Which type of database is needed?

Hierarchical databases organize data in a tree-like structure, where each record has a single parent and potentially many children. This model limits data relationships to a strict hierarchy, making it difficult to perform complex joins across multiple tables. As a result, hierarchical databases are not suitable for scenarios where data needs to be combined in flexible and logical ways.

Cloud databases refer to database services that are hosted on cloud computing platforms. While they can be relational, NoSQL, or other types, the term "cloud" does not specify how data is organized or related. Therefore, a cloud database may not inherently support the logical joining of tables as required by the question.

Distributed databases store data across multiple locations or nodes, which can enhance performance and reliability. However, like cloud databases, the term "distributed" does not indicate a specific data organization method. A distributed database can be relational or non-relational, but it does not guarantee the logical joining of tables characteristic of relational databases.