NoSQL Database Tutorial โ€“ Full Course for Beginners

freeCodeCamp.org
29 Nov 2021174:53

TLDRIn this comprehensive tutorial, Ania Kubow, a software developer, introduces the concept of NoSQL databases, contrasting them with SQL databases and highlighting the flexibility and scalability of NoSQL. She dives into the four main types of NoSQL databases: document, key-value, wide column store, and graph databases, explaining their unique characteristics and use cases. Ania also touches on the emerging trend of multi-model databases. The course includes practical examples using a document API and GraphQL API to interact with NoSQL databases, providing learners with a hands-on understanding of retrieving and manipulating data. The tutorial concludes with real-life project applications, such as building a burger restaurant finder app and a hotel app, to demonstrate how NoSQL databases can be integrated into modern web development.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ“š NoSQL databases are a flexible approach to database management that can handle a variety of data models such as key-value, document, column-family, and graph formats.
  • ๐Ÿ” The main difference between SQL and NoSQL is that SQL is a structured query language for relational databases, while NoSQL is a non-relational database management approach.
  • ๐ŸŒ NoSQL databases are characterized by being non-relational, distributed, scalable, and highly available, often supporting data replication and partition tolerance.
  • โš™๏ธ NoSQL databases can scale horizontally by adding more machines to the resource pool, unlike SQL databases that typically scale vertically by adding more resources to a single machine.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ NoSQL is particularly useful for applications that require high development productivity and the ability to handle large-scale data efficiently.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ The four main types of NoSQL databases are key-value, document, column-family (or tabular), and graph databases, each with its own unique data model and use cases.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Multi-model databases represent an emerging trend, allowing for the storage and management of multiple data models within a single database system.
  • ๐Ÿš€ Real-life use cases for NoSQL databases include projects that use document APIs and GraphQL APIs to interact with databases, such as building a burger restaurant finder app or a hotel booking app.
  • ๐Ÿ“ When working with NoSQL databases, understanding the CAP theorem is crucial as it dictates the trade-offs between consistency, availability, and partition tolerance.
  • ๐Ÿ”‘ Application tokens are used for secure communication with NoSQL databases, and they should be stored safely and used in the header of API requests.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฌ The course includes practical examples and exercises to help learners understand how to use NoSQL databases in projects, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the NoSQL Database Tutorial?

    -The main focus of the NoSQL Database Tutorial is to demystify what NoSQL is, clarify the difference between SQL and NoSQL, and provide a deep dive into the four main types of NoSQL databases with practical examples and exercises.

  • Who is the instructor for the NoSQL Database Tutorial course?

    -The instructor for the NoSQL Database Tutorial course is Ania Kubow, a software developer and course creator on YouTube.

  • What are the four main types of NoSQL databases discussed in the course?

    -The four main types of NoSQL databases discussed in the course are key-value, document, wide column or tabular, and graph databases.

  • What are the defining characteristics of NoSQL databases?

    -The defining characteristics of NoSQL databases are that they are non-relational, distributed, and scalable, with the ability to handle large-scale data and provide high transaction throughput.

  • How does NoSQL differ from SQL in terms of data model flexibility?

    -NoSQL databases offer a flexible data model that can accommodate various formats such as JSON documents, graphs with nodes and edges, key-value pairs, or dynamic columnar data. This contrasts with SQL databases, which have a fixed schema with rigid data types.

  • What is the role of the Document API in the course?

    -The Document API is used to interact with document-type NoSQL databases. It allows for creating databases, adding documents to collections, and retrieving data using HTTP request messages like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.

  • How does the scalability of NoSQL databases compare to SQL databases?

    -NoSQL databases typically scale out, or horizontally, by adding more machines to the resource pool. In contrast, SQL databases scale up, or vertically, by adding more resources like a more powerful CPU or RAM to a single machine.

  • What is the significance of the partition key in NoSQL databases?

    -The partition key in NoSQL databases is crucial for data retrieval and distribution. It determines how data is distributed across different nodes in a distributed database and is used to search for specific data entries.

  • What are the two main reasons for using a NoSQL database as mentioned in the tutorial?

    -The two main reasons for using a NoSQL database mentioned in the tutorial are improved application development productivity due to a more fitting data model and the ability to handle large-scale data more economically by running on multiple smaller machines or clusters.

  • How does the tutorial course approach learning about NoSQL databases?

    -The tutorial course approaches learning about NoSQL databases by providing an explanation, example, and exercise for each of the four main types of NoSQL databases, followed by real-life use cases involving a document API and a GraphQL API.

