Bubble.io, about which you can learn more in our Bubble review here, has been making waves in the world of application development with its no-code platform. It allows even those with little to no coding experience to create robust web applications. One essential aspect of these applications, and often overlooked by new developers, is the database design. A well-designed database is the backbone of any application, ensuring smooth data storage, retrieval, and manipulation.
In this guide, we at Hustling Labs, a renowned builder of Bubble.io templates, will take you through the nuances of designing databases specifically for Bubble.io. From the ins and outs of Bubble's native database, a walkthrough of the Bubble database tab, the importance of a good database structure, to alternatives for those who prefer other database solutions. This guide aims to offer comprehensive knowledge to both beginners and advanced Bubble users, all explained in an easy-to-understand manner.
Understanding Bubble’s Native Database
In the world of no-code application development, Bubble's native database stands out for several reasons. It is fully integrated with the Bubble platform, making it an incredibly convenient option for developers. It also boasts an easy-to-use interface, which is perfect for those who are new to database design or prefer a more straightforward approach.
Advantages of using Bubble’s native database
Seamless integration with Bubble applications
Bubble's native database is inherently connected to the platform. This means that any data you store can be easily accessed and manipulated within your application. This level of integration simplifies the process of data management and eliminates the need for separate database software or API connections.
Easy to use interface and features
With its user-friendly interface, Bubble's native database allows you to define and manage your data types and fields easily. It provides a set of features, such as privacy rules and workflows, that are designed to help you build your application without needing to write a single line of code.
Disadvantages of using Bubble’s native database
Potential limitations in scalability and complex queries
While Bubble's native database is sufficient for most use cases, it might face limitations when it comes to highly scalable applications or those requiring complex queries. If your application needs to handle vast amounts of data or perform complex data operations, you might encounter some performance issues.
Dependence on Bubble's platform
Using Bubble's native database means that your data is tied to the Bubble platform. If you ever decide to migrate your application to another platform, it could be a complicated process to move your data.
Bubble Database Tab Familiarization
Bubble's Database Tab is your control center for all things related to data. Understanding its interface and features is crucial for efficient database design.
Navigating the Database Tab in Bubble
Overview of the user interface
Once you've opened the Database Tab in Bubble, you'll see it's divided into five main sections. The first section lists all your data types, this is where you will build your database structure and add fields to the data types. The second section is where you will want to set privacy rules in order to keep your data safe. The third section, App Data, is where the data from your site lives. This is where everything your user adds to your site lives. The fourth section is the Option Sets, basically static data that is used throughout your site. Lastly, the last tab is the file manager, where every file that is uploaded into your site lives. These can be images, videos, documents or any other type of attachments.
Practical walkthrough: Creating and managing data types and fields
Steps to create a new data type
To create a new data type, in the New Type input field (found on the left-bottom side of your screen) enter the name of the data type you want to create.
For example, you can call the data type any of the following:
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Order
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Favorites
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Quotes
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Posts
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Comments
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Notifications
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Messages
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Etc...
Basically, this is the main category for this type of data. Once created, you will be able to add custom fields inside this data type. Also, once created, your new data type will appear in the list on the left.
After creating a data type, you can add fields to it. Click on the data type from the list, and in the bottom section, click on the 'Create a new field' button. Then, specify the field name and its type.
Bubble's Default Data Fields
When you create a new data type in the Bubble database, there are several fields that are automatically created by default. These include:
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Created Date - This field records the date and time when a new entry (or 'thing') is created in the database. The
Created Datefield is automatically generated by Bubble and cannot be modified. -
Modified Date - Similar to the
Created Datefield, theModified Datefield records the date and time of the most recent modification to the entry. This field is updated each time any change is made to the entry. -
Creator - This field records the user who created the entry. If the entry was created by a logged-in user, the
Creatorfield will contain a reference to that user. If the entry was created without a logged-in user (e.g., through a workflow that runs without user interaction), theCreatorfield will be empty.
These default fields are automatically included for each data type, and they can be very useful for tracking the history of your data. However, it's also important to note that you cannot delete these default fields. If you want to track additional information, you can add custom fields to your data type.
Understanding Bubble's Various Field Types for Data Types
Bubble offers a wide variety of field types that you can create to store different kinds of data in your application. Here's a brief overview of each:
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Text: This field is used to store string data. It's ideal for storing information such as names, notes, numbers that don't require calculations or any other form of textual information.
