Updated: 28 September 2026 · Applies to: Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12, AlmaLinux 9 and Rocky Linux 9
CentOS 7 is end of life. SQLite is a small SQL database stored in a single file, with no server process. PHP, Python and many other languages include SQLite support. On Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12, AlmaLinux 9 and Rocky Linux 9 install the command-line shell:
dnf install sqlite # AlmaLinux / Rocky 9 (SQLite 3.34) apt install sqlite3 # Ubuntu 24.04 (3.45) / Debian 12
Use it
sqlite3 shop.db
CREATE TABLE products (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT, price REAL);
INSERT INTO products (name, price) VALUES ('VPS', 9.99);
SELECT * FROM products;
.tables -- list tables
.schema -- show table definitions
.mode box -- nicer output
.quit
Backup
sqlite3 shop.db ".backup 'shop-backup.db'" # safe even while the database is in use sqlite3 shop.db .dump > shop.sql # as SQL text
When to use SQLite
- Good for small websites, tools, tests and applications with one writer at a time.
- For many simultaneous writers (busy shops, forums), use MariaDB or PostgreSQL.
Note: The web server needs write permission on the database file and its folder, because SQLite creates temporary files next to it. Keep the file outside the public web folder.
