What Are NoSQL Databases – Definition, Features, and Types

What Is a NoSQL Database?

What is NoSQL? To make the definition easy to understand, a NoSQL database, referring to any non-relational database or non-SQL, is used for the storage and retrieval of data, different from the tabular relations used in relational databases.

Besides, NoSQL is also a type of distributed database. It can store data across different physical locations over a network of computers or on entirely different networks. If some of the data goes offline, the rest of the database can continue to run.

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NoSQL database has developed for more than 20 years since the 2000s it emerged.  With the arising requirements for data storage and decreased storage costs, NoSQL databases allow developers to store huge amounts of unstructured data, giving them a lot of flexibility.

There are some specific situations to use various types of NoSQL databases:

• Storage of structured and semi-structured data
• Large data volumes
• Fast-paced Agile development valuable to gaming and Internet of Things (IoT) applications
• Requirements for scale-out architecture

What Are the Types of NoSQL Databases?

There are some major types of NoSQL databases you can learn about.

Key-Value Databases

A key-value database is a type of non-relational database that uses a simple key-value method to store data, containing a simple string that is always unique and an arbitrary large data field.

Key-Value databases are the simplest model and can be thought of as a configuration file or a two-column table of keys with an associated value.

You can use a key-value database when your application needs to handle lots of small continuous reads and writes or when storing basic information.

Document Databases

A document-oriented database, or a document store, is a database that stores information in documents. Developers can store and query data in a database by using the same document-model format they use in their application code.

Document databases have a flexible schema, allowing for horizontal scaling and data distribution. It provides resiliency through replication.

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Wide-Column Store

With a wide-column database that data is stored in columns, the names and format of the columns can vary across rows, and queries for a particular value in a column are very fast; each column of a column-oriented database is stored separately on disk.

Wide-column databases expand that key-value store concept across multiple columns, but only the columns that are needed for that record.

Graph Databases

A graph database is a single-purpose platform to store data entities with nodes and relationships between entities with edges. It is designed for storing and querying data that is connected via defined relationships.

For example, with a graph database, Digital Asset Management becomes intuitive and the model is applied by Netflix for its Digital Asset Management.

In-Memory Store

The in-memory store is also named the In-memory database. It relies primarily on memory for data storage, which enables minimal response times by eliminating the need to access disks.

The main difference with a traditional database relies upon where the data is stored and an in-memory database runs faster than a traditional database using disk operations.

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Why Should You Use a NoSQL Database?

NoSQL Database is definitely a great assistant to help provide a greater user experience with highly functional databases. Developers can use the base to better serve users with the resort of the following advantages that NoSQL Databases boast.

Flexibility – With flexible schemas in NoSQL databases and horizontal scaling, NoSQL databases can address large volumes of rapidly changing data, enabling faster and more iterative development.

Scalability and Replication – NoSQL copies and stores data across multiple servers, preventing data loss if servers go offline. It can scale out by using distributed clusters of hardware.

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High-Performance and Speed – NoSQL boasts faster speed and more agile storage and processing, suitable for more complex sites and applications. It is also optimized for specific data models and access patterns to improve better performance.

Recommendation for Database Security

NoSQL databases are used to store and retrieve data. It is widely used for businesses and individuals because of its countless advantages. Even so, in this world that easily suffered from insidious cyber-attacks, you may do something to prevent such a danger.

Data backup may be a good choice to protect your data. In this way, we would like to recommend this free all-in-one software – MiniTool ShadowMaker – to help prepare a backup plan.

You can use it to back up systems, files, folders, partitions, and disks; NAS backup and remote backup are also available for you. Besides, you can configure your backup schedule and scheme settings.

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Wrapping It Up

Now, you may have an overall picture of NoSQL databases. This post has delivered a detailed description of what the NoSQL database is. Hope this article has resolved your concerns.