What is the difference between Hadoop and traditional relational databases?

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Answered by suresh

The Difference Between Hadoop and Traditional Relational Databases

When comparing Hadoop and traditional relational databases, there are several key differences that set them apart in the world of big data management.

1. Data Structure:

In a traditional relational database, data is structured using tables with rows and columns, following a predefined schema. On the other hand, Hadoop uses a distributed file system that can store and process unstructured and semi-structured data, such as text, images, and videos.

2. Scalability:

Hadoop is designed to scale horizontally, meaning it can easily handle large volumes of data by adding more commodity servers to the cluster. Traditional relational databases, on the other hand, typically scale vertically by increasing the capacity of a single server, which can be more costly and limited in scalability.

3. Processing Speed:

Hadoop is well-suited for processing and analyzing large datasets in parallel across a distributed network of nodes. This parallel processing allows for faster data processing compared to traditional relational databases, which may struggle with the processing of large volumes of data efficiently.

4. Data Storage:

Traditional relational databases are optimized for efficient storage and access to structured data in a transactional environment. In contrast, Hadoop is designed for storing and processing vast amounts of unstructured data efficiently, making it ideal for big data analytics and large-scale data processing.

5. Flexibility:

Due to its schema-less nature, Hadoop offers more flexibility in handling diverse and evolving data types compared to traditional relational databases, which require a predefined schema for data storage and retrieval.

Overall, the choice between Hadoop and traditional relational databases depends on the specific requirements of the use case, with Hadoop being a preferred solution for handling massive amounts of unstructured data and analytics at scale.

Answer for Question: What is the difference between Hadoop and traditional relational databases?