What is NoSQL?
"Not only search query language" (NoSQL) is a database design and management approach that can accommodate various data models, including document, columnar, and graph formats. NoSQL, also known as Non-SQL or non-relational databases, stores data in a format other than relational tables.
Databases are one of the crucial elements that make up technology and applications. Data must be stored in a specific structure and format so users can retrieve it whenever needed. However, sometimes data is not always presented in a structured layout, meaning their schemas are flexible.
NoSQL databases are frequently used in real-time web applications and big data due to their main advantages: high scalability and high availability. Developers also favor non -relational databases, preferably NoSQL databases, because they naturally lend themselves to the agile development paradigm by quickly adapting to changing requirements.
With fewer transformations needed when storing or retrieving data using NoSQL-style application programming interfaces (APIs), NoSQL databases enable the data to be stored intuitively. NoSQL databases can also fully utilize the cloud to guarantee zero downtime.
Features of NoSQL databases
NoSQL databases eschew the rigid schema of relational databases in favor of a document-oriented or key-value store model. Below are some features that set them apart from their relational counterparts.
- Dynamic schema. NoSQL databases don't have set schemas; therefore, they can adapt to changing data structures without migrations or schema changes.
- Document-based data model. Some NoSQL databases employ a document-based data model in which information is saved in a semi-structured format, like JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) or Binary Javascript Object Notation (BSON).
- Horizontal scalability. NoSQL databases are built to expand by joining more nodes to a database cluster, which makes them suitable for managing massive volumes of data and heavy traffic.
- Key-value data model. Some databases employ a key-value data model that keeps information as a collection of key-value pairs.
- Column-based data model. These databases use a column-based data model that arranges information into columns rather than rows.
- Distributed and high availability. NoSQL databases are highly available. They seamlessly handle node failures and manage data replication over multiple nodes in a database cluster.
- Performance. NoSQL databases are suitable for big data and real-time applications since they‘re geared for high performance and can handle large data operations.
Types of NoSQL databases
NoSQL databases are highly flexible and fault tolerant. They come in various types to help companies deal with massive data volumes.
There are four types of NoSQL databases:
- Document databases store data in JSON or XML documents. It requires less translation to use data in an application. Developers use document databases because they have the freedom to alter their document structures as necessary to fit their applications, modifying their data structures over time as the requirements of their applications evolve.
- Key-value stores are the most basic type. The database stores each data element as a key value pair consisting of an attribute and a value. Like a relational database, a key-value store has two columns: the name of the key or attribute and the value.
- Column-oriented databases organize data as a group of columns. As a result, engineers can read the columns directly while performing analytics on a small set of columns rather than filling the memory with unnecessary data.
- Graph databases focus on the connections among the data elements. Each component is a node. Links or relationships are the terms used to describe the connections between elements. Here, connections are directly stored as first-class database elements.
NoSQL uses
Adaptability to changing data structures has made NoSQL a popular approach in companies of all sizes. Industries use it for various purposes, including:
- Faster development: Development moves more quickly with NoSQL databases. They’re a good fit with current agile development practices based on sprints, brief iterations, and frequent code pushes, as they let developers control the data structure.
- Easy storing and modeling of different data types: NoSQL databases can store and model structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. Translating data is no longer necessary because these databases frequently store data in a format that resembles the objects used in applications.
- Ability to manage large data volumes: NoSQL databases can handle big data. Unlike SQL, it doesn’t need additional engineering to manage web-based applications. The procedure for achieving data scalability is simple, and it follows a scale-out technique.
- Support for new applications paradigm: NoSQL databases' scalability enables them to support transactional and analytical workloads from a single database. These databases were developed during the cloud era and have quickly adjusted to automation. In many cases, they let users deploy databases at a scale that supports microservices.
NoSQL database benefits
NoSQL databases offer many advantages to their users. Some are:
- Flexibility. NoSQL databases manage semi-structured or unstructured data, allowing them to adapt to dynamic changes in the data model. Because of this, NoSQL databases are a good fit for applications with fluctuating data needs.
- High availability. The auto replication function of NoSQL databases makes them highly available because, in the event of a failure, the data replicates itself to the most recent consistent state.
- Scalability. NoSQL databases have high scalability, so they can handle high volumes of data and traffic efficiently. As a result, they work well for applications that must manage large amounts of data or traffic.
- Cost-effectiveness. NoSQL databases are often less expensive than conventional relational databases due to their simplicity and lack of expensive hardware and software requirements.
NoSQL vs. SQL database
NoSQL databases come under non-relational or distributed databases. SQL databases come under relational database management systems.
SQL databases are table-oriented, whereas NoSQL databases are document-oriented and have key-value pairs, wide-column stores, or graph databases. NoSQL databases have a dynamic or flexible schema to handle unstructured data.
SQL databases focus on minimizing data duplication since storage is more expensive than developer time. They typically have rigid, intricate, tabular schemas and expensive vertical scaling. However, NoSQL was developed with an emphasis on scalability, quick queries, enabling frequent application changes, and simplifying programming for developers.
Learn more about relational databases and understand how they differ from NoSQL databases.
Sagar Joshi
Sagar Joshi is a former content marketing specialist at G2 in India. He is an engineer with a keen interest in data analytics and cybersecurity. He writes about topics related to them. You can find him reading books, learning a new language, or playing pool in his free time.
