NoSQL Database Guide

What is NoSQL?

NoSQL is a non-relational database that does not typically use Structured Query Language (SQL) to retrieve information. NoSQL databases were developed for use cases where a traditional relational database is not sufficient due to the size (volume), type (variety) or speed (velocity) of big data.

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What is SQL?

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a database management language, and currently the most popular method of accessing data from and inputting data to a relational database management system (RDBMS). SQL databases have been around for decades. First invented in 1974, SQL has continued to evolve over the years. Because it is such an important industry standard, it is controlled by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The latest version is formally defined in ISO/IEC 9075:2016.

SQL databases are comprised of records organized into tables. In a single table, data is organized into rows, labeled with a primary key, and with many columns (columnar databases) to hold values for different kinds of data – typically large data sets. These tables are related to each other through the use of foreign keys, which join together the different tables in the database.

A schema is used to define all of the tables, their composite columns and data types, and the means of joining the tables together. The structure of a relational database can be illustrated by a design referred to as an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD).

Diagram depicting an Entity Relationship Diagram commonly used to model data in SQL RDBMS vs NoSQL
Figure 1: An example of a typical Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) used to model data in a SQL RDBMS; note that the tables are joined using various relationships (these symbols are called “crow’s foot” notations)

What's the Difference Between SQL and NoSQL?

What is a NoSQL Database?

A NoSQL database (NoSQL DB) is designed to handle massive amounts of distributed data. NoSQL database management systems store and retrieve data in a variety of ways other than the joined tabular models of relational database management systems (RDBMS). These databases can handle different types of data and can accommodate many kinds of data models including key-value stores, document, wide-column and graph formats.

The advantages of using them are for modern applications that need fast horizontal scaling and for those with extremely large, high velocity, distributed datasets. Fully managed NoSQL DBaaS solutions are increasing in popularity for use cases where a team of experts is needed to manage the complexity and upkeep of such databases. 

NoSQL Database History

The term “NoSQL” was coined by Carlo Strozzi in 1998. He had invented a form of RDBMS that used a different form of data access than SQL. Note that his database was still a relational database — tables still had joins — but the method of accessing it, using Unix pipes, did not rely on the SQL language.

Modern versions came about a decade later with the advent of massive Internet e-commerce platforms and social media. While in the early Internet and web era many SQL databases were adapted for data applications (such as the use of open source MySQL to power WordPress sites), there were architectural limitations to SQL servers that made it too inflexible and unscalable for entire new classes of problems that needed to be solved. New data models were required. These included massive (but relatively simple) key value stores, highly distributed and highly available wide column stores, and more unique data models such as document based stores and graph databases.

Sometimes NoSQL database programs they are also referred to as “Not only SQL” or “NewSQL” to show that they may actually support Structured Query Language or can work in tandem with a SQL database. A SQL-based interface can still be useful, and these databases support hybrid operations, doing both SQL and Non-SQL related data management.

NoSQL and NewSQL: A Comparison of Distributed Database Systems

NoSQL in 5-Minutes

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What are NoSQL Databases Used For?

Many types of NoSQL databases are used for applications with very large datasets and some operate in real time. They are used by enterprises that need features and capabilities more flexible than a traditional database, which can accommodate many kinds of data models in a variety of formats (flexible). A NoSQL database program provides the following data management features not found in relational databases:

  • Caching — Improves application response when the same information is being sent to many users. NoSQL storage of data provides a solution without having to maintain a custom cache.
  • Highly available, globally-distributed data — With worldwide user bases and demanding requirements for always-on services, data systems cannot just reside in a single internal datacenter. Many support global distribution of servers and automatic replication of data between them. This is called Cross Datacenter Replication.
  • Fast access for big data — NoSQL software can handle the massive amounts of data in today’s systems quicker and with less cost than relational databases. “Fast” is often qualified in two ways: latency, which measures the speed of response times, often measured in the range of milliseconds or sub-milliseconds, as well as throughput, which measures the raw amount of data that can be processed, often measured in operations-per-second.
  • Consistency — The consistency requirements of many NoSQL databases use cases are less rigid than for relational databases. For instance, when handling ephemeral, transient, rapidly-changing data. In such cases, some data loss is acceptable to maintain system availability. Today, the ACID model is not always necessary when an “eventual consistency” model promotes better performance. Some offer a range of consistency levels to choose from, including “tunable consistency,” where every database transaction may have its own consistency level.