  • What is the relationship between NoSQL databases and the CAP theorem?

    -The CAP theorem states that a distributed database cannot simultaneously achieve consistency, availability, and partition tolerance. NoSQL databases, such as the one used in the course (Apache Cassandra), often prioritize availability and partition tolerance over strict consistency.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ‘‹ Introduction to NoSQL and Course Overview

Ania Kubow, a software developer and course creator, introduces the concept of NoSQL databases, contrasting them with SQL databases. The course aims to clarify the differences, explore four main types of NoSQL databases, and apply the knowledge through real-life use cases with document and Graph QL APIs. The importance of subscribing to freeCodeCamp for access to learning materials is emphasized.

05:04

๐Ÿ“š Understanding NoSQL Databases

The paragraph delves into the characteristics of NoSQL databases, such as being non-relational, distributed, scalable, partition-tolerant, and highly available. It explains the flexibility of NoSQL data models, including key-value, document, wide-column, and graph formats, and introduces the concept of multi-model databases. The differences between SQL and NoSQL in terms of data modeling and scalability are highlighted.

10:05

๐Ÿ—„๏ธ Tabular Databases and Data Modeling

The focus shifts to tabular databases, also known as column or wide-column databases. The process of creating a table within a keyspace is described, including defining a schema with rows and columns, specifying data types, and using primary keys for data retrieval. The concept of partition keys is introduced, which determines how data is distributed across nodes in a distributed database.

15:07

๐Ÿ” Inserting and Querying Data in Tabular Databases

The paragraph demonstrates how to insert data into a tabular database using specific commands and how to add values to the created rows. It also explains how to use the 'select' command to query the database and retrieve data based on the primary key. Additionally, it covers how to filter data using partition keys and the concept of clustering keys that determine the order of sorted data.

20:10

๐Ÿช Working with Document Databases

The discussion moves to document databases, which do not require a predefined schema and can store data in JSON format. The paragraph explains the process of creating a collection in a document database and adding documents to it. It also covers how to retrieve all documents from a collection and search for a specific document using its document ID.

25:14

๐ŸŒŸ HTTP Requests and API Interaction

The paragraph introduces the concept of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and how they facilitate communication between different technologies. It explains the use of HTTP requests, particularly GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, for interacting with databases. The process of constructing a URL for data retrieval and the importance of authorization tokens are also discussed.

30:20

๐Ÿ“ Adding and Retrieving Data in Document Collections

The paragraph demonstrates how to add new items to a document collection using a POST request and how to retrieve data from the collection using a GET request. It also shows how to filter documents based on a specific field using a 'where' clause in the request. The use of tools like Hopscotch for viewing API responses is mentioned.

35:24

๐Ÿ”‘ Key-Value Databases and Graph QL

The focus is on key-value databases, where data is stored as key-value pairs. The paragraph explains how to create a key-value table using Graph QL and insert items into the table. It also demonstrates how to retrieve data from the table using both the CQL console and Graph QL queries.

40:25

๐Ÿท๏ธ Manipulating Data in Key-Value Stores

The paragraph covers how to add more items to a key-value store and retrieve them using their keys. It also discusses how to delete an item from the store using a specific mutation designed for deletion operations. The importance of correctly identifying the data model and using the appropriate API for interactions is emphasized.

45:32

๐ŸŽ“ Recap and Multi-Model Databases

The paragraph recaps the different types of NoSQL databases covered in the course and introduces the concept of multi-model databases, which can store various data models in one place. The benefits of learning and maintaining a single database for diverse data models are discussed, and real-life projects using the document and Graph QL APIs are proposed for further learning.

50:44

๐Ÿ” Building a Burger Restaurant App

The paragraph outlines the process of creating a React app that displays favorite burger restaurants using data from a NoSQL database. It covers setting up a new project, installing dependencies, and creating a mini backend with Express to fetch and serve data to the frontend.

55:49

๐Ÿจ Constructing a Hotel App with Graph QL

The final paragraph demonstrates building a hotel app using Graph QL. It covers creating a new database, setting up a Graph QL playground, creating a table, inserting data, and querying the database. The paragraph also discusses using Netlify serverless functions to fetch data for the frontend of the React app.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กNoSQL

NoSQL is an approach to database management that stands for 'not only SQL.' It is designed to handle a wide variety of data models, including key-value, document, columnar, and graph formats. Unlike SQL databases, NoSQL databases are non-relational, distributed, and highly scalable, making them suitable for large-scale data and high transaction throughput. In the video, NoSQL databases are contrasted with SQL databases, and their flexibility and scalability are highlighted as key advantages.

