Apache Cassandra vs MongoDB: Battle of the NoSQL Databases
You may have heard of the hype surrounding NoSQL databases, which boast of higher scalability and faster performance. Among the popular choices of NoSQL databases are Apache Cassandra and MongoDB. Both are document-oriented databases that offer excellent support for handling big data at scale.
In this blog post, we'll compare Apache Cassandra and MongoDB in several crucial features essential to database management. We would avoid any bias and provide the most factual comparison possible. Brace yourselves, let's dive right in!
1. Data Model
Data modeling refers to the way data is organized and accessed within a database system. Apache Cassandra and MongoDB have different data models despite both being NoSQL databases.
Apache Cassandra
Apache Cassandra uses a distributed way to organize and store data, which allows it to handle huge amounts of data. It is an excellent fit for write-heavy applications, making it exceptionally scalable. It supports column-oriented data modeling called column families, ensuring fast read and write speeds.
MongoDB
MongoDB, on the other hand, uses a document-oriented data model, allowing you to store and access data in a file format called BSON, a JSON-like language. It is useful for real-time applications, providing fast read speed, and shares data across the globe.
Verdict: Both databases perform well in separate use cases, so it depends on the requirements of the project.
2. Scalability
Scalability refers to the ability of a system to grow and handle added workloads.
Apache Cassandra
Apache Cassandra is masterless and uses a ring-type architecture, which makes it horizontally scalable. It is capable of handling petabytes of data quickly, ensuring no single point of failure.
MongoDB
MongoDB is also horizontally scalable but can use a “sharding” mechanism that allows it to handle massive amounts of data stored across clusters. MongoDB also offers excellent built-in support for geographically distributed clusters through its Global Cluster functionality.
Verdict: Both databases scale exceptionally well horizontally, but MongoDB offers good support for geographically distributed environments.
3. Performance
Performance is an essential factor when it comes to databases.
Apache Cassandra
Apache Cassandra churns read and write throughput fast. It is helpful for large operations in multiple clusters, giving access to ‘eventual consistency’. The database comes with a sophisticated memory engine (OS) that is optimized for both reads and writes, making it faster than its counterparts.
MongoDB
MongoDB is known for its quick read speed, being a document-based database that indexes documents for natural searching. It is considered more suitable for small to medium projects. However, its write speed is a bit slower compared to Apache Cassandra.
Verdict: Apache Cassandra comes out on top in terms of write speed while MongoDB has the edge in read speed.
4. Query Language
Apache Cassandra
Cassandra uses a query language called CQL (Cassandra Query Language), which is SQL-like and fairly simple to learn. However, it doesn't support all SQL features and functionality, making it less intuitive to those unfamiliar with SQL.
MongoDB
MongoDB supports several query languages: the MongoDB Query Language, the aggregation pipeline, and the JavaScript-based query language. The first two use MongoDB's constructs, allowing for queries to be run across large sets of data, providing a flexible approach.
Verdict: MongoDB offers a more flexible query language with multiple options, making it more user-friendly.
Conclusion
In this comparison between Apache Cassandra and MongoDB, both databases have their strengths and weaknesses, making either a sensible option depending on the requirements of the project at hand. However, based on the comparison we made, MongoDB is an excellent option for real-time, small to medium-sized operations, while Apache Cassandra is a better choice for handling massive amounts of data, read and write-heavy distributed applications.
References
- Apache Cassandra Documentation. Retrieved from https://cassandra.apache.org/doc/latest/
- MongoDB Documentation. Retrieved from https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/
- Ruiz, J. (2020, November 24). Cassandra vs. MongoDB: A Practical Comparison. Retrieved from https://www.altexsoft.com/blog/datascience/cassandra-vs-mongodb-which-one-to-choose-for-your-next-project/