Document databases store related data in document format. These databases support document creation, retrieval via query, updating and editing, and deletion of information within the documents. Document stores, because of their lack of structure, are easily scalable by utilizing clusters. Document-oriented databases allow for a variety of document model types, but house relevant data together in a semi-structured schema. The semi-structured schema allows metadata to be stored within the documents. Businesses interested in implementing a schema-less database may opt for a document database. Document databases store information in a range of encoding, or languages, including YAML, JSON, BSON, and XML, the latter of which can be qualified as its own class of databases. There are other database types similar but slightly different to document database software include object-orientated database tools, graph database tools, key-value store tools and more. Startups, small businesses and indie developers can look at free database software.
To qualify for inclusion in the Document Database category, a product must
Provide data storage
Organize data in a document model
Allow users to retrieve data