
Difference between OLTP vs OLAP | Know Their Differences and Which Should You Learn?
Last updated on 03rd Nov 2022, Artciles, Blog
- In this article you will learn:
- 1.What is OLTP?
- 2.What is OLAP?
- 3.OLTP vs OLAP: Difference Between the OLTP and OLAP.
- 4.Advantages and Disadvantages of OLTP and OLAP.
- 5.Conclusion.
What is OLTP?
The OLTP system maintains a transaction data in the databases. There is a separate database record for an every transaction. Organisations use OLTP for the maintaining day to day transactions. It supports the transactions in applications with the 3-tier architecture.OLTP focuses on a processing transactions as fast as a possible since the databases are read, written, and updated regularly. It also promises data integrity in case of any transaction failure with a use of a pre-built system logic.
Examples of the OLTP:
- Credit card activity.
- Scanning at checkout kiosks in a retail stores.
Features of a OLTP:
- It manages the transations in real-time.
- It focuses on the processing transactions quickly.
- Relational Databases are store data in this system.
- They manage transactions governed by ACID properties.
- They modify the data in a databases.
What is OLAP?
Organisations mainly use a OLAP for projects in analytics, business intelligence, and data mining. It is the collection of software tools that provides data analysis for the business decision-makers. This system’s function is to apply complex queries to the big aggregated historical data from OLTP databases, among other sources.OLAP focuses on a response time to complex queries. Each query is independent with the columns of aggregated data from various rows.When it comes to failure in the queries, the processing of transactions is not interrupted for the customers. However, it can disrupt accuracy of the business intelligence information.
Examples of OLAP:
- An Annual financial performance.
- Trends in a marketing leads.
Features of a OLAP:
- They manage the historical data.
- These systems do not make changes to transactional data.
- Their primary objective is a data analysis and not data processing.
- Data warehouses save data in the multidimensional format.
ETL Role in OLTP and OLAP:
ETL stands for an extract, transform, and load. In simple words, it connects to OLTP and OLAP. An OLAP systems consume a data from one or more OLTP databases through process called a extract, transform, load (ETL). Users use ETL tool to collect and send data to the destination such as OLAP data warehouse, where it is queried through the analysis and business intelligence tools to obtain an information.

OLTP vs OLAP: Difference Between the OLTP and OLAP:
Let’s take a glance at a primary differences between both the processing systems in comparison table:
Difference | OLTP | OLAP |
---|---|---|
Data source . | Operational data. An OLTP systems are original data sources. | A Consolidation data. OLAP data comes from a OLTP databases. |
Use. | Responsible for the controlling and running basic business tasks. | Responsible for a planning, problem-solving and supporting business decisions. |
Queries . | Queries are the standard and straightforward. | A Complex queries. |
Speed of processing. | Fast speed. | Complex queries can take long time to process. |
Backup and recovery. | Frequent complete the backups along with an incremental backups. | No regular backups. Instead, OLTP data is reloaded as recovery method. |
Process. | An Online transactional system. | An Online analysis and also data retrieving process. |
Method used . | An Uses traditional DBMS. | Uses data warehouse. |
Quality of data. | Detailed organisation of data. | Disorganised data. |
Nature of audience. | Market-oriented process. | A Customer-oriented process. |
Database design. | Application-oriented design. | A Subject-oriented design. |
Types of users. | Clerks, online shoppers, etc., use OLTP. | A Data knowledge workers like managers and CEOs use an OLAP. |
Productivity. | Enhances a productivity of the user. | Enhances a productivity of business analysts. |
Updates . | The user starts a data updates, which are short and fast. | Regular refreshing of a data with long, scheduled batch jobs. |

OLTP vs OLAP – Advantages and Disadvantages:
Advantages of OLTP and OLAP :
OLTP | OLAP |
---|---|
Day to day transactions in the organisation is simply regulated. | Businesses can use single multipurpose platform for a planning, budgeting, forecasting, and analysing. |
Increases an organisation’s customer base as it simplifies a individual processes. | Information and calculations are more consistent in a OLAP.Adequate security measures are taken to the protect confidential data. |
Disadvantages of OLTP vs OLAP:
OLTP | OLAP |
---|---|
Hardware failures in a system can severely impact the online transactions. | Traditional tools in this system need the complicated modelling procedures. Therefore, maintenance is dependent on a IT professionals. |
These systems can become complicated as a multiple users can access and modify data at a same time. | Collaboration between various departments might not always possible. |
Conclusion:
In this OLTP vs OLAP article discussed a key features of OLTP and OLAP systems. Also looked at an overview of differences between OLTP and OLAP in the comparison table. In summary, OLTP and OLAP are need parts of data warehousing domain.
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