Database Benchmarks
OLTP.dev provides open, transparent, and reproducible benchmarks for comparing OLTP database performance. Inspired by ClickBench (opens in a new tab), we aim to help developers make informed decisions about database selection.
What We Benchmark
- Databases - Open source database engines tested on standardized hardware. Compare raw performance.
- Services - Managed database services tested as offered. Compare real-world cloud performance. (Coming Soon)
What is an OLTP database?
OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) databases are database systems optimized for managing transaction-oriented applications. These systems are the backbone of modern applications, handling the real-time processing of day-to-day operations.
Key Characteristics
- High Concurrency - OLTP systems handle thousands to millions of concurrent transactions from multiple users simultaneously.
- Low Latency - Transactions must complete in milliseconds to provide responsive user experiences.
- ACID Compliance - Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability ensure data integrity even during failures.
- Short Transactions - Operations typically involve small amounts of data - reads, inserts, updates of individual records.
OLTP vs OLAP Databases
| Characteristic | OLTP | OLAP |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Day-to-day operations | Business intelligence & analytics |
| Query Type | Simple, short transactions | Complex, aggregating queries |
| Data Size per Query | Small (single rows) | Large (millions of rows) |
| Concurrency | Very high | Lower |
| Latency Requirements | Milliseconds | Seconds to minutes |
| Example | Processing a payment | Generating quarterly sales report |
Real-World OLTP Workloads
OLTP databases power critical applications across every industry:
- E-commerce: Shopping carts, order processing, inventory management
- Banking: Account transactions, balance inquiries, fund transfers
- Healthcare: Patient records, appointment scheduling, prescription management
- Social Media: User posts, likes, comments, real-time feeds
- Gaming: Player state, leaderboards, in-game transactions
Why Benchmark OLTP Databases?
Choosing the right database for your OLTP workload is a critical decision that impacts:
- Application Performance: Response times directly affect user experience
- Scalability: Can the system grow with your user base?
- Cost Efficiency: Hardware and operational costs vary significantly
- Reliability: Downtime costs money and trust