Advantages and limitations of document databases

NoSQL Concepts

Miriam Antona

Software engineer

Advantages - flexibility

• Don't need to predefine the schema
• Documents can vary over time
  • Avoids schema migrations
• Embedded documents avoid joins
  • Better times
• One of the first reasons to choose document databases

Advantages - intuitive for developers

• Natural way to work
• JSON is human-readable
• Documents map objects in code
  • Less coding
  • Simpler and faster development
  • Start coding and storing objects as documents are created
• Easier for new developers

Advantages - horizontal scalability

• Sharding

Limitations - more responsibility

• Care about data in the application code
  • e.g. check required email
• Care about redundant data
  • e.g. modify duplicated name

Let's practice!

NoSQL Concepts