SQLite Durability: Documentation vs. Reality

2025-08-30

SQLite's durability settings are confusing. The documentation and statements from creator Richard Hipp contradict each other regarding the default durability. This stems from the complex interaction between the `journal_mode` and `synchronous` configuration options, and the differing requirements in different modes. The article analyzes durability requirements in DELETE and WAL modes, concluding that explicitly setting the `synchronous` option is crucial to ensure data persistence, avoiding ambiguity and future changes in defaults. It also cautions about potential issues introduced by third-party libraries and macOS specifics.

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