Relational vs. No-Sql

Abstract

Quite contrary to what it sounds, No-Sql means Not Only Sql. So far in the book we have been assuming that the persistence layer is only relational database or a scaled-out version of it. Before we actually talk about the architecture using No-Sql databases, it’s worth understanding the differences and appreciating the different kinds of No-Sql databases out there and understanding the different strengths they bring to the table. No-Sql databases are of many different kinds. The name given to the entire category of databases is kind of unfair. In my personal experience, some very good architects have made the mistake of thinking of Relational and No-Sql databases as an either-or, which is not the best way to approach architecting systems of scale.