What is CouchDB ?

Single Node Database

CouchDB is a terrific single-node database that works just like any other database behind an application server of your choice.

Most people start with a single node CouchDB instance. More demanding projects can seamlessly upgrade to a cluster.

Cluster

CouchDB is also a clustered database that allows you to run a single logical database server on any number of servers or VMs.

A CouchDB cluster improves on the single-node setup with higher capacity and high-availability without changing any APIs.

HTTP/JSON

CouchDB makes use of the ubiquitous HTTP protocol and JSON data format and is compatible with any software that supports them. CouchDB also works great with external tools like HTTP proxy servers, load balancers.

Offline First Data Sync

CouchDB’s unique Replication Protocol is the foundation for a whole new generation of “Offline First” applications for Mobile applications and other environments with challenging network infrastructures.

Ecosystem

CouchDB is built for servers (from a Raspberry Pi to big cloud installations), while PouchDB is built for mobile & desktop web-browsers and Couchbase Lite is built for native iOS & Android apps.

And all of them can seamlessly replicate data with each other.

Reliability

CouchDB is serious about data reliability.

Individual nodes use a crash-resistent append-only data structure. A multi-node CouchDB cluster saves all data redundantly, so it is always available when you need it.

Apache CouchDB ™ lets you access your data where you need it.. The Couch Replication Protocol is implemented in a variety of projects and products that span every imaginable computing environment from globally distributed server-clusters, over mobile phones to web browsers.