Why Use NoSQL Databases?

The flexible architecture of NoSQL databases is among the top reasons why they are an excellent choice for today’s demanding application requirements. Other advantages for when to use NoSQL are as follows:

  • Easier scalability — Can be easily scaled to handle massive amounts of data. Their distributed nature means increases in demand can be met by simply adding servers to the cluster.
  • More efficiency — The looser data consistency models of NoSQL databases can result in better efficiency. When new information doesn’t have to be updated across the entire database in real time, resources can be directed to more critical issues.
  • Simple documents — Document-oriented NoSQL databases store data as simple documents, which leads to easier data manipulation than the data mapping required in SQL databases.
  • Always on — The distributed nature allows them to always remain on for enterprises that require non-stop service.

Why Do We Need NoSQL Database?

NoSQL database systems serve as an alternative to traditional relational or SQL databases. They offer numerous advantages for the right users and are designed to address specific use cases and challenges.

Advantages of NoSQL Databases

NoSQL databases offer flexibility and are most effective when used for scenarios that align with their strengths. SQL databases enforce ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) guarantees and are used where transaction-oriented, schema-based data stores are essential. Some applications use both NoSQL and SQL databases for different use cases.

NoSQL databases offer a number of advantages compared to SQL databases:

Scalability. NoSQL databases typically scale horizontally, which means users can add more servers or nodes to the database cluster to handle increasing loads. This allows them to handle high traffic and data volume easily.

Horizontal partitioning and sharding. On a related note, NoSQL databases support horizontal partitioning and sharding. This allows users to distribute data across multiple servers or nodes to maintain performance as data expands.

Flexibility and schema-less design. NoSQL databases often use a schema-less or schema-flexible data model, allowing users to store data without a fixed schema. This flexibility is especially useful in agile development scenarios where the data structure is evolving or unpredictable and it eliminates extra work for database administrators.

Performance. NoSQL databases are optimized for workloads like read-heavy and write-heavy operations. This specialization can improve performance for particular tasks.

Variety of data models. Intuitively, there are different types of NoSQL or “not only SQL” databases to improve the data modeling and query efficiency for various use cases. For example, MongoDB and CouchDB are document databases, and Amazon DynamoDB and Neo4j are distributed databases, the latter also being a graph database—but they are all NoSQL databases as well.

Distributed and fault tolerant. By distributing data across multiple servers or data centers automatically, NoSQL databases help ensure high availability.

Support for data regardless of structure. NoSQL databases handle unstructured or semi-structured forms of data effectively, including binary data, JSON, and XML.

Cost-effective. NoSQL databases can run on commodity hardware and scale efficiently without additional costly investment.

Use Cases: When to Use a NoSQL Database

There are many industries now that typically choose NoSQL for their business. Here are some specific use cases and verticals for NoSQL databases:

Web and mobile applications. NoSQL databases store and retrieve content in dynamic websites like content management systems (CMS). They also manage sessions, user profiles, and user-generated content in social media apps.

E-commerce. NoSQL databases manage shopping cart data, provide personalized product recommendations, and store and retrieve product information in online stores.

Gaming. NoSQL database systems store player data, scores, and rankings and handle real-time game state and communication between players.

IoT (internet of things). Sensors and IoT devices generate massive amounts of data and event logs that NoSQL databases store, process, and manage.

Big data and analytics. NoSQL databases analyze, store, and process large volumes of data from logs, web servers, applications, and systems for analytics.

