Before NoSQL databases evolved, SQL (relational) databases were the only choice to manage the application data for the application data store. Now, the choice has to be made between SQL and NoSQL databases.
Architects can work with product owners to review the business cases and decide the database option based on priority between consistency and availability of data. For business cases that prioritize consistency over availability, SQL databases are the preferred choice. In cases that prioritize availability over consistency, NoSQL would be a better option.
Is there a clear choice between SQL and NoSQL databases for an application data store? Are there use cases where either of them is the right choice? If there are, how is this decided? The following will tackle these questions.
NoSQL databases are adapted for:
SQL databases are the solution for:
Using SQL databases for unstructured data storage and processing involves complexity and overhead for database design. With NoSQL databases, this overhead effort is avoided by storing and processing the unstructured data as it is.
Over time, NoSQL databases are considered for applications involved with transactions, too. Especially the teams who wanted their application database design to be more Agile - i.e., evolving database design over a period of time. In such cases, developers take ownership of database design as it is almost all within the codebase.
Thus, SQL and NoSQL databases are not a replacement for each other. The choice depends on the use case involved - i.e. transactional vs. non-transactional, structured vs. unstructured data, and the nature of the application agility.
NoSQL can be used for regular customer interactive applications as well, on the condition that the business use case is decent with eventual consistency. Below are a few examples:
NoSQL databases were constrained to few cases earlier such as big data management for analytics. Over a period, NoSQL databases evolved similarly to SQL databases in terms of database management tools. This evolution made data architects consider NoSQL databases in application development as well.
The recommended procedure for application and data architects should be to evaluate both options of SQL and NoSQL databases for any application design. Thus, application development can take advantage of NoSQL databases’ Agile behavior if the design is finalized with this option.
Nisum has extensive expertise in designing and implementing systems using SQL and NoSQL databases. Nisum has helped its clients make the right choice between SQL and NoSQL while building new applications and migrating existing legacy applications to new technical platforms. Our expertise spreads across development and analytics through using SQL and NoSQL databases. To learn more about our services, contact us.