Amazon offers a variety of web services to AWS Clients. Amazon Web Services is a platform that is designed for individuals and industries for the development of applications and software.
The service also offers different types of storage services based on the cloud. Amazon’s DynamoDB is getting more popular day by day. In this guide, we will give you brief information about this service. You can learn more about DynamoDB in the DynamoDM FAQ article.
A detailed tutorial is also given to know how the platform works for its users. Let’s get on to the details now!
What is DynamoDB?
DynamoDB is a self-hosted NoSQL database service offered by Amazon Web Services. It is open to all the users of the AWS platform. The service offers a reliable performance as it’s a fully managed database service.
What is DynamoDB
What makes this service so much popular among AWS clients is its independent nature. It acts as an independent application where you don’t need to worry about data storage, the server’s health, and connectivity issues.
This self-hosted service is based on the cloud. You will never run out of storage as it gives you unlimited storage space that you can use as per your requirements.
Let’s discuss some key features of this service.
DynamoDB: Key Features
- Highly scalable service
- Data replication with automatic function
- Auto adjustments for reading and writing units
- Quick integration with other AWS services
- Easy data access and backup to Amazon S3
- Pay for the models and not for the entire service
- Top-tier security of the stored data
- Ease of control to manage the features and functions of the service
DynamoDB Data Types
Amazon DynamoDB service supports three different types of data, Scalar, multi-valued, and document.
- Scalar Data Type
Scalar Data Type works with Number, Binary, String, Boolean, Null. It is the most common type which is being used by every client.
- Multi-valued Data Type
Multi-valued Data Type works with Binary Set, Number Set, and String Set. Since the data are in sets, they are unique in their own way. You can choose either binary set, number set, or string set that runs for months.
- Document Data Type
Document Data Type works with Maps and Lists. This data type is highly used for the representation of complex structures while developing an app.
Amazon DynamoDB: Core Components
Tables, Items, and Attributes are the core components of Amazon’s DynamoDB service. You have to work with these three components to make use of this service. All of these components work as a chain. Clients can utilize these components to store data and manage the data structures in individual tables.
- Tables
Just like other services, Amazon DynamoDB uses tables to store data. A table in DynamoDB service is a collection of data. Different types of data can be stored in a table. You can store different types of information for the same department in a single table.
If you are a product manager in a company, then you can store information about the products, their pricing, their quality, and more. This is how you can use this component of DynamoDB i.e. Tables.
- Items
The data stored in a table called “item”. Each table contains multiple items i.e. different types of data. Items can be identified by the service easily which makes it easier for the users. Items can be managed easily as it is quite familiar. You can store a variety of data of a department as an item that stores within the Tables.
- Attributes
Each Item contains one or multiple attributes. It is nothing but a data element that works separately for the client. You don’t need to break them down as they are already independent.
If you are storing data of a team then you will first need a table with different items and then add attributes to it with a person’s name, age, gender, etc.
Amazon DynamoDB: Types of Indexes
LSI and GSI are the two types of indexes that the Amazon DynamoDB service uses. LSI stands for Local Secondary Index and GSI stands for Global Secondary Index.
Both of these indexes work with Hash Type Primary Key and Hash and Range Type Primary Key. These primary keys are there to identify the attributes, items, and tables for the user.
You need to choose the right index type as their capacities for storing data are different from each other. You need to choose the suitable index type as per your requirement.
Final Thoughts:
With predictable performance and strong consistency of the service, Amazon has done a great job for the AWS clients. Distributed systems are very complex as they consume a lot of time.
Amazon’s DynamoDB service is highly scalable as it is used to remove the complexities from the system and streamlines the development process. The service provides a strong ecosystem that stores and manages the user’s data with easy access. It’s a must-have service for every app developer.
See Also