---
title: "xDB Collection database"
slug: "xdb-collection-database"
abstract: "Overview of Sitecore xDB Collection database supported infrastructure, references, and privacy and security."
---
# xDB Collection database

The xDB Collection database stores analytics data, including contacts and interactions. Refer to the [xConnect and xDB documentation](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/sitecore-experience-platform/xconnect-and-the-xdb.html) for more information about using the xConnect Client API to read, write, and search contacts and interactions.

The xDB Collection database consists of a Shard Map Manager and two shards. For more information about configuring the xDB Collection database shards, see [Scaling and configuring the xDB Collection database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/scaling-and-configuring-the-xdb-collection-database.html "Scaling and configuring the xDB Collection database").

<details>
<summary><h2>Supported infrastructure</h2></summary>

You can host the xDB Collection database on:

- SQL Server
- SQL Azure
- MongoDB (Sitecore 9.0 Update 2 and later)

Refer to the [Sitecore compatibility table](https://kb.sitecore.net/articles/087164) for compatible versions.

</details>

<details>
<summary><h2>Reference structure</h2></summary>

The xDB Collection database has its place in the Sitecore reference structure. It can be referenced by other roles, and it can also reference other roles.

![Illustration showing the xDB Collection database's place in the Sitecore reference structure.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/images/XP-xDB-Coll_db_refs.png)

### Referenced by

The xDB Collection database is referenced by the following roles:

- [xConnect Collection service](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/xconnect-collection-service.html "xConnect Collection service")
- [xConnect Collection Search service](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/xconnect-collection-search-service.html "xConnect Collection Search service")
- [xConnect Search Indexer](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/xconnect-search-indexer.html "xConnect Search Indexer")

### References

The xDB Collection database does not reference other roles.

</details>

<details>
<summary><h2>Privacy and security</h2></summary>

The xDB Collection database handles personal data in the following ways:

- Stores all contact and interaction data, including identifiers and facets.

</details>