TPC-C and TPC-H are two different benchmark standards defined by the Transaction Processing Performance Council (TPC) to evaluate the performance of database systems, but they serve distinct purposes and assess different capabilities.
TPC-C is specifically designed to measure the performance of online transaction processing (OLTP) systems. It simulates a complex, real-world order processing environment where users place orders, manage inventory, and conduct payments. The benchmark includes a mix of read and write operations that are typical in transaction-oriented applications. For example, a system running TPC-C might handle a scenario where a customer places an order, updates inventory, and checks order status simultaneously. The focus is on transactional throughput and response times under concurrent, real-time use cases.
Conversely, TPC-H targets decision support systems that typically perform complex queries on large volumes of data. It emphasizes the ability to execute ad-hoc queries and analyze data rather than processing transactions. TPC-H involves a series of business-oriented queries that are more analytical in nature. For example, a query could involve aggregating sales data across multiple years or determining inventory levels based on historical trends. The performance measurement in TPC-H is primarily about how quickly a system can execute these queries and how well it can manage large data warehouses, making it distinct from the transaction-centric focus of TPC-C.
In summary, TPC-C is about assessing transaction handling in scenarios reminiscent of day-to-day business operations, while TPC-H focuses on evaluating how systems perform complex queries and data analysis. Each benchmark provides valuable insights in its respective area, allowing developers and technical professionals to choose the appropriate system performance metrics based on their application's needs.