Content management and publishing. These databases are used in digital asset management (DAM), news, and media to store and manage multimedia assets like images, videos, and audio and handle content distribution, archives, and user-generated content.

Real-time analytics. NoSQL databases offer dashboards for tracking and analyzing real-time data for operational insights and detecting anomalies and fraud patterns in real-time transactions.

Ad tech. These databases store ad creatives, targeting information, and ad performance data for analysis of user clickstream data and ad targeting.

Healthcare. Healthcare organizations can store and manage electronic health records (EHR) including collecting and analyzing sensitive, real-time patient records and medical data.

Finance. In finance, NoSQL databases offer safe storage for financial and trading data for risk assessment and portfolio management.

Supply chain and logistics. In this vertical, NoSQL databases are used to manage and track inventory levels and supply chain data and optimize delivery routes and logistics operations.

Pros and Cons of NoSQL

Pros and Cons of NoSQL and SQL Databases

Briefly, SQL databases take a traditional approach to data that is best-suited for applications with structured data and a need for strong data integrity. NoSQL databases typically offer improved performance. They take a more flexible approach that is better for applications with data that changes rapidly, high scalability requirements, and flexible data models.

Here is a closer look at some of the pros and cons of NoSQL database management systems:

NoSQL Pros

  • Continuous availability. NoSQL databases store data across servers, locations, and regions to ensure zero downtime and eliminate any single point of failure.
  • Query speed. NoSQL databases deliver high performance, real-time query capabilities, especially when working with massive volumes of data.
  • Agility. NoSQL databases are known for their flexible structure that more readily supports big data. NoSQL databases allow developers to work more easily with a wider range of data types and connect various kinds of data models across many servers.

NoSQL Cons

  • No standardized language. No standard language (like SQL) means a steeper learning curve for developers in many cases.
  • Smaller user community. The user community for NoSQL is growing rapidly, but it’s still smaller, which can make solving unknown and undocumented issues and finding expert advice a little harder.
  • Inefficient for complex queries. Although NoSQL databases can handle these queries, particularly when complex join requirements increase, they become less efficient. This is exacerbated by the lack of a standard interface to connect complex queries.
  • Lack of consistent retrieved data. NoSQL databases are distributed so they offer very fast performance. However, this comes at the sacrifice of one of the ACID guarantees—for most NoSQL systems that follow a BASE model of eventual consistency, the “C” is the element that changes. Practically speaking, the difference is minimal for most applications.

SQL Pros 

  • ACID compliance. Only SQL databases offer a rigid enough data structure to provide the guarantees of true ACID properties (atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability). Strict ACID compliance is typically best for applications that demand very high levels of data integrity at all times.
  • Standardized schema. These databases are best-suited to handle structured data with well-defined schemas.
  • Large user community. SQL databases are well-established, with a large community of developers, extensive documentation, and a wealth of tools and libraries.

SQL Cons

  • Hardware. SQL databases rely on vertical scaling structures for their hardware, demanding additional redundancy and failover mechanisms and adding hardware costs.
  • Data normalization. An artifact of high storage costs, relational databases attempt to negate data duplication, so lookups and joins are necessary to connect unique information. At scale this can become a slow process.
  • Rigidity. SQL databases are not well-suited for storing unstructured or semi-structured data like JSON, XML, or hierarchical data.
  • Resource-intensive scaling. At massive scale, data storage can become prohibitively expensive in SQL databases, especially when dealing with high traffic and large datasets. Vertical scaling can be limited and excessively costly.

