Redis Development
Redis is an in-memory data store used as a cache, message broker, and database for data that needs to be accessed with extreme speed. By keeping data in memory, it serves reads and writes in sub-millisecond time, dramatically speeding up applications.
At a glance
- Created by
- Salvatore Sanfilippo
- First released
- 2009
- Language
- C
- Type
- In-memory data store
- License
- BSD / SSPL
What is Redis?
Redis is rarely a product's only database; instead it sits alongside a primary store to handle caching, sessions, rate limiting, queues, leaderboards, and real-time features — anywhere raw speed matters most.
Why teams choose Redis
Sub-millisecond, in-memory read and write speed
Versatile — cache, queue, pub/sub, and more
Rich data structures beyond simple key-value
Reduces load on your primary database
Battle-tested at massive scale
When to use Redis
- Caching to speed up slow or repeated queries
- Sessions, rate limiting, and short-lived data
- Queues and background job processing
- Real-time features like leaderboards and pub/sub
Things to consider
- In-memory storage costs more per gigabyte
- Best as a companion to a durable primary database
- Persistence requires configuration to avoid data loss
What we build with Redis
Caching
Speeding up apps by caching expensive queries and pages.
Sessions & rate limits
Fast storage for sessions, tokens, and API throttling.
Queues & jobs
Backing background job and task-processing systems.
Real-time features
Leaderboards, counters, and pub/sub messaging.
Products & companies built with Redis
Redis is trusted in production by well-known companies, including:
Redis works well with
Redis — frequently asked questions
What is Redis used for?
Redis is used for caching, session storage, rate limiting, queues, and real-time features. It keeps data in memory for sub-millisecond access, typically working alongside a primary database to make applications faster.
Is Redis a database or a cache?
It's both. Redis is most commonly used as a cache and message broker, but it can serve as a primary in-memory database for suitable workloads. Most applications use it as a fast companion to a durable database like PostgreSQL.
Why is Redis so fast?
Because it stores data in memory rather than on disk and uses efficient data structures, Redis serves reads and writes in sub-millisecond time — far faster than querying a traditional disk-based database.
What companies use Redis?
Redis is used by Twitter, GitHub, Snapchat, Stack Overflow, Pinterest, and Craigslist, among countless applications needing speed.
Related databases technologies
Building with Redis?
CodersArts Build ships production Redis projects on a fixed scope, price, and timeline — with full source-code ownership on handover.