Word of the Day: graph database

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms |September 18, 2017

graph database A graph database, also called a graph-oriented database, is a type of NoSQL database that uses graph theory to store, map and query relationships. A graph database is essentially a collection of nodes and edges. Each node represents an entity (such as a person or business) and each edge represents a connection or relationship between two nodes. Every node in a graph database is defined by a unique identifier, a set of outgoing edges and/or incoming edges and a set of properties expressed as key/value pairs. Each edge is defined by a unique identifier, a starting-place and/or ending-place node and a set of properties. The mantra of graph database enthusiasts is "If you can whiteboard it, you can graph it." Graph databases are well-suited for analyzing interconnections, which is why there has been a lot of interest in using graph databases to mine data from social media. Graph databases are also useful for working with data in business disciplines that involve complex relationships and dynamic schema, such as building recommendation engines or troubleshooting the source of a complex issue. The concept behind graphing a database is often credited to 18th-century mathematician Leonhard Euler. Quote of the Day "Graph data modeling is an iterative process, and each attempt at devising a model and running some queries may trigger alterations in the ways that entities are linked and relationships are defined." - David Loshin   Trending Terms NoSQL graph theory recommendation engine key-value pair social graph Graph Search   Learning Center Graph data model cements tight relationships between data elements Graph databases offer more flexibility and better usability than relational database management systems. Learn more about the benefits of a graph data model. Graph database technology starts to come of age beyond social media Graph databases, based on mathematics known for three centuries, are starting to yield value for businesses beyond Facebook and Twitter. Graph technology the beating heart of new data management tools Graph technology is now appearing in many data applications. At Informatica World, it underlay a host of systems, including a new metadata catalog. Semantic graph database underpins healthcare data lake Underpinning a data lake for healthcare providers is a semantic graph database that enables predictive analytics using data from multiple sources. Graph databases: Joining the dots We explore why the growth of graph databases could be pointing the database market in a new direction. Quiz Yourself What does NoSQL stand for? a. No SQL b. Not only SQL Answer   Stay In Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com   Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed!   FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2016 TechTarget. All rights reserved.