SQLite
Also known as: .sqlite file, .db file, .sqlite3 file, SQLite database
SQLite is a self-contained database that stores an entire database — tables, indexes, and data — in a single file, typically ending in .sqlite, .sqlite3, or .db. Countless apps embed it to hold their data locally, which is why a SQLite file is often where an app’s settings, history, and content live.
- A whole database in a single .sqlite/.db file
- Embedded in browsers, apps, and operating systems
- Often the bulk of an app’s Documents & Data
Where SQLite hides
SQLite needs no server and no setup — the whole database is one file the app opens directly. Because of that simplicity, it is embedded almost everywhere: browsers, messaging apps, mail clients, and the operating system itself store data in SQLite files.
On a phone or computer, much of an app’s Documents & Data is SQLite databases recording chat history, browsing history, settings, and caches. When you wonder where an app keeps its content, the answer is frequently a .sqlite or .db file in its data folder.
Size and cleanup
A SQLite file grows with the data it stores, and deleting rows inside it does not always shrink the file on disk right away — the database can hold onto freed space until it is compacted (vacuumed).
You should not hand-edit or delete an app’s active database, since that can corrupt the app’s data. The safe way to shrink it is from inside the app — clearing history, messages, or cache — which lets the app manage its own SQLite file.