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Number: This field stores numerical data. It can be used to hold both integers and floating-point numbers. The numbers here can be used for mathematical equations. As an example, you can store the price of a product and then multiply it by the number of the same products in the cart to get a total cost for that product.
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Numeric Range: This field type is ideal when you need to represent a range of numbers. For instance, you can use this to represent age ranges, price ranges, etc.
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Date: This field type stores date and time data. Bubble also provides built-in functions that allow you to manipulate and format these date fields as needed.
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Date Range: This field type is used when you want to represent a range of dates. For instance, it can be used to represent a period of time or a duration.
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Date Interval: This field type is similar to Date Range, but it's specifically used to represent a span of time between two dates.
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Boolean (Yes/No): This field type stores boolean data, meaning it can only be true or false. It's perfect for storing binary conditions or flags.
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File: This field type is used to store file data. Users can upload files directly, or files can be fetched from a URL.
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Image: Similar to the File field type, but specifically for image files. Images can be uploaded directly by the user or fetched from a URL.
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Geographic Address: This field type is used to store geographic data. It can be used to store addresses and even integrate with Google Maps to display this data.
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Link to other data types: This field type is used to create a relationship with another data type. This is how you create connections between different data types in Bubble.
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Link to options: This field type is used to link to an option set, which is a predefined list of options that you can use across your application.
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Data types created by plugins: Some plugins may define their own custom data types. These field types can be used to store data that's specific to the functionality provided by those plugins.
These various field types in Bubble provide you with the flexibility to structure your data in the way that best suits the needs of your application. Understanding how and when to use each one is key to building a well-structured and efficient database.
Importance of a Good Database Structure in Bubble
A well-structured database is a crucial component of any successful application, and Bubble is no exception. Not only does it contribute to the overall performance of your application, but it also simplifies data management and manipulation.
Why a well-designed database matters
Impact on application performance
A well-designed database ensures efficient data operations. It allows for faster data retrieval and less storage space, which is beneficial for the overall performance of your Bubble application. On the contrary, a poorly structured database can lead to slow page loads and inefficient workflows. Learn more about workflows here.
Easier data management and manipulation
A good database structure also makes it easier to manage and manipulate your data. It allows you to quickly understand the relationships between different data types, update data, or extract specific information.
Best practices for designing Bubble database structures
Normalization in Bubble database
Normalization is a database design technique that reduces data redundancy and improves data integrity. In Bubble, you can achieve normalization by ensuring each data type has a specific purpose and contains only the data relevant to that purpose. This often means splitting larger data types into smaller, more specific ones.
Avoiding redundant data and maintaining data integrity
Avoiding redundant data is another best practice in Bubble database design. Redundancy can lead to inconsistencies and make your database more difficult to manage. Bubble's unique ID for each data entry and its ability to create relationships between different data types can help maintain data integrity and avoid redundancy.
Why consider alternatives to Bubble's database?
There are some reasons why one might consider an alternative database when building a project on the Bubble platform. Here are a few:
Scalability concerns and complex data requirements
If your application requires handling large amounts of data or complex data operations, you might find Bubble's native database limiting. Some alternatives can offer higher scalability and more complex data handling capabilities.
Independence from Bubble's platform
Using an alternative database can also provide more independence from the Bubble platform. This can be beneficial if you plan to expand or migrate your application outside of Bubble in the future
Regulatory Requirements
In some cases, there might be regulatory requirements (like GDPR, HIPAA, etc.) that mandate using a specific type of database or a database hosted in a certain region. In those cases, it's almost alway certain that you will want to look at one of these alternatives.
Security
While Bubble's native database offers robust security features, some projects might have specific security requirements that are better met by other databases. For instance, certain databases might offer more granular permissions or advanced encryption options.
Migration and Portability
Some developers might already have their data in another database and want to avoid the time and complexity involved in migrating all their data to Bubble's native database.
Highlighting popular alternatives
Firebase
Firebase, Google's mobile platform, offers a NoSQL cloud database called Firestore. Firestore can handle complex queries and large amounts of data, making it a good choice for scalable applications.
