NoSQL-Types
NoSQL databases are designed to handle large-scale, distributed, and high-speed data operations. They are
used in AI/ML, big data, IoT, and defense applications due to their scalability, flexibility, and performance.
1. Types of NoSQL Databases
NoSQL databases are categorized based on data models and storage mechanisms. The four main types are:
1. Key-Value Stores (e.g., Redis, DynamoDB, Riak)
2. Document Stores (e.g., MongoDB, CouchDB, Firebase)
3. Column-Family Stores (e.g., Apache Cassandra, HBase, Google Bigtable)
4. Graph Databases (e.g., Neo4j, Amazon Neptune, ArangoDB)
2. Key-Value Stores
2.1. Overview
Key-Value databases store data as a dictionary (key-value pairs), optimized for fast lookups and
distributed caching.
Feature Description
Data Model Key-value pairs (like a hashmap)
Query Model Uses simple GET/PUT operations
Scalability Horizontally scalable (consistent hashing)
Speed Extremely fast (in-memory or disk-based)
Use Cases Caching, session storage, real-time data
2.2. Storage Mechanisms
1. In-Memory Storage: Redis, Memcached (stores data in RAM for ultra-fast access).
2. Persistent Storage: DynamoDB, Riak (stores key-value pairs on disk for durability).
2.3. Query Execution & Indexing
Hash Indexing: Maps keys to memory addresses for fast lookups.
B+ Trees (Riak, DynamoDB): Optimized for range queries.
Data Partitioning: Uses consistent hashing to distribute data across nodes.
2.4. Use Cases
✅ AI/ML: Fast retrieval of precomputed embeddings (e.g., AI search engines).
✅ Defense: Caching real-time battlefield sensor data.
✅ Cybersecurity: Storing temporary session data for authentication.
3. Document Stores
3.1. Overview
Document databases store semi-structured JSON, BSON, or XML documents, allowing flexible schemas.
Feature Description
Data Model JSON/BSON/XML documents
Query Model Uses document-based queries (MongoDB’s find())
Scalability Horizontally scalable (sharding)
Speed High-speed indexing and retrieval
Use Cases AI/ML, content management, real-time analytics
3.2. Storage Mechanisms
Document Stores use JSON/BSON for efficient hierarchical and nested data storage.
Compression & Indexing: Uses secondary indexes, B-Trees, and TTL indexes.
3.3. Query Execution & Optimization
Indexing: Supports secondary indexes, text search, and geospatial indexes.
Sharding: Data is partitioned across multiple nodes based on shard keys.
Aggregation Pipelines: Allows complex queries without joins.
3.4. Use Cases
✅ AI/ML: Storing unstructured data (e.g., chat logs, image metadata).
✅ Defense: Managing intelligence reports in JSON-based document stores.
✅ Cybersecurity: Logging unstructured threat intelligence for AI-based analysis.
4. Column-Family Stores
4.1. Overview
Column-family databases store data by columns instead of rows, optimizing for high-speed analytics and
distributed processing.
Feature Description
Data Model Column-Family based storage
Query Model Querying based on column keys
Scalability Massively distributed (petabyte-scale)
Speed Fast retrieval for big data analytics
Use Cases AI analytics, real-time data processing
4.2. Storage Mechanisms
SSTables & LSM-Trees: Efficiently store data in sorted order.
Compression: Uses Snappy, LZ4, or Zstandard for column compression.
4.3. Query Execution & Optimization
Bloom Filters: Optimize read performance by reducing disk lookups.
Partitioning: Uses primary keys for distributed partitioning.
Time-Series Optimization: Stores timestamped data efficiently.
4.4. Use Cases
✅ AI/ML: Storing training data for large-scale AI models (e.g., Google Bigtable).
✅ Defense: Satellite & radar image processing (e.g., Apache Cassandra in military systems).
✅ Cybersecurity: Storing logs of cyberattacks for AI-based intrusion detection.
5. Graph Databases
5.1. Overview
Graph databases store nodes (entities) and edges (relationships), optimized for relationship-heavy data.
Feature Description
Data Model Graph-based (Nodes & Edges)
Query Model Graph traversal algorithms (BFS, DFS)
Scalability Scalable for complex networks
Speed Optimized for relationship queries
Use Cases AI knowledge graphs, cybersecurity, fraud detection
5.2. Storage Mechanisms
Adjacency List Storage: Stores relationships efficiently.
Index-Free Adjacency: Fast relationship lookups without costly joins.
5.3. Query Execution & Optimization
Graph Query Languages: Cypher (Neo4j), Gremlin (Amazon Neptune).
Graph Indexing: Uses R-Tree indexes, Hash indexing for fast lookups.
5.4. Use Cases
✅ AI/ML: Knowledge Graphs for AI search engines (e.g., Google Knowledge Graph).
✅ Defense: Tracking terrorist networks using graph analytics.
✅ Cybersecurity: AI-based fraud detection (e.g., Neo4j in financial security).
6. Deep Comparison of NoSQL Types
Column-Family
Feature Key-Value Store Document Store Graph Database
Store
Data Model Key-Value JSON/BSON Column-Family Nodes & Edges
Schema Schema-less Semi-Structured Wide-Column Graph Schema
Medium (for complex
Query Speed Fast Medium High
queries)
Horizontally Horizontally Scales well with
Scalability Massively scalable
scalable scalable relationships
ACID No (Eventual
Partial No (BASE Model) Yes (for some)
Compliance Consistency)
Bloom Filters,
Indexing Hash Indexing B-Tree Indexing Graph Indexing
SSTables
Caching, AI Cybersecurity, Fraud
Use Cases AI documents, Logs Big Data, Analytics
embeddings Detection
Comparison Table of Cassandra & Similar NoSQL Databases
Apache Google Amazon
Feature Apache HBase ScyllaDB
Cassandra Bigtable DynamoDB
Key-Value +
Data Model Column-Family Column-Family Column-Family Column-Family
Column
Architecture Peer-to-Peer Master-Slave Distributed Shared-Nothing Multi-Master
Storage LSM Trees, Shards, LSM SSD-backed,
HFiles, WAL Multi-Versioned
Engine SSTables Trees LSM
Partition + Row Key,
Indexing Row Key Index Global Indexing GSI, LSI
Clustering Keys Bloom Filters
Consistency
Eventual Strong Strong Eventual Eventual
Model
Query
CQL HQL, Phoenix BigQuery, API CQL PartiQL, API
Language
AI logging, IoT Cybersecurity, Real-time AI AI fraud
Use Cases AI-driven IoT
data AI analytics processing detection
