Preview
IB DP Computer Science — A3 Databases — Alternative databases and data warehouses | HL | A3.4.1
📋 What You Will Learn
- Outline the four alternative database models: NoSQL, cloud, spatial and in-memory
- Describe the four main NoSQL families (document, key–value, column-family, graph) and what each stores
- Explain the trade-offs each model makes compared with a traditional relational database
- Match each model to real-world scenarios: e-commerce, GIS, managed services/SaaS, real-time analytics, social media
- Justify a choice of database model for a given scenario in an exam answer
🚚 Why This Matters A relational database is like a warehouse full of identical filing cabinets: superb when every record fits the same form. But a map, a social network and a live game leaderboard do not fit neat forms. Modern systems pick the storage model that matches the shape and speed of their data — just as you would pick a truck, a bike or a drone depending on the delivery.
Why Alternatives to the Relational Model Exist
- Scale: web platforms serve millions of concurrent users; scaling one relational server upwards ("vertical