Amazon did not fall behind in the field of modern technologies; so, it presented the Amazon AWS NoSQL database among other essential characteristics.
Because today’s apps must be quicker and more scalable with less infrastructure, famous IT service providers recommend more creative solutions such as Amazon’s NoSQL database DynamoDB.
Because NoSQL databases may be the future of web app development, we will analyze the features of Amazon’s AWS NoSQL database and how it may aid in app development efficiency in the following note. Please stick with us to the very finish.
What is the Amazon AWS NoSQL Database?
Amazon initially launched SimpleDB, a sort of NoSQL database for key-value data storage. It was a flop because it was too simple and more costly than DynamoDB.
Amazon’s next attempt to build a NoSQL database resulted in the creation of AWS DynamoDB, which is a quick, flexible, and scalable Amazon solution for web app development.
Amazon AWS and Relational Databases
It may surprise you to learn that Amazon also provides relational services. Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service) proposes utilizing alternative relational databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MariaDB on the Amazon platform.
You should be aware that a large corporation such as Amazon almost certainly has its own solution known as Aurora. It is, as predicted, a SQL database that is compatible with conventional relational databases but is quicker; additionally, it can operate serverless and is more scalable.
Despite the prevalence of relational databases among developers, NoSQL capabilities are required for current app development. As a result, we’ll concentrate on the features of AWS DynamoDB, but if you’re interested in SQL databases, check out Cyberia’s post on MySQL and NoSQL databases.
The NoSQL Database DynamoDB and Its features
It’s a cross-platform, fully managed NoSQL database that works well with key-value structures. DynamoDB provides versatile and scalable data management, as well as a slew of other essential capabilities. We are sure that you have become quite experts about the NoSQL databases and their resilient nature.
Amazon AWS NoSQL DynamoDB Availability and Durability
AWS has expansive Availability Zones all over the world, and your data will be copied on multiple SSDs in various zones. When your data is spread all over the place, you have enough servers to handle your data.
DynamoDB takes responsibility for data partitioning and replication automatically; therefore, data scale-up will not disturb you. Imagine you are busy with other tasks, and your app is getting users by the seconds; DynamoDB can expand simultaneously.
Time to Live (TTL) in Amazon AWS NoSQL Database
This is a specific feature of DynamoDB that allows the user to define a time-span for any item. It is a feature to optimize the documents and the data processing. TTL helps to save some money since you no longer pay for more data and pace.
You shouldn’t be worried since your deleted data wouldn’t be permanently deleted and it can be viewed in other queries and components. The expired data can be archived on other Amazon AWS platforms like Amazon S3.
Security in NoSQL Database DynamoDB
Like other cloud service providers, security is an issue in DynamoDB since you are sharing your data with the service provider. Accordingly, AWS must have some built-in security features to protect your valuable data, and hopefully, it did.
AWS CloudTrail is a monitoring tool that allows you to track all of the actions in the database, like creating a table and inserting data. In addition to that, DynamoDB encrypts all of the data and stores them in Amazon Key Management Service (Amazon KMS), which provides an additional layer to protect your valuable data.
Serverless Availability in Amazon AWS NoSQL DynamoDB
DynamoDB may be used in conjunction with AWS Lambda to achieve high-level speed and on-demand capacity. It’s also a highly cost-effective option because you just pay for what you use.
Because all data will be streamlined and adjusted automatically, the serverless functionality will provide availability and fault tolerance.
On-demand Backup and Restore in NoSQL DynamoDB
The AWS Management Console allows customers to save and archive data independent of their degree of activity or data. The archived backup data may be restored with a single click and API command.
The shocking fact is that the backup tool is free to use. Keep in mind that if you wish to use Amazon AWS’s accessible capabilities or other sophisticated settings, you must enable backup and restore.
These are just a few of DynamoDB’s best features; it has many more that might be beneficial for practically any web app development project. Let’s move on to the next section if you’re curious in how AWS DynamoDB does all of this.