SQL Database Examples

Db2IBM’s relational database, originally released in 1983 and created to run on mainframes; over time it was also ported to Unix and Windows; now supports Linux servers.
MariaDBAn open source SQL server, forked from MySQL; was created in 2009 when MySQL was acquired by Oracle.
MemSQLA distributed SQL server designed to run from memory (RAM) for fastest performance.
Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft’s SQL server, originally designed to run on OS/2, became the mainstay of databases to run on Microsoft Operating Systems. In 2017 it was ported to run on Linux.
MySQLAn open source SQL server widely adopted by web and application developers. In 2008 it was acquired by Oracle; now available as both open source and proprietary enterprise editions.
OracleFirst released in 1979, Oracle became and remains widely adopted in enterprises over the next decades.
PostgreSQLAn open source SQL server that grew out of, and eventually replaced, the 1980s Ingres project at UC Berkeley.

NoSQL Database Comparison

The NoSQL database structures include the following classifications:

Key-value stores — Each item is stored as a “key” (unique identifier) along with its value. This is the most simple version of a NoSQL database program. Examples include Redis and Aerospike.

Document databases — Each key is paired with a structured data “document” (data structure). Documents can contain many different key-value pairs in a nested, hierarchical format, such as Javascript Object Notation (JSON).

Wide-column stores — Designed to handle large dataset queries. Data is stored in columns instead of rows, which makes it more efficient to query data in frequently-referenced columns, and to store sparse data (where rows may have only a few data values spread across the many columns). Examples include such as Apache Cassandra, HBase and Scylla.

Graph stores — Hold social connections and other networks of data information. Examples include Neo4J and Giraph.

Is There a Free NoSQL Database?

In general, this type of database has active communities of developers who contribute to open source, and thus technically offering free NoSQL databases. Many of these also provide a commercial, enterprise NoSQL database that add additional features, as well as production support. A free NoSQL database program typically only provides community support, with no guarantee that issues will be fixed or new features added in a timely fashion. Small projects can generally begin development on a free open source NoSQL database, and then upgrade to an enterprise version once the project achieves traction.

Free NoSQL is typically available to run locally, on a developer’s machine but also can be hosted and managed in the cloud. Many NoSQL database providers also provide free NoSQL hosting that runs in the cloud as database-as-a-service (NoSQL DBaaS) offerings. Developers can easily find a free NoSQL database online as well as free NoSQL database hosting from a range of providers.

Using SQL and NoSQL Together

Modern enterprises do not view SQL and NoSQL as an either/or proposition. A survey at the latest DeveloperWeek conference found that 44 percent of organizations use multiple databases. Among those, 75 percent use a combination of SQL and NoSQL databases.

Many organizations take advantage of the ways that these two databases can complement each other. Each brings its own strengths, making the sum greater than each part.

SQL databases handle structured data and standardize how elements relate to one another. NoSQL databases are popular when flexibility is a concern. They can create unique data structures that include documents, graphs or columns.

How is Data Modeled in a NoSQL Database?

Schemas are often exhibit a more flexible design without enforcing the normalized data forms and pre-defined schemas and structures common in SQL databases.

One benefit is the ability to easily transition from simple key-value stores to complicated graph databases when integrated with a graph database.

Since this is an emerging technology, solutions for NoSQL data modeling are still being developed. As more enterprises utilize NoSQL database programs features, the design will mature with the following benefits:

  • Reusable data model design patterns for more efficient application development.
  • An inventory of unified NoSQL data models that can support different NoSQL products.
  • Automated data model extraction from application source code.
  • Automated code-model-data consistency validation.
  • Strong control for application and data model change management.

Masterclass: Data Modeling for NoSQL Databases

Looking for extensive training on about data modeling for NoSQL Databases? Our experts offer a 3-hour masterclass that assists practitioners wanting to migrate from SQL to NoSQL or advance their understanding of NoSQL data modeling. This free, self-paced class covers techniques and best practices on NoSQL data modeling that will help you steer clear of mistakes that could inconvenience any engineering team.

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Are NoSQL Databases Faster than SQL Databases?

