NoSQL or Not Only SQL is a database design that accommodates a wide range of data models. From columnar and graph formats and documents to key-values, this database design is useful to work with massive sets of distributed data.
Types of NoSQL database
There are four types of NoSQL database allowing you to use them for different functions:
• Document databases
These usually pair each key with another complex data structure. The document they create contains key array pairs, nested documents, or even different key-value pairs.
• Graph stores
These store information regarding data networks like social connections. They also include strings such as Giraph and Neo4J.
• Key value stores
These are the most prevalent of the NoSQL databases. All the items that this database contains have an attribute name along with respective values. For example, Riak and Berkeley DB are the most widely used key values in this category. Some other key-value stores like Redis allow you to add functionality to each value.
• Wide column stores
Stores such as HBase and Cassandra are usually optimized for different queries over massive datasets. Instead of rows, they allow you to store columns of data in one place.
Applications of NoSQL database
NoSQL database encompasses a diverse range of database technologies developed to respond to the demands of programmers. Some of their modern applications are:
• Developers using these applications can create large volumes of changing data types. These work rapidly compared to their predecessors. They have the option to use from unstructured, semi-structured, structured, and polymorphic data.
• The waterfall development cycle lasting for twelve-to-eighteen months is now over. NoSQL allows small teams to iterate quickly and push codes every alternating week. Those who work faster even get results on the same day. This has made programming faster than what it was a few years back.
• Previously, many applications only catered to a finite audience, but that scene has changed now. You can now access the database from various devices and scale it globally to users all around the world.
• Organizations now prefer using open software technologies, cloud computing, and commodity servers that NoSQL databases provide. Gone are the days when monolithic servers ruled the circuit.
Benefits to programmers
Using NoSQL databases is now the trend, and considering the benefits they provide to programmers, it is hard to deny why they shouldn’t be used.
• These databases provide superior performances and are more scalable. Their data model addresses different issues that relational models usually don’t support.
• They can address chunks of rapidly changing unstructured, structured, and semi-structured data.
• It supports object-oriented programming that is flexible and easy to use.
• Quick schema iteration, agile sprints, and frequent code pushes are some of the features that programmers love.
• The scale-out structure is distributed worldwide, making it inexpensive.
The evolution of this database comes at a time when programmers are more focused on AI and machine learning, making it a crucial part of almost all the ongoing projects.