NoSQL Databases: Harnessing MongoDB and Beyond for Unstructured and Semi-Structured Data

Introduction In the era of big data, where unstructured and semi-structured data dominate—from social media posts and IoT sensor streams to multimedia content—traditional relational databases often fall short due to their rigid schemas. NoSQL databases have emerged as a powerful solution, offering flexibility, scalability, and high performance for managing diverse data types. MongoDB, a leading NoSQL database, exemplifies this paradigm with its document-oriented approach, enabling seamless handling of unstructured and semi-structured data. This chapter explores the fundamentals of NoSQL databases, focusing on MongoDB, their architecture, techniques for managing data, real-world applications, challenges, and future trends as of August 2025, providing a comprehensive guide to leveraging these systems for modern analytics. Fundamentals of NoSQL Databases NoSQL (Not Only SQL) databases are designed to handle large-scale, non-relational data with flexible schemas, contrasting with th...