Columnar databases store data by columns rather than by rows. The data storage format in these solutions makes them faster and more efficient for instant analytical queries. These databases are used mainly in data warehouses to handle and process massive volumes of data from multiple sources by serving as a basis for business intelligence tools.
These databases support document creation, retrieval via query, updating and editing, and deletion of information. Columnar stores, because of their data storage format, help minimize resource usage related to queries on big data sets. Businesses interested in implementing a database for data warehousing and big data processing may opt for a columnar database.
There are other database types similar but slightly different than columnar databases software including object-oriented databases software, graph databases, key-value databases, and more.
To qualify for inclusion in the Columnar Databases category, a product must:
Provide data storage
Store data in columnar format
Allow users to retrieve data