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About SQLite
Executive Summary
Full-featured SQL
Billions and billions of deployments
Single-file database
Public domain source code
All source code in one file (sqlite3.c)
Small footprint
Max DB size: 281 terabytes (248 bytes)
Max row size: 1 gigabyte
Faster than direct file I/O
Aviation-grade quality and testing
Zero-configuration
ACID transactions, even after power loss
Stable, enduring file format
Extensive, detailed documentation
Long-term support
SQLite is an in-process library that implements a self-contained,
serverless, zero-configuration, transactional SQL database engine. The
code for SQLite is in the public domain and is thus free for use for any
purpose, commercial or private. SQLite is the most widely deployed
database in the world with more applications than we can count,
including several high-profile projects.
SQLite is an embedded SQL database engine. Unlike most other SQL
databases, SQLite does not have a separate server process. SQLite reads
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and writes directly to ordinary disk files. A complete SQL database with
multiple tables, indices, triggers, and views, is contained in a single disk
file. The database file format is cross-platform - you can freely copy a
database between 32-bit and 64-bit systems or between big-endian and
little-endian architectures. These features make SQLite a popular choice
as an Application File Format. SQLite database files are a recommended
storage format by the US Library of Congress. Think of SQLite not as a
replacement for Oracle but as a replacement for fopen()
SQLite is a compact library. With all features enabled, the library size can
be less than 750KiB, depending on the target platform and compiler
optimization settings. (64-bit code is larger. And some compiler
optimizations such as aggressive function inlining and loop unrolling
can cause the object code to be much larger.) There is a tradeoff between
memory usage and speed. SQLite generally runs faster the more memory
you give it. Nevertheless, performance is usually quite good even in low-
memory environments. Depending on how it is used, SQLite can be faster
than direct filesystem I/O.
SQLite is very carefully tested prior to every release and has a reputation
for being very reliable. Most of the SQLite source code is devoted purely to
testing and verification. An automated test suite runs millions and
millions of test cases involving hundreds of millions of individual SQL
statements and achieves 100% branch test coverage. SQLite responds
gracefully to memory allocation failures and disk I/O errors. Transactions
are ACID even if interrupted by system crashes or power failures. All of
this is verified by the automated tests using special test harnesses which
simulate system failures. Of course, even with all this testing, there are
still bugs. But unlike some similar projects (especially commercial
competitors) SQLite is open and honest about all bugs and provides bugs
lists and minute-by-minute chronologies of code changes.
The SQLite code base is supported by an international team of developers
who work on SQLite full-time. The developers continue to expand the
capabilities of SQLite and enhance its reliability and performance while
maintaining backwards compatibility with the published interface spec,
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SQL syntax, and database file format. The source code is absolutely free to
anybody who wants it, but professional support is also available.
The SQLite project was started on 2000-05-09. The future is always hard
to predict, but the intent of the developers is to support SQLite through
the year 2050. Design decisions are made with that objective in mind.
We the developers hope that you find SQLite useful and we entreat you to
use it well: to make good and beautiful products that are fast, reliable, and
simple to use. Seek forgiveness for yourself as you forgive others. And
just as you have received SQLite for free, so also freely give, paying the
debt forward.
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