Understanding NoSQL Databases

Of late, what with the rise of phenomena like Facebook and Twitter, that are pushing the envelope, requiring handling requests and data at scales not seen so far, there is clearly something different at work, under the covers. Sure, this has been possible with the rise of technologies that enable Web 2.0, Social Media and Cloud Computing, but there's probably another key element at work that powers this.

This key element - the ubiquitous data store - is not your classical relational database aka RDBMS. Instead, it's a new kind of database (architecture), viz. NoSQL or the non-relational database.

The following presentation is an excruciatingly detailed, but very good look into the innards of the NoSQL Database architecture, and also helps to understand how this compares to RDBMS.

NoSQL Databases: Why, what and when

Thanks to Lorenzo Alberton for putting together this wonderful presentation.

See also, 'Building Scalable Web Applications: The Non-relational Way!', which provides a glimpse into the new, emerging trend of non-relational aka NoSQL databases.