Choosing the Right Database.
Choosing the right database is a daunting yet necessary step in the development phase. The earlier the points to consider are set the better for everyone. Cloud offers more options than before across Structured, semi-structured, and unstructured databases. Below are some key metrics that offer guidance:
- Structured.
These databases organize data into predefined schemas and models. Relational databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL store data in tables with rows and columns. Columnar databases like Amazon Redshift and Google BigQuery also have a structured data model but store data differently, optimized for analytic queries.
Benefits:
Efficient SQL queries.
Ability to enforce constraints and validations.
Consistency where required.
Use cases: CRM systems, Inventory management, Accounting, and analytics.
- Semi-structured.
This kind of database provides flexibility by storing data without enforcing a formal schema. Data is often stored as JSON or other flexible formats. Examples include document databases like MongoDB, graph databases like Neptune, wide column stores like ScyllaDB, and Key-Value stores like DynamoDB.
Benefits:
Flexibility for evolving data.
Scalability across servers.
Use cases: e-Commerce, social media feeds, IoT data.
- Unstructured.
These databases are optimized to store and process vast amounts of heterogeneous data like documents, images, and videos.
Examples include AWS S3 storage and Azure Blob storage.
Benefits:
Store massive amounts of data.
Highly scalable.
Use cases: Media repositories, content management, data lakes, log data, backup.
Below is an Image that summarizes them all.
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