When it comes to data storage, Cassandra is a popular choice for many developers and organizations. Known for its distributed architecture and scalability, Cassandra can handle large amounts of data across multiple nodes with ease.
But what type of data can actually be stored in Cassandra? Let’s explore the various data types supported by this NoSQL database.
Basic Data Types:
Cassandra supports all the basic data types that you would expect from a database system. These include:
- Text: This is used to store plain text strings.
- Integers: Cassandra supports both positive and negative integers.
- Floats and Doubles: These are used to store decimal numbers with varying precision.
- Booleans: True or false values can be stored using this data type.
Collection Types:
In addition to the basic data types, Cassandra also provides collection types for more complex data structures. These include:
- List: A list is an ordered collection of elements of the same type. For example, a list of names or a list of numbers.
- Set: A set is an unordered collection of unique elements.
It does not allow duplicate values.
- Map: A map is a collection of key-value pairs, where each key maps to a value. This is useful for storing structured data.
- Note: Collections can be nested within each other as well, allowing for even more complex data structures.
User-Defined Types (UDTs):
Cassandra also supports User-Defined Types (UDTs), which allow you to create your own custom data types. UDTs are particularly useful when you have a complex object that needs to be stored as a single entity. For example, if you have an “Address” object with fields like street, city, and zip code, you can define a UDT for it and store it in Cassandra.
Time-Based Data Types:
Cassandra includes special data types for dealing with time-related information. These include:
- Timestamp: This is used to store date and time information.
- Date: This stores only the date portion without any time information.
Summary:
In conclusion, Cassandra is a versatile database that supports a wide range of data types. From basic types like text and numbers to more complex collections and user-defined types, Cassandra can handle diverse data structures. With its scalability and distributed nature, it’s no wonder why many developers choose Cassandra as their preferred database solution.