Graph Databases

What is a Graph Database?

"A graph database is an online database management system with Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD) operations working on a graph data model. "

Unlike traditional relational databases, relationships take first priority in Graph Databases. In other databases relationships have to be inferred using foreign keys.

A graph is composed of nodes and their relationships. Each node represents an entity(person, place, category) and relationships represent how two nodes are associated.

Limitations of Traditional Databases

Databases when dealing with highly connected databases suffer from "SQL Strain"

1. A Large Number of JOINs. 
2. Numerous Self-JOINs. 
3. Frequent Schema Changes.
4. Slow Running Queries.

Advantages of using Graph Databases

Tech Giants like Facebook, Google, Linked and PayPal have harnessed power of Graph Databases.

Key advantages of Graph Databases

• Built to handle connected data
• Performance
• Flexibility
• Agility 

Common Use Cases Graph Databases

• Fraud detection 
• Real-time recommendation engines 
• Master data management (MDM) 
• Network and IT operations 
• Identity and access management (IAM) 
• Graph-based search

Top 5 Graph Databases

• Neo4J
• ArangoDB
• OrientDB
• Amazon Neptune
• FlockDB

References:

1. https://neo4j.com/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org