> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://functional.gitbook.io/database_comparison_report/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://functional.gitbook.io/database_comparison_report/blockchain/what-is-a-centralized-database.md).

# What is a Centralized Database?

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Write a caption centralized database, on the other hand, is the "classic" picture of a database: a single record of truth that's stored in a single location, whether that's a desktop computer or in the cloud.&#x20;

Unlike blockchains, the advantages of centralized databases are that they don't need to be time-sequenced or to keep track of their different states (although you can set them up this way if you prefer). The only requirement is that the database makes data accessible to the software applications that request it.