NewSQL

Definition

NewSQL is a class of modern relational database management systems that seek to provide the same scalable performance of NoSQL systems for online transaction processing (OLTP) workloads while still maintaining the ACID guarantees of a traditional database system.

Why It Matters

NewSQL databases aim to offer the "best of both worlds": the scalability and performance of NoSQL databases with the transactional consistency and SQL interface of traditional relational databases.

Contextual Example

Google Spanner, CockroachDB, and VoltDB are examples of NewSQL databases. They are designed to be distributed across many servers from the ground up, providing horizontal scalability while still supporting ACID transactions.

Common Misunderstandings

• NewSQL databases are often a good fit for applications that have outgrown a traditional relational database but cannot afford to give up strong consistency.
• They are architecturally different from older relational databases, which were designed for a single-server world.

Related Terms