# PERF 4  How do you select your database solution?
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 The optimal database solution for a system varies based on requirements for availability, consistency, partition tolerance, latency, durability, scalability, and query capability. Many systems use different database solutions for various subsystems and enable different features to improve performance. Selecting the wrong database solution and features for a system can lead to lower performance efficiency. 

**Topics**
+ [PERF04-BP01 Understand data characteristics](perf_right_database_solution_understand_char.md)
+ [PERF04-BP02 Evaluate the available options](perf_right_database_solution_evaluate_options.md)
+ [PERF04-BP03 Collect and record database performance metrics](perf_right_database_solution_collect_metrics.md)
+ [PERF04-BP04 Choose data storage based on access patterns](perf_right_database_solution_access_patterns.md)
+ [PERF04-BP05 Optimize data storage based on access patterns and metrics](perf_right_database_solution_optimize_metrics.md)