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Types of NoSQL Databases
Last Updated : 25 Feb, 2025
A database is a collection of structured data or information that is
stored in a computer system and can be accessed easily. A database is
usually managed by a Database Management System (DBMS). NoSQL
databases are a category of non-relational databases designed to
handle large-scale, unstructured, and semi-structured data efficiently.
Unlike traditional relational databases (RDBMS) that store data in
structured tables, NoSQL databases offer flexibility, scalability, and
high-performance solutions for modern applications. In this article, we
will explain
Types of NoSQL Database
NoSQL databases can be classified into four main types, based on their
data storage and retrieval methods:
1. Document-based databases
2. Key-value stores
3. Column-oriented databases
4. Graph-based databases
Each type has unique advantages and use cases, making NoSQL a
preferred choice for big data applications, real-time analytics, cloud
computing, and distributed systems.
1. Document-Based Database
The document-based database is a nonrelational database. Instead of
storing the data in rows and columns (tables), it uses the documents to
store the data in the database. A document database stores data in
JSON, BSON, or XML documents.
Documents can be stored and retrieved in a form that is much closer to
the data objects used in applications which means less translation is
required to use these data in the applications. In the Document
database, the particular elements can be accessed by using the index
value that is assigned for faster querying.
Collections are the group of documents that store documents that have
similar contents. Not all the documents are in any collection as they
require a similar schema because document databases have a flexible
schema.
Key features of documents database:
Flexible schema: Documents in the database has a flexible schema.
It means the documents in the database need not be the same
schema.
Faster creation and maintenance: the creation of documents is easy
and minimal maintenance is required once we create the document.
No foreign keys: There is no dynamic relationship between two
documents so documents can be independent of one another. So,
there is no requirement for a foreign key in a document database.
Open formats: To build a document we use XML, JSON, and others.
Popular Document Databases & Use Cases
Database Use Case
MongoDB Content management, product catalogs, user profiles
CouchDB Offline applications, mobile synchronization
Firebase Firestore Real-time apps, chat applications
2. Key-Value Stores
A key-value store is a nonrelational database. The simplest form of a
NoSQL database is a key-value store. Every data element in the
database is stored in key-value pairs. The data can be retrieved by using
a unique key allotted to each element in the database. The values can
be simple data types like strings and numbers or complex objects. A
key-value store is like a relational database with only two columns
which is the key and the value.
Key features of the key-value store:
Simplicity: Data retrieval is extremely fast due to direct key access.
Scalability: Designed for horizontal scaling and distributed storage.
Speed: Ideal for caching and real-time applications.
Popular Key-Value Databases & Use Cases
Database Use Case
Redis Caching, real-time leaderboards, session storage
Database Use Case
Memcached High-speed in-memory caching
Amazon DynamoDB Cloud-based scalable applications
3. Column Oriented Databases
A column-oriented database is a non-relational database that stores the
data in columns instead of rows. That means when we want to run
analytics on a small number of columns, we can read those columns
directly without consuming memory with the unwanted data. Columnar
databases are designed to read data more efficiently and retrieve the
data with greater speed. A columnar database is used to store a large
amount of data.
Key features of Columnar Oriented Database
High Scalability: Supports distributed data processing.
Compression: Columnar storage enables efficient data compression.
Faster Query Performance: Best for analytical queries.
Popular Column-Oriented Databases & Use Cases
Database Use Case
Apache Cassandra Real-time analytics, IoT applications
Google Bigtable Large-scale machine learning, time-series data
HBase Hadoop ecosystem, distributed storage
4. Graph-Based Databases
Graph-based databases focus on the relationship between the
elements. It stores the data in the form of nodes in the database. The
connections between the nodes are called links or relationships, making
them ideal for complex relationship-based queries.
Data is represented as nodes (objects) and edges (connections).
Fast graph traversal algorithms help retrieve relationships quickly.
Used in scenarios where relationships are as important as the data
itself.
Key features of Graph Database
Relationship-Centric Storage: Perfect for social networks, fraud
detection, recommendation engines.
Real-Time Query Processing: Queries return results almost
instantly.
Schema Flexibility: Easily adapts to evolving relationship structures
Popular Graph Databases & Use Cases
Database Use Case
Neo4j Fraud detection, social networks
Amazon Neptune Knowledge graphs, AI recommendations
ArangoDB Multi-model database, cybersecurity
Comparison of NoSQL Database Types
Feature Document- Key-Value Column- Graph-
Based Store Oriented Based
Columns
JSON-like Key-Value Nodes &
Data Model instead of
documents pairs Relationships
rows
Feature Document- Key-Value Column- Graph-
Based Store Oriented Based
Semi- Fast
Best Use Analytics Relationship-
structured lookups &
Case & big data heavy data
data caching
Query High for Optimized for
Moderate Fast
Performance analytics relationships
Semi-
Schema Flexible Dynamic Schema-less
structured
High Highly Scales with
Scalability Horizontal
horizontal scalable relationships
Neo4j,
MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra,
Examples Amazon
CouchDB DynamoDB HBase
Neptune
Conclusion
NoSQL databases offer flexibility, scalability, and high performance,
making them an essential part of modern applications dealing with big
data, real-time analytics, and distributed systems. Choosing the right
NoSQL database type depends on data structure, scalability
requirements, and query performance needs. By understanding these
NoSQL database types and their advantages, businesses and
developers can make data-driven decisions to optimize performance
and scalability.
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