Definition
Non-tabular databases that store data differently than relational tables, typically any non-relational database
Purpose
- NoSQL databases allow devs to store huge amounts of unstructured data
- Gives flexibility to changing requirements
- Ability to distribute data across multiple servers and regions to make their applications resilient
Structure
NoSQL relies on softer model, relative to ACID properties, called BASE (Basically Available, Soft state, Eventual consistency)
NoSQL DBs give up A, C and/or D requirements for transactions in ACID, but in return scalability increases.
Features
- Flexible schemas
- Horizontal scaling
- Fast queries due to the data model
- Ease of use for developers
Types of NoSQL databases
- document databases
- stores data in documents similar to JSON objects
- key-value databases
- wide-column stores
- stores data in tables, rows and dynamic columns
- graph databases
- stores data in nodes and edges
RDBMS vs NoSQL
shortcomings of RDBMS
- can’t handle data variety
- difficult to change tables and relationships
- RDMS follow ACID properties limiting flexibility to data transactions
When to use
- Fast-paced Agile development
- Storage of structured and semi-structured data
- Huge volumes of data
- Requirements for scale-out architecture
- Modern application paradigms like microservices and real-time streaming
Sources
https://www.mongodb.com/nosql-explained https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/nosql-databases-5f6639ed9574/