[exAspArk]

There are a few different approaches. The main categories, from simplest to most complex:

1) Read replicas with copied data. The most straightforward, allowing using the same SQL syntax and tooling. Examples: Postgres read replica and BemiDB (disclaimer: I'm a contributor)

2) Operational databases with integrations. Designed for sub-second real-time, bring their own extended SQL syntax for things like window functions. Examples: Materialize and RisingWave

3) Analytical databases with syncing. Allow writing and reading directly, optimized for analytical workloads. Examples: ClickHouse and DuckDB

4) Data warehouses with ETL. Great for large volumes of data, traditionally used with ETL batch processing. Examples: Snowflake and Redshift