Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
It works on many processors
—NoSQL systems allow you to store your database on
multiple processors and maintain high-speed performance.
It uses shared-nothing commodity computers
—Most (but not all) NoSQL systems
leverage low-cost commodity processors that have separate
RAM
and disk.
It supports linear scalability
—When you add more processors, you get a consistent
increase in performance.
It's innovative
—NoSQL offers options to a single way of storing, retrieving, and
manipulating data. NoSQL supporters (also known as
NoSQLers
) have an inclu-
sive attitude about NoSQL and recognize
SQL
solutions as viable options. To
the NoSQL community, NoSQL means “Not only
SQL
.”
Equally important is what NoSQL is not:
It's not about the
SQL
language
—The definition of NoSQL isn't an application
that uses a language other than
SQL
.
SQL
as well as other query languages are
used with NoSQL databases.
It's not only open source
—Although many NoSQL systems have an open source
model, commercial products use NOSQL concepts as well as open source initia-
tives. You can still have an innovative approach to problem solving with a com-
mercial product.
It's not only big data
—Many, but not all, NoSQL applications are driven by the
inability of a current application to efficiently scale when big data is an issue.
Though volume and velocity are important, NoSQL also focuses on variability
and agility.
It's not about cloud computing
—Many NoSQL systems reside in the cloud to take
advantage of its ability to rapidly scale when the situation dictates. NoSQL sys-
tems can run in the cloud as well as in your corporate data center.
It's not about a clever use of
RAM
and
SSD
—Many NoSQL systems focus on the effi-
cient use of
RAM
or solid state disks to increase performance. Though this is
important, NoSQL systems can run on standard hardware.
It's not an elite group of products
—NoSQL isn't an exclusive club with a few prod-
ucts. There are no membership dues or tests required to join. To be considered
a NoSQLer, you only need to convince others that you have innovative solutions
to their business problems.
NoSQL applications use a variety of data store types (databases). From the simple key-
value store that associates a unique key with a value, to graph stores used to associate
relationships, to document stores used for variable data, each NoSQL type of data
store has unique attributes and uses as identified in table 1.1.
