Back to Topic 3.4 — Alternative databases
3.4.1Computer Science HL5 flashcards

Types of database

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Card 1 of 53.4.1
3.4.1
Question

Name five database types.

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All 5 Flashcards — Types of database

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Card 1definition

Question

Name five database types.

Answer

**Relational** (tables), **document** (varying fields), **key-value** (fetch by key), **graph** (nodes and edges), **column-family** (columns grouped).

Card 2comparison

Question

When does a graph database beat relational?

Answer

When the **relationships are the question** — "friends of friends" is one traversal against a self-join per level in SQL.

Card 3concept

Question

What can a key-value store not do?

Answer

**Query the value.** You fetch by key or not at all, which is why it suits caches and sessions.

Card 4concept

Question

What does a document store give up for its flexibility?

Answer

**Joins** and enforced schema — so data is duplicated, and update anomalies return.

Card 5concept

Question

Is NoSQL an upgrade on relational?

Answer

**No, a trade.** Relational remains right for most business data because it enforces structure and transactions.

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