SQLite

SQLite is a self-contained, serverless SQL database engine that runs embedded within applications rather than as a separate server process. The entire database lives in a single cross-platform file, requiring zero configuration, no installation, and no administration, making it the most widely deployed database engine in the world.

Despite its simplicity, SQLite supports most of standard SQL including ACID-compliant transactions, complex queries, triggers, and views. It is the default database in every iPhone, Android device, and web browser. For web development, SQLite has gained renewed relevance through tools like Turso and LiteFS that replicate databases to edge locations, and through frameworks using it for local development. It excels for read-heavy workloads, prototyping, and applications where running a separate database server adds unnecessary complexity.