Data warehouses and databases serve different purposes and operate distinctly. A database is designed for real-time transaction processing and supports CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete). In contrast, a data warehouse is optimized for analytical queries and decision-making processes, handling large volumes of historical data. It organizes data into subject-oriented structures, simplifying data retrieval for analysis. Furthermore, data warehouses integrate data from multiple sources, whereas databases typically focus on a specific application or system.