People are always surprised to learn how many things run off databases. From streaming services to ecommerce to banking, databases keep our world going. Here at Arkware, we help businesses and organizations build and maintain secure, reliable databases. But, they aren’t just found in the corporate world. Here are some of the ways that we use databases in our everyday lives.
Streaming TV and Movies
Have you ditched traditional cable for a streaming service like Hulu or Netflix? These streaming services use databases to generate lists of shows and movies. That’s how you get all those personalized recommendations! As you watch movies and TV, the database tracks your activity and provides a list of other things you may enjoy.
Social Media
Most people are active on at least one social channel. Whether you enjoy using Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or something else, there is one thing they all share in common: they use databases. All user information is stored on the database and used to recommend relevant products, services and content.
Storing Photos and Videos in the Cloud
Photos, videos and other files take up a lot of space on digital devices. To free up space without having to delete your files, you probably use cloud storage. In fact, many of the services people use regularly (e.g., Dropbox, Google) come with a limited amount of cloud storage. This storage relies on databases to bring up your information when you want it.
Playing Online Games
Enjoy playing games on social media? All of these games require a database to gather information from the player. This information is then be shared with all other players for a fun and interactive experience. Even during busy times, the games’ databases run smooth and eliminate bottlenecks.
Filling Out Brackets
You know all those fun brackets your workplace does around the Super Bowl or March Madness? Even those require help from database technology! The databases hold important statistics about the players and games to calculate the odds of winning. Without these databases, it would be nearly impossible to keep track of who’s doing what and on what teams.
These are just some of the ways that databases are used in our everyday lives. Without them, it would be difficult to stream movies and music, store photos off our devices and play personalized games.