Interview › Databases & Caching
What is the difference between RDS and Aurora?
Databases & Caching · Basic level
Answer
RDS is the managed service umbrella for standard database engines; Aurora is AWS cloud-native relational engine compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL. Aurora uses a distributed storage layer and cluster endpoints, while standard RDS is closer to a managed DB instance with optional Multi-AZ and replicas.
Technical explanation
Aurora decouples compute from a replicated storage layer more than standard RDS.
Standard RDS can be simpler for lift-and-shift workloads; Aurora can help with read scale, failover behavior, and cloud-native features.
Compatibility testing is mandatory because Aurora-compatible is not the same as identical for every extension, parameter, or query plan.
Hands-on example
Example architecture: use the Aurora writer endpoint for writes and the reader endpoint for read-only traffic:
APP_DB_WRITE_HOST=orders.cluster-abc.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com
APP_DB_READ_HOST=orders.cluster-ro-abc.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com
Run integration and explain-plan tests before choosing Aurora over standard RDS.
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More Databases & Caching interview questions
- What is Amazon RDS, and what does it manage for you versus self-managed databases?
- What database engines does RDS support?
- What is Multi-AZ in RDS, and how does automatic failover work?
- How long does an RDS Multi-AZ failover typically take, and what triggers it?
- What is the difference between Multi-AZ and a read replica?
- When would you use a read replica, and can it become a standalone database?
- Can a read replica be in a different region, and why would you do that?
- What is the difference between automated backups and manual snapshots in RDS?