13 Examples of Relational Database
A relational database is a database that stores data in tables. Tables are similar to folders in a file system, where each table stores a collection of information. In a relational database, you can access data in any order you like by using the various SQL commands.
Relational databases are some of the most popular databases used today. Here are examples of relational databases, briefly explaining each one:
This table shows the summary of relational databases
Sr.# | Database | Developer | First Release Date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Microsoft SQL Server | Microsoft | 1989 |
2 | MySQL | Oracle Corporation | 23 May 1995 |
3 | PostgreSQL | PostgreSQL Global Development Group | 8 July 1996 |
4 | SQLite | D. Richard Hipp | 17 August 2000 |
5 | Oracle Database | Oracle Corporation | 1979 |
6 | MariaDB | MariaDB Corporation Ab | 29 October 2009 |
7 | IBM Informix | IBM | 17 November 2020 |
8 | Apache Derby | Apache Software Foundation | 19 May 2022 |
9 | H2 Database Engine | Thomas Mueller | December 2005 |
10 | Amazon RDS | Amazon.com | 26 October 2009 |
11 | Sybase ASE | Sybase – An SAP Company | 1987 |
12 | DB2 | IBM | 1993 |
13 | Microsoft Access | Microsoft | 13 November 1992 |
Examples of Relational Database
Let’s discuss these relational databases briefly.
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. As a database server, it is a software product with the primary function of storing and retrieving data as requested by other software applications—which may run either on the same computer or on another computer across a network (including the Internet).
MySQL
MySQL is a widely used, open-source relational database management system (RDBMS). MySQL is free and open-source software under the terms of the GNU (General Public License) and is also available under a variety of proprietary licenses.
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) with an emphasis on extensibility and standards compliance. It is free and open-source software released under the PostgreSQL License.
SQLite
SQLite is a relational database management system contained in a C programming library. In contrast to many other database management systems, SQLite is not a client–server database engine. Rather, it is embedded into the end program. SQLite is ACID-compliant and implements most of the SQL standard, using a dynamically and weakly typed SQL syntax that does not guarantee the domain integrity.
SQLite is one of the most widely deployed database engines, as it is used today by several widespread browsers, operating systems, and embedded systems, among others. Heavily used in iPhone applications, it features full-text search and geospatial query support.
Oracle Database
Oracle Corporation’s Oracle database is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that runs on major platforms like Linux, UNIX, and Windows. It is very popular relational database and is known for its scalability, reliability, and performance.
MariaDB
MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that’s compatible with the popular MySQL database. MariaDB is used by organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to some of the largest companies in the world.
IBM Informix
Informix was one of the first commercial relational database products on the market; it was designed to run on mainframe computers in 1982 but was subsequently ported to Unix, Linux, macOS and Windows platforms as well. It was acquired by IBM in 2001 along with other assets from Informix Software for $1 billion USD cash plus $250 million stock options. Its stable release date is 17 November 2020.
Apache Derby
Apache Derby is an open source relational database management system that is written in Java and runs on any platform that supports Java Runtime Environment (JRE). It is lightweight and easy to use, making it a good choice for developing small databases or prototypes.
H2 Database Engine
H2 Database Engine is another open source relational database management system written in Java that can be used in embedded or server mode. It offers a simple interface and powerful features making it a good choice for small applications or prototyping purposes.
Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS)
Amazon RDS is Amazon’s managed relational database service that supports popular databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server. Amazon RDS makes it easy to set up, operate, and scale a relational database in the cloud.
Sybase ASE
Sybase ASE (Adaptive Server Enterprise) is a relational model database server produced by Sybase Corporation (now part of SAP). It primarily runs on UNIX systems. It was ported to Microsoft Windows NT also. It’s known for its robust transactional processing capabilities.
DB2
IBM DB2 is a family of hybrid data management products designed to serve a range of workloads including transactional processing, data warehousing, business intelligence and analytics. The IBM DB2 family offers IBM Hybrid Data Management solutions for managing both structured and unstructured data – on premise or in any cloud environment.
It offers a number of features to help improve performance and scalability, including query optimization, indexing and partitioning.
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access is a database management system (DBMS) from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of applications, included in the Professional and higher editions and also sold separately.

Further Reading
- Relational Database Benefits and Limitations
- Relational Vs Non Relational Database
- 9 Types of Databases
- Distributed Database
- Personal Database
- Centralized Database