Pros of Firebase:
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Most powerful backend tool out of all the alternatives compared here
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Other than Bubble integration, which can be integrated using either the API or a plugin, it seems to have the largest amount of native integrations with other no-code tools out of all the tools
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It's parent company is Google. Depending on your preference this might be a pro or a con, I get it, but at least you know they're well funded and won't go down because of financial troubles (not that I think any of the other tools will, just a comment)
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Along the same lines as the last point, Google has invested tons of resources to develop many features into this tool
Cons of Firebase:
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Requires more technical knowledge to setup Firebase and fully take advantage of all its features
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Firebase's documentation is hard to understand and requires technical knowledge
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If native integration isn't available, it can be challenging to integrate Firebase with other no-code products
Airtable
Airtable combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the power of a database. It's a flexible and user-friendly option that can be integrated with Bubble using APIs. It allows users to store information in a tabular format, similar to traditional spreadsheets. However, it also supports more complex data types such as attachments, checkboxes, and drop-down lists, which are not typically found in conventional spreadsheet software. Airtable bases, their term for databases, are composed of tables which are made up of fields (columns) and records (rows). Each field in a table can have a different field type, including single line text, long text, attachments, checkboxes, and more. This flexibility allows for a wide range of data to be stored and managed within Airtable.
Pros of Airtable
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Airtable is probably the easiest app to use out of this list and the faster to get started
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You can access Airtable on their web version, desktop apps or mobile apps at anytime
Cons of Airtable
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It doesn't support authentication of users, making it unusable if your users need to login to your tool
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Can only process 5 requests per second, making it unusable for most projects with dozens of users at a time
Xano
Founded in 2014, Xano is a backend-as-a-service solution that hosts your data on a PostgreSQL database, one of the most powerful open-source databases in the world. It provides the flexibility of a relational database along with the big data needs of a NoSQL solution. It allows you to handle database tables, field types, and database relationships. It also features a spreadsheet-like editor for managing the content in your database.
Pros of Xano:
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Easy to use with a clear UX, it's also easy to import data using CSV files
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Provides a lot of documentation and great support from the team and community, there are a plethora of courses and free videos on how to integrate Xano with Bubble.io
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Has good feature coverage and performance
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Its business logic functions are highly appreciated by users
Cons of Xano:
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Xano, just like other solutions in this list of alternatives, add additional costs to your project and an extra layer of complexity when compared to using Bubble's native database.
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Seems to be the most expensive solution out of the backend tools listed here
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All images uploaded to your database in a free plan get watermarked with their logo
Backendless
Founded in 2012, Backendless is another backend-as-a-service platform that provides a secure, scalable, and dynamic persistence solution. It offers a blend of NoSQL and SQL functionalities. It allows you to create tables and table columns automatically based on the data you save via APIs. It also offers a powerful graphical interface for working with your data, setting up constraints, and validators. Notably, it supports real-time database updates, aggregate functions, auto-incremented columns, and SQL-driven searches.
Pros of Backendless:
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Provides a visual, no-code setup and API integration
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Offers a data browser for easy database management without any knowledge of SQL
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Supports SQL-driven searches, real-time database updates, and aggregate functions
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Offers push notifications, real-time analytics, and rules-based statistics as part of it's offering
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Allows schema management and data security
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Supports cross-platform data and data morphing
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Supports custom code
Cons of Backendless:
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Similar to Xano and Firebase, one of the drawbacks is the additional cost and layer of complexity added to your project by using Backendless.
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High learning curve due to it's complexity
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The pricing is really confusing, leading to innability by users to calculate potential costs accurately
Understanding the database that powers your Bubble.io application is crucial for the success of your project. Bubble's native database offers ease of use, tight integration, and a rich set of features, but it may not be the best fit for every use case.
Exploring alternatives like Xano, Backendless, Firebase, and Airtable can open up new possibilities, as each of these solutions brings unique strengths to the table. Xano's power and flexibility, Backendless's comprehensive security and real-time features, Firebase's scalability and robustness, and Airtable's user-friendly interface and powerful data management features are all worth considering.
However, remember that migrating from one database to another can be a complex task, and it's important to carefully weigh the pros and cons of each option against your specific project requirements.
Ultimately, the choice of database will depend on your project's needs, your budget, your technical capabilities, and your long-term plans. Whichever you choose, investing time in understanding your database and designing it well will pay off in the form of a robust, scalable, and efficient application.
Keep exploring, keep learning, and remember that the best database for your project is the one that meets your specific needs.
Happy building!
