Question 1

How does PouchDB handle sync conflicts?

Accepted Answer

PouchDB follows CouchDB's conflict model where conflicts are stored as multiple revisions, requiring application-level logic to resolve them, such as merging data or picking a winner based on custom rules.

Question 2

PouchDB vs IndexedDB: which should I use for offline storage?

Accepted Answer

PouchDB is built on IndexedDB but adds a higher-level API and synchronization with CouchDB. Use PouchDB if you need offline sync; choose raw IndexedDB for simpler, local-only storage without sync overhead.

Question 3

Can PouchDB sync with Firebase or other non-CouchDB backends?

Accepted Answer

Primarily no—PouchDB is optimized for CouchDB sync. While adapters exist, native integration is limited, and custom solutions are needed for backends like Firebase, which may increase complexity.

Question 4

How to set up PouchDB with Node.js for a server-side database?

Accepted Answer

Install via npm and use the Node.js adapter with LevelDB as the backend. This allows PouchDB to run on servers, acting as a CouchDB-like store or for testing sync scenarios.

Question 5

What are the performance trade-offs of using PouchDB in browsers?

Accepted Answer

PouchDB adds overhead for indexing and sync operations, which can slow down performance on low-end devices or with large datasets. Optimizing views and batch writes is recommended.

Question 6

Is PouchDB good for building real-time collaborative apps?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it supports real-time sync, but success depends on robust conflict resolution. Apps like collaborative editors can use it, but must handle merge conflicts carefully to avoid data loss.

PouchDB

What is PouchDB?

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