Introduction to Apache Cassandra - the “Lamborghini” of the NoSQL World

Apache Cassandra is a distributed NoSQL database used by many Fortune 100 companies, including Apple, Facebook, and Netflix. It was designed to handle massive volumes of data with high speed requirements and various types of data relations. Unlike traditional relational databases, Cassandra has a leader-less (peer-to-peer) architecture that distributes data across multiple nodes within clusters, ensuring 100% uptime. The CAP theorem states that a distributed database system can only guarantee two out of three characteristics: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance. Cassandra is usually described as an "AP" system, meaning it prioritizes data availability over consistency. However, users can configure the level of consistency according to their use case. Key-based partitioning in Cassandra makes scaling easier by splitting data into chunks that are distributed across multiple servers. Data architects need to carefully design partitions for efficient query performance. With its powerful architecture and scalability features, Apache Cassandra is an essential tool for handling large volumes of fast-moving data in a reliable and scalable manner.