NoSQL is a set of concepts that allows the rapid and efficient processing of data sets with a focus on performance, reliability, and agility.

It’s not about the SQL language—The definition of NoSQL isn’t an application that uses a language other than SQL. SQL as well as other query languages are used with NoSQL databases.

• It’s not only open source—Although many NoSQL systems have an open source model, commercial products use NOSQL concepts as well as open source initiatives. You can still have an innovative approach to problem solving with a commercial product.

• It’s not only big data—Many, but not all, NoSQL applications are driven by the inability of a current application to efficiently scale when big data is an issue. Though volume and velocity are important, NoSQL also focuses on variability and agility.

• It’s not about cloud computing—Many NoSQL systems reside in the cloud to take advantage of its ability to rapidly scale when the situation dictates. NoSQL systems can run in the cloud as well as in your corporate data center.

• It’s not about a clever use of RAM and SSD—Many NoSQL systems focus on the efficient use of RAM or solid state disks to increase performance. Though this is important, NoSQL systems can run on standard hardware.

• It’s not an elite group of products—NoSQL isn’t an exclusive club with a few products. There are no membership dues or tests required to join. To be considered a NoSQLer, you only need to convince others that you have innovative solutions to their business problems.

Characteristics of NoSQL:

• It’s more than rows in tables—NoSQL systems store and retrieve data from many formats: key-value stores, graph databases, column-family (Bigtable) stores, document stores, and even rows in tables.

• It’s free of joins—NoSQL systems allow you to extract your data using simple interfaces without joins.

• It’s schema-free—NoSQL systems allow you to drag-and-drop your data into a folder and then query it without creating an entity-relational model.

• It works on many processors—NoSQL systems allow you to store your database on multiple processors and maintain high-speed performance.

• It uses shared-nothing commodity computers—Most (but not all) NoSQL systems leverage low-cost commodity processors that have separate RAM and disk.

• It supports linear scalability—When you add more processors, you get a consistent increase in performance.

• It’s innovative—NoSQL offers options to a single way of storing, retrieving, and manipulating data. NoSQL supporters (also known as NoSQLers) have an inclusive

• attitude about NoSQL and recognize SQL solutions as viable options. To the NoSQL community, NoSQL means “Not only SQL.”