| Feature | OLTP | OLAP |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Online Transaction Processing | Online Analytical Processing |
| Purpose | Run daily operations | Analyze and report on business data |
| Operation Type | Short, frequent transactions | Complex queries, aggregations |
| Data Volume | Large number of small transactions | Smaller number of large queries |
| Performance Focus | Speed of write operations | Speed of read/analysis |
| Data Structure | Highly normalized | Often denormalized (e.g., star schema) |
| Examples | Insert/update orders, banking | Sales analysis, reporting, BI dashboards |
| Users | Front-line staff, operational users | Managers, analysts, decision-makers |