NEW: English for Tech Bundle → Save 40%
Speak Tech English
Book class
Your progress…

Loading your progress…

Home
Technical Vocabularynoun · /ˈdeɪtəbeɪs/

database

In simple English

In tech workplaces, a database is the backbone of most applications. It stores everything from user information to transaction records, product catalogs, and more. Databases use tables with rows and columns to organize data in a logical way, similar to a spreadsheet but far more powerful and scalable. Databases come in different types: relational databases (like PostgreSQL, MySQL) organize data in interconnected tables, while NoSQL databases (like MongoDB) store data in flexible document formats. Engineers constantly interact with databases through queries, designing schemas, optimizing performance, and ensuring data security. When you hear database discussed in meetings, it is usually about performance, backups, scaling, or new schema changes. Understanding databases is essential for backend developers, full-stack engineers, and even frontend developers who work with APIs that pull data from databases. The term is used so frequently in tech that it is one of the first terms any developer learns.

What is a database and how do I use it in software development?

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness5/5
Versatility5/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
New app · Free lessons

Speak up in meetings. Feel confident.

Standup vocabulary, native examples, and quick practice — 100+ free lessons

Start learning freeNo card needed · Google or email
MemberMemberMember

3,000+ tech pros preparing for global tech roles

Lessons · Quizzes · Progress

Say it like this

✓We need to query the database for user information.
✓The database is down; we cannot process orders right now.
✓We are scaling our database to handle more traffic.
✓The database schema needs to be updated before the migration.

Real examples

in a standup

"We discovered a performance issue in the database yesterday, so we added an index to speed up queries."

in a code review

"Make sure you are using parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks on the database."

in a team meeting

"Our database is approaching capacity, so we should discuss a plan to archive old records next quarter."

in a slack message

"Can someone check if the database backup completed successfully last night?"

Don't say this

Handle with care. Database is a noun, not a verb. Do not say we need to database something. Be careful not to confuse database (the storage system) with data (the information itself).

✕We need to database this information quickly.
✓We need to store this information in the database quickly.— Database is a noun, not a verb. You store data in a database; you do not database something.
✕The database is very big data.
✓The database contains a lot of data.— Big data is a specific term referring to massive datasets requiring special processing. A database is simply where data is stored.
✕We use a database for backup purposes only.
✓We use a database to store and manage our application data; backups are secondary.— The primary purpose of a database is to store and retrieve data efficiently during normal operations, not just for backups.
✕The database broke down today.
✓The database went down today or the database crashed today.— In tech, we say a database went down or crashed, not broke down. Broke down is more casual and less precise.

Other forms

noun

database

"The database stores millions of customer records."

noun (adjective modifier)

database

"We need to hire a database administrator to manage the system."

Often used with

query the databaseTo search for or retrieve specific information from a database using a query language like SQL.
database performanceHow fast and efficiently a database responds to requests and processes data.
relational databaseA type of database that organizes data in related tables; the most common type used in enterprise software.
database migrationMoving data from one database system to another, often during system upgrades or platform changes.
database schemaThe structure or blueprint of a database that defines tables, columns, and relationships.
NoSQL databaseA flexible type of database that does not use traditional tables, often used for unstructured data.

Similar words

data storeA more general term; can refer to any system that stores data, not necessarily a structured database.
repositoryA broader term for a central location where something is stored; less technical than database.

Featured course

English for Developers Bundle

Full tech-English bundle for meetings, code reviews, and everyday developer communication.

500+ reviews

View

Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your colleague asks how you will store the user information. What is the most natural response?

Complete the sentence

2. Our application _______ stores customer records in a MySQL _______.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses the word database incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in natural tech English: We have a system where we put all the information about our customers and we can find things in it when we need to.

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "database" in a standup this week?

Want more structured practice like this? Our English for Programmers course covers real workplace English in depth.

Your badges

XLinkedIn
← Back to home