The answer
Either SQL or NoSQL works. Modern SQL databases handle impressive scale vertically. Sharding adds complexity that most apps do not need initially. Start simple and scale when you actually need to.
Database Scalability: SQL vs NoSQL for Growing Node.js Apps
Which database works for most Node.js apps?
More FAQs in Database Scalability: SQL vs NoSQL for Growing Node.js Apps
SQL scales vertically (bigger servers) with some horizontal support like read replicas. NoSQL scales horizontally (sharding across multiple servers) natively, which is better for very large datasets.
When you expect data to exceed one server's capacity, or when you need geographic distribution. Start simple with one database server, and plan for horizontal scaling only when you actually need it, since sharding adds complexity.
Yes, MongoDB supports sharding natively, distributing data across multiple servers. This makes it better for very large datasets that one server cannot hold, compared to vertical-only scaling.
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