStatements in Hadoop are executed very quickly even when millions of queries are executed at once.
SQL syntax can be slow when executed in millions of rows.
InteractionHadoop uses appropriate Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) to interact with SQL systems to transfer and receive data between them.SQL systems can read and write data to Hadoop systems.
Support for ML and AI Hadoop supports advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques.
SQL’s support for ML and AI is limited compared to Hadoop.
Skill LevelHadoop requires an advanced skill level for you to be proficient in using it and trying to learn Hadoop as a beginner can be moderately difficult as it requires certain kinds of skill sets.
The SQL skill level required to use it is intermediate as it can be learned easily for beginners and entry-level professionals.
Language SupportedHadoop framework is built with Java programming language.
SQL is a traditional database language used to perform database management operations on relational databases such as MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, etc.
Use CaseWhen you need to manage unstructured data, structured data, or semi-structured data in huge volume, Hadoop is a good fit.
SQL performs well in a moderate volume of data and it supports structured data only.
Hardware ConfigurationIn Hadoop, commodity hardware installation is required on the server.
With SQL supported system, propriety hardware installation is required.
PricingHadoop is a free open-source framework.
SQL supporting systems are mostly licensed.

Conclusion

This article primarily looked at the difference between Hadoop and SQL, it showed that they are both used in the management of data but carry this out in different ways. Hadoop which is a framework of software components handles larger data sets and can only write data once whereas, SQL, a programming language that is used for data management in RDBMS, can be written and read multiple times, it is easy to use but difficult to scale.

Visit our Website to Explore Hevo

The differences between the two do not negate the other as one can not say Hadoop is better than SQL or vice versa, rather, your preference, in the end, will depend on what type of data you want to handle or the kind of operation your enterprise is into as well as the cost implications of using either of them.

Integrating and analyzing your data from a huge set of diverse sources can be challenging, this is where Hevo comes into the picture. Hevo is a No-code Data Pipeline and has awesome 150+ pre-built integrations that you can choose from. Hevo can help you integrate your data from numerous sources and load them into a destination to analyze real-time data with a BI tool and create your Dashboards. It will make your life easier and make data migration hassle-free. It is user-friendly, reliable, and secure. Check out the pricing details here.

Want to take Hevo for a spin?  Sign Up here for a 14-day free trial and experience the feature-rich Hevo suite first hand.

Anaswara Ramachandran
Content Marketing Specialist, Hevo Data

Anaswara is an engineer-turned-writer specializing in ML, AI, and data science content creation. As a Content Marketing Specialist at Hevo Data, she strategizes and executes content plans leveraging her expertise in data analysis, SEO, and BI tools. Anaswara adeptly utilizes tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Power BI to deliver data-driven insights that power strategic marketing campaigns.