Definition: AWS managed relational database compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL, delivering up to 5x performance and a serverless option.
— Source: NERVICO, Product Development Consultancy
What is Amazon Aurora
Amazon Aurora is AWS’s relational database service designed to offer MySQL and PostgreSQL compatibility with enterprise-grade performance and availability. Aurora delivers up to 5 times the throughput of standard MySQL and 3 times that of standard PostgreSQL, thanks to a distributed storage architecture designed specifically for the cloud. It is part of the Amazon RDS family, but with a proprietary storage engine that separates the compute layer from the storage layer.
How It Works
Aurora uses a distributed storage system that automatically replicates data in 6 copies across 3 availability zones. The compute layer (database instances) connects to shared storage, allowing both layers to scale independently. Aurora supports up to 15 read replicas with low-latency replication. Aurora Serverless v2 scales compute capacity automatically based on demand, from a fraction of an ACU (Aurora Capacity Unit) to hundreds, billing only for resources consumed. Backups are continuous and incremental to S3 with no performance impact.
Why It Matters
Aurora solves the dilemma between enterprise database performance and operational simplicity. For applications that have outgrown standard RDS capabilities but do not justify the complexity of a custom distributed database solution, Aurora offers a leap in performance and availability without changing application code. Aurora Serverless v2 is particularly valuable for workloads with unpredictable traffic patterns, eliminating the need to over-provision the database for occasional spikes.
Practical Example
An e-commerce platform migrates from RDS PostgreSQL to Aurora PostgreSQL to handle traffic growth. The migration requires no application code changes since Aurora is protocol-compatible. Complex query performance improves by 40% thanks to the optimized storage engine. During sales events with 10x normal traffic spikes, Aurora Serverless v2 automatically scales compute capacity in seconds and reduces it when traffic returns to normal levels.