Evolution Towards Graph Databases
In today’s data-driven world, the way we store, manage, and query data has evolved significantly. As businesses and organizations handle more complex, interconnected datasets, traditional database models are being stretched to their limits. Graph databases, in particular, have gained traction due to their ability to model relationships in ways that relational databases cannot. According to a recent report by Gartner, the graph database market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.1%, reflecting its increasing adoption across industries such as finance, healthcare, and social media.
This chapter explores the evolution of database query languages, right from the early innovations that laid the foundation for modern database systems. We’ll trace the journey from relational databases to NoSQL, and ultimately to the emergence of Graph Query Language (GQL), which promises to redefine how we query and manage complex, interconnected data in the digital age.