๐Ÿ’กSQL

SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language, is used for managing data in relational databases. It is a collection of tables with rows and columns that store structured data. SQL is known for its ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability), which ensure reliable processing of database transactions. The video explains that while SQL is rigid and structured, NoSQL offers more flexibility.

๐Ÿ’กDocument API

A Document API is an interface used to interact with document-oriented databases, which store data in a format similar to JSON. In the context of the video, the Document API is used to create, retrieve, update, and delete documents within a NoSQL database. The video demonstrates how to use a Document API to build a real-life project, emphasizing its role in application development.

๐Ÿ’กGraph QL API

Graph QL API is a query language for APIs and a runtime for executing those queries against your data. Graph QL provides a complete and understandable description of the data in your API, gives clients the power to ask for exactly what they need, and makes it possible to evolve APIs without breaking clients. The video discusses using the Graph QL API to communicate with newly made databases in real-life projects.

๐Ÿ’กData Modeling

Data modeling is the process of creating a representation of data in the form of a schema or blueprint that defines how data elements relate to each other. In NoSQL databases, data modeling is flexible and can accommodate various data structures, such as documents, graphs, or key-values. The video explains that NoSQL databases allow for a variety of data models, which is one of the reasons for their popularity in handling diverse and large-scale datasets.

๐Ÿ’กData Replication

Data replication is the process of creating and maintaining multiple copies of data to ensure data availability and fault tolerance. In the context of NoSQL databases, which are highly available, data replication is built-in and allows the databases to serve requests even when some machines go down. The video mentions data replication as one of the defining characteristics of NoSQL databases.

๐Ÿ’กCAP Theorem

The CAP theorem, mentioned in the video, states that it is impossible for a distributed data store to simultaneously provide more than two out of the following three guarantees: Consistency, Availability, and Partition tolerance. NoSQL databases often prioritize Availability and Partition tolerance over Consistency, which is suitable for many modern applications that can tolerate eventual consistency.

๐Ÿ’กDataStax Astra DB

DataStax Astra DB is a managed database service built on Apache Cassandra, designed to simplify cloud-native application development. It is an auto-scaling Database as a Service (DBaaS) that allows for the creation of various types of NoSQL databases. In the video, DataStax Astra DB is used to demonstrate the creation and management of NoSQL databases.

๐Ÿ’กMulti-Model Databases

Multi-model databases are a type of database that supports multiple data models for storing and managing data. This allows developers to use the most appropriate data model for their specific use case within the same database. The video touches on the concept of multi-model databases as an emerging trend in NoSQL, highlighting their flexibility in handling different types of data.

๐Ÿ’กData Scalability

Data scalability refers to the ability of a system to handle growing amounts of work by adding resources. In the context of NoSQL databases, scalability is a key feature, allowing them to store and query large-scale data efficiently. The video emphasizes the scalability of NoSQL databases as they can scale horizontally across many machines, which is a significant advantage over traditional relational databases.

๐Ÿ’กPartition Key

A partition key is a unique identifier used in distributed databases to distribute data across different nodes for efficient querying and data management. In the video, the concept of a partition key is explained in the context of tabular or columnar NoSQL databases, where it is used to determine which node in the cluster will store a particular row of data.

Highlights

Introduction to NoSQL databases, contrasting with SQL databases, and the flexibility of NoSQL.

Explanation of the four main types of NoSQL databases: key-value, document, column, and graph databases.

The importance of non-relational, distributed, and scalable characteristics in NoSQL databases.

Practical use cases involving real-life projects with document and GraphQL APIs.

The emergence of multi-model databases as a new trend in NoSQL.

Diving deep into the DataStax Astra DB as a scalable cloud-native database service.

Demonstration of creating and interacting with databases using the Cassandra Query Language (CQL).

Building a tabular database schema and inserting data into it.

Exploring the concept of partition keys and clustering columns in NoSQL databases.

Utilizing the Document API to create collections and documents without a fixed schema.

Understanding the role of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) in database management.

Creating HTTP requests for interacting with databases using GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE methods.

Explanation of JSON documents and their use in document-oriented databases.

Live coding session to demonstrate adding and retrieving data from a document database.

Introduction to Graph QL and its use in communicating with databases for complex queries.

Building a key-value database using Graph QL and understanding how to manipulate data.

Insight into graph databases and their ability to represent complex relationships between data.

Guidance on how to install and use Docker for setting up a graph database environment.

Overview of the Gremlin language for traversing and manipulating graph databases.

Practical example of creating a graph database schema and adding nodes and edges to represent relationships.