Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

Understanding
When To Use

SQL vs NoSQL

in Analytics

SQL vs NoSQL Swipe next

Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

SQL (Structured Query Language)

and NoSQL (Not Only SQL)
databases offer different approaches
to data storage, management, and
scalability.
This guide will help you understand the differences,
benefits, and use cases for each, enabling you to make an
informed decision.
Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

SQL in Data Analytics

SQL Databases have been the backbone of data analytics for
decades. They are highly structured and relational, making them
ideal for handling well-organized data with clear relationships.

Tools used :

MySQL PostgreSQL Microsoft SQL Server Oracle

Key Features for Analytics

Feature Description

Structured
Relational tables allow for easy querying, joining, and aggregating.
Data

Complex SQL excels at complex, multi-dimensional analytics involving

Queries multiple tables, joins, and subqueries.

ACID Ensures data consistency, which is crucial for accurate analytics and
Compliance reporting.

Mature Extensive tooling and support for ETL (Extract, Transform, Load),
Ecosystem reporting, and data warehousing.
Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

NoSQL in Data Analytics

NoSQL Databases have gained popularity for handling big data
and real-time analytics, where flexibility, scalability, and speed are
prioritized.

Tools used :

MongoDB Cassandra Apache HBase Couchbase

Key Features for Analytics

Feature Description

Unstructured NoSQL handles diverse data formats like JSON, making it suitable
Data for semi-structured or unstructured data.

Horizontal Easily scales out across multiple servers, making it ideal for big data
Scalability and high-velocity analytics.

Flexible Adapts to changing data structures, which is useful for rapidly

Schema evolving analytics projects.

Real-time Many NoSQL databases are optimized for low-latency operations,

Analytics enabling faster analytics on streaming data.
Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

SQL vs NoSQL

in Data Analytics
Feature SQL NoSQL

Data Model Relational (tables, rows, columns) Non-relational (document, key-value,

wide-column, graph)

Schema Fixed schema, predefined Dynamic schema, flexible structure

Querying Strong support for complex Limited query capabilities,

queries and joins depends on data model

Scalability Vertical scaling (more powerful Horizontal scaling (adding more

hardware) servers)

Data Volume Suitable for structured data with Ideal for large-scale, unstructured, or
moderate volume semi-structured data

Use Cases Data warehouses, business Big data analytics, real-time insights,
intelligence, transactional distributed data systems
reporting
Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

SQL Example
You start a small online store selling electronics. You need to
manage
Inventor
Customer details
Orders efficiently
You choose a SQL database, like MySQL, because your data is
highly structured and relational.

SQL Structure
Products Table
Product_ID ProductName Price Category

101 Smartphone $699 Electronics

Customers Table
Customer_ID Name Email Address

001 John Doe [email protected] 123 Elm Street

Orders Table
OrderID CustomerID ProductID OrderDate

5001 001 101 2024-08-21

Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

How SQL Works

When John Doe places an order for a smartphone, the order
information is stored in the in the Orders Table with a
reference to the Customers Table (using CustomerID) and the
Products Table (using ProductID).
Products Table
Product_ID ProductName Price Category

101 Smartphone $699 Electronics

Orders Table
OrderID CustomerID ProductID OrderDate

5001 001 101 2024-08-21

Customer_ID Name Email Address

001 John Doe [email protected] 123 Elm Street

Customers Table

The data is consistent and easy to query, thanks to the predefined

schema.

P.S : You can easily write complex queries like, “Show all orders placed

by John Doe in the last month” using SQL joins.

Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

NoSQL Example

As your store grows, you introduce more features like

User-generated content (reviews, ratings)

Personalized recommendation

Real-time inventory tracking

You decide to use a NoSQL database like MongoDB to handle

this new wave of data.

NoSQL Structure

Fields: CustomerID, Name, Email, Address, Orders, Reviews, Wishlis

Example Document

"CustomerID": "001",

"Name": "John Doe",

"Email": "[email protected]",

"Address": "123 Elm Street",

"Orders": [

{"OrderID": "5001", "ProductID": "101", "OrderDate": "2024-08-21"}

],

"Reviews": [

{"ProductID": "101", "Rating": 5, "Comment": "Great phone!"}

],

"Wishlist": [

{"ProductID": "102", "ProductName": "Laptop", "Price": "$999"}

}
Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

How NoSQL Works

In NoSQL, when John Doe first signs up and places his first order,
his data is stored in MongoDB as a single document.
Customer Document Updated Document
{
{

"CustomerID": "001",
"CustomerID": "001",

"Name": "John Doe",

"Name": "John Doe",

"Email": "[email protected]",
"Email": "[email protected]",

"Address": "123 Elm Street",

"Address": "123 Elm Street",

"Orders": [
"Orders": [

{
{

"OrderID": "5001",
"OrderID": "5001",

"ProductID": "101",
"ProductID": "101",

"ProductName": "Smartphone",
"ProductName": "Smartphone",

"OrderDate": "2024-08-21"
"OrderDate": "2024-08-21"

}
}

],
],

"Reviews": [],
"Reviews": [

"Wishlist": []
{

} "ProductID": "101",

"Rating": 5,

"Comment": "Great phone!"

],

"Wishlist": [

You want to retrieve John

{

"ProductID": "102",

Doe’s latest review and

"ProductName": "Laptop",

wishlist items.
"Price": "$999"

db.customers.findOne(
]

{ "CustomerID": "001" },
} John Doe writes a review
{ "Reviews": 1, "Wishlist": 1 }
for the smartphone he
) purchased and adds a new
product to his wishlist.
Data Analytics 2024 SQL vs NoSQL

Dr. Jayen Thakker MetricMinds.in

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