What is a flexible NoSQL document database platform?

Although NoSQL is not slated to completely replace SQL anytime soon, SentryOne emphasizes that NoSQL stores have specialties that make it a great option for certain situations. It's no wonder that NoSQL platforms rank highly in database engine popularity charts. In this article, we'll be defining the NoSQL document database platform and looking at its unique features.

NoSQL through the years

The terms under the vast umbrella of Big Data are constantly growing, so it's no surprise that there are people unfamiliar with the concepts and history of NoSQL. NoSQL has been around since the late 2000s as a replacement for hard-to-manage, complex data models. Soon after the era of cloud computing began, developers started utilizing this to host applications and data. Database platforms like MongoDB's flexible NoSQL document database solution that led the scalability movement then rose in popularity.

What is a NoSQL document database?

Let's first look at NoSQL, which is short for 'Not Only SQL' – it's essentially a method used for managing especially huge sets of data. NoSQL does not use the relational model, is schema-less, and runs well on clusters. Moreover, it's mostly open-source and built for 21st-century web estates, making it quite popular among companies and enterprises, and institutions that deal with lots of data such as financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, public sector, retail, manufacturing, among others.

Moving on, the NoSQL document database is a type of database that allows documents to be accessed faster through the use of the index value. GeeksforGeeks defines four types of document databases in total, which include the document database. The other three, namely the key-value stores, column-oriented databases, and graph databases, only differ in form and focus. Although no database type is completely better than the other, there are several reasons why NoSQL document databases are preferred.

Prod of the NoSQL document database

The NoSQL document database is coined as flexible due to the faster creation and minimal maintenance required to run it. As mentioned, it runs on a flexible schema which allows for eventual consistency. Records of data and rows and columns can accommodate various fields, and eventual consistency means higher availability. It's also much better for overall application development, as web applications involve data such as images, videos, audio, text, streaming content, signals, and more.

NoSQL and the development industry

The global NoSQL market is predicted to be worth over $27.4 billion by 2027, exhibiting an impressive CAGR of 30.2% in 4-5 years. Knowledge of NoSQL document database platforms and NoSQL, in general, is highly useful for anyone working in the industry, as jobs are continuously driven by Big Data adoption. Coders looking to adopt NoSQL also need not worry about OS compatibility, as today's top systems such as Microsoft and MacOS are designed to run NoSQL.

Keeping an eye out for NoSQL

NoSQL has been impactful for companies that have handled surges of data in the last few decades, and for developers and coders when it comes to handling workloads. NoSQL without a doubt has an exciting future ahead of it, as experts foresee its growth and adoption even in fields such as government affairs and crime prevention. For instance, data scientists from the University of Chicago have successfully set up a predictive algorithm based on data on violent crime and property.

As data continues to expand, we also expect to see improvements in NoSQL document databases and platforms that offer this service.