ArangoDB vs Cassandra vs MongoDB: What are the differences?

Key Differences between ArangoDB, Cassandra, and MongoDB

ArangoDB, Cassandra, and MongoDB are three popular NoSQL databases with distinct characteristics and use cases. Understanding their key differences can help you choose the database that best suits your needs.

1. Data Model: ArangoDB is a multi-model database that supports multiple data models, including key-value, document, and graph. Cassandra is a wide-column store that organizes data into columns grouped by columns families. MongoDB is a document database that stores data in flexible, JSON-like documents.

2. Query Language: ArangoDB uses a querying language called AQL (ArangoDB Query Language), which supports SQL-like joins, graph traversals, and transactions. Cassandra uses CQL (Cassandra Query Language), a SQL-inspired language that supports basic CRUD operations. MongoDB uses a powerful and flexible query language that supports rich queries, including aggregation and indexing.

3. Scalability and Distribution: ArangoDB offers built-in horizontal scaling and sharding capabilities, allowing you to distribute data across multiple servers to handle large data volumes. Cassandra is designed for distributed scalability and can handle large amounts of data and high write rates. MongoDB also supports horizontal scaling but focuses more on high read performance.

4. Consistency Model: ArangoDB provides multiple consistency levels, allowing you to choose between strong, monotonic, and eventual consistency. Cassandra offers tunable consistency, where you can configure the level of consistency for read and write operations. MongoDB offers strong consistency by default but allows you to configure eventual consistency for improved performance.

5. Data Replication: ArangoDB uses a master-slave replication model, where one server acts as the master and others as slaves. Cassandra uses a peer-to-peer replication model, where all nodes are equal and contribute to both read and write operations. MongoDB uses a replica set model, where one primary node is responsible for handling all write operations, while secondary nodes replicate data for high availability and failover.

6. Use Cases: ArangoDB is suitable for applications that require multiple data models and complex queries, such as social networks and recommendation systems. Cassandra excels in write-intensive and highly available use cases, making it ideal for real-time analytics and IoT applications. MongoDB is well-suited for document-oriented applications with dynamic schemas, such as content management systems and mobile applications.

In Summary, ArangoDB offers a multi-model approach and powerful querying capabilities, Cassandra focuses on high availability and write-intensive workloads, while MongoDB is known for its flexibility in handling document-based data. The choice between these databases depends on your specific requirements and the nature of your application.