Database Reference
In-Depth Information
The three Vs
The following are the three key
V
words used to describe big data, as well as a discussion
of how each of these helps to differentiate big data from other data:
•
Volume
: The most obvious of the descriptors is simply the size of data we are talk-
ing about. Instead of talking in millions (megabytes) or billions (gigabytes), we
talk in terabytes, petabytes, or exabytes (adding many zeros as we go).
•
Variety
: This term refers to the fact that big data can include all kinds of data, and
it often refers to data that is not traditionally structured. In reality, little data is
completely without any structure, but there is a vast amount of data that is categor-
ized as basically unstructured. Semi-structured or unstructured data, as well as
structured data, can be searched and processed quickly using the methods of big
data.
•
Velocity
: The last V refers to the speed at which the data comes into the system.
An example of where velocity of data is a requirement is the Large Hadron Col-
lider at CERN, located on the border between France and Switzerland. Every
second, 600 million particles collide in its underground accelerator, and each day
the CERN Data Center processes one petabyte of data describing what has
happened. Scientists at CERN must thus deal with large amounts of data that needs
quick processing.
