RDS (Relational Database Service)

A managed SQL database, like MySQL or PostgreSQL, that AWS runs for you.

Think of it as: A filing cabinet with a librarian AWS employs.

What to know for Level 0

RDS runs MySQL or PostgreSQL for you: AWS installs, patches and backs it up. You still use SQL and related tables, which is what you want for joins.
Apps connect with a database username and password on the database port (3306 for MySQL), and the database's security group must let the app in.
RDS runs inside your VPC, in private subnets; DynamoDB doesn't.
The DB subnet group must cover at least two Availability Zones, even for a single-AZ database, so a standby can be added later.
CloudTrail sees AWS API calls like CreateDBInstance, never the SQL run inside the database. The database's own logs record that.

More detail

AWS handles installation, patching and backups. You still connect the normal way, with a database username and password over the network (port 3306 for MySQL). RDS runs inside your VPC, so security groups decide who can reach it.

RDS goes into a DB subnet group: a list of private subnets it may use. The group must cover at least two Availability Zones, even for a single-AZ database, so that a standby can be added later.

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