CST363 - Week 7

CST 363 Introduction to Database

In the previous weeks, the modules covered relational databases and the use of structured data. In Week 7, the course introduces the application and characteristics of non-relational databases. While MySQL is a database management system for relational databases, MongoDB is the leading NoSQL database platform for the non-relational databases. There are similarities between MongoDB and MySQL; both offer query languages to manipulate data to insert, retrieve, and update. Both offer scalability, although MongoDB supports sharding for horizontal scaling, while MySQL offers vertical scaling wit some chances of scaling horizontally.

The two systems have major differences in how data is stored. As a relational structured database, MySQL enforces a schema in support of transactional data. The data is stored in tables with columns and rows that strictly adhere to the relational data structure model. Logical constraints like primary key uniqueness, no duplicate rows, and unique column names are fundamental to MySQL's relational structure. Meanwhile, MongoDB doesn’t require a structured schema, providing more flexibility for data growth. Documents are stored in collections in a binary format called BSON.

The choice to use one over the other relies on several factors. For transactional data that requires controlled data consistency, MySQL and relational architecture provide ACID properties that ensure reliability. On the other hand, MongoDB meets the requirements for high-volume and high-rate-of-change databases like big data. Overall, each system offers unique advantages geared towards different needs.