TimesTen

TimesTen is a relational in-memory database designed for ultra-low latency and high-throughput data access. Developed originally by TimesTen Data Systems, it was acquired by Oracle in 2005 and is marketed as Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database. The product provides a full SQL-based relational model with ACID transactions, stored procedures, and triggers, and it can be deployed either as a standalone in-memory database or as a fast caching layer in front of Oracle Database.

TimesTen runs as a server process that clients connect to via standard interfaces such as JDBC, ODBC, and native C APIs, and it can also be used as an in-process library for embedding in applications. The engine stores data primarily in memory to maximize speed, while offering optional durability through a disk-based log and checkpointing mechanism to ensure data persistence and recoverability. It supports replication and synchronization between TimesTen databases, enabling high availability and data distribution across systems.

Deployment models include a pure in-memory configuration with optional disk persistence and a cache configuration where frequently accessed data is cached in TimesTen to accelerate access to data stored in Oracle Database. In cache mode, TimesTen maintains coherence with the backing database while delivering lower latency for read and write operations on hot data. Typical use cases span real-time analytics, telecom rating and billing, financial services, and other applications that require predictable latency and deterministic performance.

History and positioning place TimesTen within Oracle’s data management offerings as a specialized, high-speed in-memory option. It is supported on multiple platforms and integrates with Oracle development and deployment tools, enabling both standalone and cache-based data architectures.