The Way Amazon AWS NoSQL DynamoDB Works
DynamoDB, unlike other NoSQL databases, does not store data using JSON patterns. It features a documented key-value model and an architecture comparable to relational databases. Let us now look at the table below.
Partition Key | Sort Key | Attributes | ||
Product ID | Book Name | Author | Publication Year | Genre |
1 | Anna Karenina | Leo Tolstoy | 1878 | Novel/ Realism |
2 | Les Miserables | Victor Hugo | 1862 | Novel |
3 | Oliver Twist | Charles Dickens | 1837 | Novel |
4 | Moby-Dick | Herman Melville | 1851 | Novel |
This table is the most basic example of a DynamoDB database; the numbers in the tables describe each item in the database, and each item has certain characteristics that constitute the database’s structure.
The partition key is required for all data, but the sort key is optional. You may enhance your data by adding a sort key and suggesting additional filters for searching, among other things. The major key is the combination of these two.
When a data set has more read numbers than others, the sort key feature might be useful. The Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator detects and maintains popular data and in-memory caching.
We attempted to succinctly depict how DynamoDB works; however, other NoSQL databases, such as MongoDB, use schema-less documentation. If you want to learn more about MongoDB vs AWS DynamoDB, click on the link.
DynamoDB NoSQL Database and Its Benefits
DynamoDB should not be underestimated because all of its unique traits might be considered benefits.
- DynamoDB features an effective pricing structure that allows you to pay based on the number of reads; as a result, if your app loses popularity and your income declines, you won’t have to pay a lot of money.
- It interacts with the database via JSON APIs, which makes it easier for developers to deal with the database.
- You may simply download and use DynamoDB; however, this does not imply that it is completely free; nonetheless, you will not be charged more for testing.
- Because all of your data will be mirrored on SSD disks across many regions, you can be certain that your data is safe.
- Amazon AWS NoSQL DynamoDB’s scalability is the charm that every developer loos for.
- Using DynamoDB is simple since all difficulties and problems are handled immediately by Amazon AWS’s built-in tools.
Aside from the benefits listed above, you should carefully analyze every element of DynamoDB before selecting it as your database. We have listed some of its downsides in the next section.
Amazon AWS NoSQL’s Database with Its Disadvantages
As you can see from the chart above, DynamoDB’s data query is not as versatile as those of other NoSQL databases. For example, with Firebase and MongoDB, you may easily write your data with no rules or structure; in DynamoDB, however, you must be cautious with data indexing. We’ve written a detailed comparison of Firebase vs DynamoDB.
NoSQL databases, such as DynamoDB, lack suitable table joints because, unlike relational databases, they lack proper couplings between collections and tables.
Although DynamoDB is very cost-effective, some enterprise-level projects may require a clear budget perspective, thus whether your project has a little budget or a significant financial backing, clarity is critical for major corporations. Not to mention that this functionality might be pricey and inefficient at times.
Although DynamoDB is mainly ideal for serverless use, the insecurity and complexity of serverless infrastructures may be frustrating, especially for big projects with significant data.
Overall, DynamoDB is one of the best technologies offered by Amazon Web Services; ultimately, it is up to you whether to use it or not.
frequently asked questions
SQL and NoSQL databases tailored specifically for AWS’s cloud computing focus are available through Amazon Web Services (AWS). Accessing data is made possible using a number of different AWS NoSQL databases.
Amazon DynamoDB is a key-value NoSQL database that is completely managed and can grow to handle high-performance workloads with ease.
Final Words
We attempted to provide some valuable notes and advice concerning the Amazon AWS NoSQL database known as DynamoDB in this post. Regardless of the benefits, drawbacks, and unique characteristics of the NoSQL database DynamoDB, the essential point in selecting a database is the scope and requirements of your projects.
It is crucial to recognize that Amazon’s AWS NoSQL database is one of the smallest tools and services available; moreover, while utilizing DynamoDB, you can ensure complete access to Amazon’s services.
If you intend to use DynamoDB, our knowledgeable staff can assist you, and please let us know if you have any expertise dealing with NoSQL databases. Good luck with your code.
