Databases & Data Storage
Time Series Database
Definition
A time series database (TSDB) is a database optimized for storing and serving time series data, which are sequences of data points indexed in time order. Time series data has a specific timestamp associated with it.
Why It Matters
TSDBs are designed to handle the massive volume and high write/read throughput characteristic of time series data, such as data from stock markets, IoT sensors, or application monitoring systems. They provide features for efficient storage and analysis of this type of data.
Contextual Example
A system that monitors server performance collects CPU utilization metrics every second. This data is stored in a TSDB like InfluxDB or Prometheus. The TSDB makes it easy to run queries like "What was the average CPU utilization over the last 24 hours?".
Common Misunderstandings
- While you can store time series data in other databases, a specialized TSDB is far more efficient.
- They are a critical component of modern monitoring and observability systems.