databasebacked

Database-backed, usually written as database-backed or database backed, describes software components or services that store and manage application data primarily in a database managed by a database management system. In this approach, the persistent state of the system is kept in a database such as a relational DBMS (for example PostgreSQL or MySQL) or a NoSQL store, and data is accessed and updated through queries or APIs rather than relying solely on in-memory structures.

Common in web applications, enterprise systems, and API services, the pattern integrates a persistence layer that maps domain objects to the database using SQL or an object-relational mapping layer. The database provides durability, transactional integrity, indexing, and complex query capabilities. Data is often shared across components and services, enabling multi-user access and reporting.

Benefits include durable storage across restarts, strong consistency through ACID transactions, rich query capabilities, centralized data management, and robust backup and audit capabilities. Scaling can leverage database features such as replication and sharding, and security can be enforced via database access controls and encryption.

Drawbacks and considerations include added latency due to round trips to the database, tighter coupling to a specific schema or vendor, and potentially more complex migrations. Performance tuning and caching strategies are often required to meet latency targets. The architecture may introduce a single point of failure if the database is central, so approaches like replication, failover, and proper backup plans are important. Design decisions about normalization, denormalization, and data access patterns significantly influence overall system behavior.