NoSQL

Preview

1. What are the benefits of using NoSQL databases compared to traditional relational databases?
2. How has NoSQL impacted data management in modern web applications?
3. What are the different types of NoSQL databases and when should each be used?
4. Can NoSQL databases handle complex queries and transactions as effectively as traditional databases?
5. What are the potential drawbacks or limitations of using a NoSQL database for certain applications?

Explain

NoSQL refers to a non-relational database management system that stores and retrieves structured and unstructured data. NoSQL databases are designed to handle large volumes of structured and unstructured data that may be too complex for traditional relational databases.

An example of NoSQL database is MongoDB which is an open-source, document-oriented database system that stores data in flexible, JSON-like documents. MongoDB offers high scalability, availability and ease of use making it popular for web applications that need to handle large volumes of data.

Keypoint

1. NoSQL databases are non-relational and do not use tables to store data.
2. NoSQL databases can handle large volumes of unstructured data.
3. NoSQL databases offer scalability and high availability.
4. NoSQL databases use varied data models, such as document, key-value, graph, and column-family.
5. NoSQL databases do not require a schema to be defined before data can be stored.
6. NoSQL databases support easy administration and maintenance.
7. NoSQL databases offer excellent performance and query flexibility.
8. NoSQL databases can be used for real-time applications and big data analytics.
9. NoSQL databases are often used in distributed computing environments.
10. NoSQL databases are generally open-source and free to use.

Review

1. What is NoSQL and how does it differ from traditional relational databases?
   Answer: NoSQL stands for “not only SQL” and is a type of database management system that does not rely on the traditional table-based structure of relational databases. Unlike relational databases, NoSQL databases are highly scalable, flexible and can handle unstructured data such as text, images, and videos more efficiently.

2. What are some types of NoSQL databases and what are their use cases?
   Answer: There are several types of NoSQL databases, including document-based, key-value, column-family, and graph databases. A document-based database is used for storing and managing semi-structured data such as XML, JSON or BSON documents. A key-value database is used for fast retrieval of data using a key-value pair. A column-family database is used for managing large amounts of structured or semi-structured data in tables. A graph database is used for managing relationships between data points.

3. What are the advantages of using NoSQL over traditional relational databases?
   Answer: Some advantages of using NoSQL databases include better scalability, faster performance, flexibility in handling unstructured data, lower cost and complexity, and a more agile development process.

4. How does sharding work in NoSQL databases?
   Answer: Sharding is a way to horizontally partition data across different servers in a NoSQL database. By splitting data into smaller, manageable chunks, each shard can be stored and managed more efficiently, leading to better scalability, faster performance, and improved fault tolerance.

5. What are some common NoSQL data modeling techniques?
   Answer: Some common NoSQL data modeling techniques include denormalization (combining related data into a single document), embedding (nesting documents within other documents), and aggregation (grouping and summarizing data). These techniques can help improve performance and simplify queries within NoSQL databases.