What do these three images have in common? We bet you’re thinking, “hey, there’s an app for all of these!” - and you’d be right. But what do each of these apps have in common? Other than being installed on pretty much every phone in the known universe - it’s that they all rely on an effective database to function.

In short, a database lies at the core of each of these types of apps. Without a database, the app wouldn’t really serve a purpose. It’d be a takeaway app without any restaurants or menus, a dating app without any people or a taxi app without any drivers. It goes without saying that they'd be pretty pointless.

Let’s look a little further, and delve into exactly why a database is so important for each of these modern app designs.

Dating Apps

Whether you’re on Tinder, Grindr, Her or anything in between, when it comes down to it, what you’re actually browsing is a database of information about your next potential dates, with an attractive user interface (and a number of attractive people too, no doubt!)

From personal information, images, location data, phone numbers and dating preferences, it’s all stored on a server connected to the back-end of the app, which will then be compiled together with scripts and codes that work in tandem to match you with your perfect partner. 

Taxi / Rideshare Apps

Much like a dating app, Taxi apps such as Uber need a wealth of information about its users, whether they are drivers or riders. But it goes a little deeper than that. In order to provide an effective service, the data model for a Rideshare app needs to contain information on cab size, personal information about the driver, alongside their shift times, and it needs to be automatically updated to include the drivers current availability.

With the help of GPS, the server will then identify the current location of a user who has requested a taxi, and notify the nearest available driver. All of these automated solutions rely on an effective database in order to keep running - and keep you getting where you need to be!

Takeaway Apps

When you think of food, glorious food, it’s not often that your mind will be drawn to numbers, stats and data - but without these, you wouldn’t even be placing your late-night order, let alone getting it delivered! 

Like a combination of browsing your next potential date - or next potential kebab - and the locational services of a Rideshare app, ordering food via an app is yet another delve into a database. From details about the restaurants themselves, including their menus and locations, to information about drivers and users, a takeaway app like Just-Eat or Deliveroo relies on a wealth of tasty information in order to provide an effective service.

Let’s Bring It All Together…

The bottom line, then, is that a database is vital to the running of almost any app that provides a service. After all, we live in a world lead and guided by data and its multitude of uses. It might sound scary, but really it’s a great opportunity to grab yourself a piece of the pie… with some expert help!

Got a new app idea that you want to try testing out? Building a database might seem daunting at first, but that's why we're here. Our team at Better Technology Consulting are experts at throwing together a simple web app in a matter of days. We’ll work directly with you, and help advise you on the best course of action when it comes to the app itself.

Get in touch with our team for more information. Or if you’re just here for a little read, carry on! We’ve got plenty of quality blog content for you to sink your teeth into.