Key-value systems often have far simpler schemas, and thus, they tend to be faster than SQL systems. SQL databases tend to allow for more complex queries, exemplified by making JOINs across tables. Naturally, there is a computational cost, and time required, for such complexity. There are many additional architectural factors that go into a specific database’s performance, such as the use of in-memory tables or RAM caches, various data structures that can help efficiency (such as bloom filters) and so on. Even the programming language a database is written in can affect system performance, as it may allow for, or prohibit, low-level hardware optimization. Thus it is not possible to categorically say that NoSQL databases are always faster than SQL databases (or vice versa). Users need to create and conduct realistic tests to see how various databases perform under specific conditions, data models, and querying patterns.

How are NoSQL Databases Indexed?

They are indexed with keys that correspond with the location of an associated piece of data. The most common indexing methods are B-Tree, T-Tree, O2-Tree, as well as Log Structured Merge (LSM) tree indexing.

  • B-Tree Indexing

    — Allows a variable number of child nodes, which results in more unused space and less tree balancing. The B+Tree is a popular version of B-Tree indexing where every key must reside in the leaves.

  • T-Tree Indexing

    — Features three kinds of nodes: A T-Node that has a right and left child, a leaf node with no children, and a half-leaf node with only one child. Each node stores multiple tuples, or lists. The use of binary search results in more efficient storage.

  • O2-Tree Indexing

    — Created to enhance existing indexing methods by placing tuples within each leaf node. Advances the concept of a Binary-Search tree.

  • Log Structured Merge (LSM) Tree Indexing

    — Creates an in-memory hash table (or memtable), and periodically write these structures to disk in immutable form, known as a Sorted Strings Table (SSTable). Over time, these SSTables are merged in a process known as compaction.

NoSQL Database Use Cases

The most used NoSQL databases are for high performance speed and volume. Big data and NoSQL databases are a good match because of flexible design that allows for a many kinds of datasets in many different formats.

 

 

The trade-off for speed within a large dataset is less consistency. While SQL databases provide the highest level of verification, NoSQL databases do not promise total data consistency.

 

 

But with companies like Amazon where each transaction requires a tremendous amount of read-write activity, a SQL database would not be able to match the amount of speed and scaling required for millions of real-time transactions. That is why NoSQL ecommerce and NoSQL for transactional data are vital for applications that serve high volumes of customers in real time.

Learn the Difference Between Data Modeling for NoSQL and Data Modeling for SQL

NoSQL Database Examples / NoSQL Database List

The NoSQL database examples include the following:

DatabaseNoSQL Data ModelsDescription
AerospikeKey-valueA flash-optimized and in-memory open source NoSQL database
Amazon DynamoDB Key-value, DocumentCloud-based database only offered on AWS
Apache CassandraColumn
Time series
An open source highly scalable and distributed database created at Facebook to handle massive amounts of structured data.
Apache CouchDBDocumentOpen source and web-oriented database.
Apache HBaseColumnOpen source and column store database developed as a part of Hadoop.
Google BigtableColumnA compressed, high performance, proprietary data storage system.
JanusGraphGraphAn open source, distributed graph database under The Linux Foundation; works on top of ScyllaDB or Apache Cassandra.
Microsoft Cosmos DBDocument
Columnar
Graph
Proprietary, schema-agnostic and horizontally scalable.
MongoDBDocumentDocument-oriented database by MongoDB.
Neo4jGraphACID-compliant and transactional graph database with native graph storage and processing.
Oracle NoSQL DatabaseKey-valueScalable, distributed NoSQL database, designed to provide highly reliable, flexible and available data management.
RedisKey-value
Document
Time series
Data structure server with keys can contain strings, hashes, lists, sets and sorted sets.
ScyllaDBKey-value
Column
Time series
Enterprise and open source database which is a drop-in alternative to Apache Cassandra offering higher performance, lower latency and reduced cost.

For more details on some of these NoSQL databases, check out Datavid’s best NoSQL list, featuring ScyllaDB.

Learn the benefits of migrating to NoSQL and key differences you should prepare for

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