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ArangoDB

A Closer Look at ArangoDB’s Multi-Model NoSQL Capabilities

ArangoDB is an open-source, distributed NoSQL database that integrates three data models—document, key-value, and graph—within a single engine. It simplifies application development by removing the need to manage multiple databases for different data types. Using its SQL-like query language, AQL, ArangoDB supports complex queries across all supported models.

How ArangoDB Works

ArangoDB integrates multiple data models into one engine, streamlining application development. It’s designed for flexibility, performance, and distributed scale.

Multi-Model Architecture

ArangoDB allows documents to be linked together via native graph features and accessed through key-value operations. This flexibility makes it suitable for modern, interconnected applications. All data is stored as JSON, and operations are run through the unified AQL query interface.

Distributed and Scalable

ArangoDB is built for scale, supporting automatic sharding and replication across multiple nodes. Its SmartGraphs feature enhances performance by minimizing cross-node communication for graph queries.

Use Cases for ArangoDB

ArangoDB excels in workloads requiring a mix of structured, unstructured, and highly connected data. It is used in:

  • Real-time recommendation engines
  • Access control systems and identity graphs
  • Personalization platforms
  • IoT telemetry and sensor analytics
  • Content graph and taxonomy management

ArangoDB’s capability to consolidate data models makes it efficient for Kubernetes-native applications that demand persistent and scalable storage backends.

Key facts about ArangoDB

ArangoDB vs. Other NoSQL Databases

ArangoDB is unique for its ability to natively support document, graph, and key-value workloads. Here’s how it compares with popular databases:

Comparison Table

FeatureArangoDBMongoDBNeo4j
Data ModelDocument, Graph, Key-ValueDocumentGraph
Query LanguageAQL (SQL-like)MQLCypher
Joins & RelationsNative joins, graph traversalLimited joinsFull graph support
ClusteringYes, with SmartGraphsYesEnterprise only
Storage IntegrationNVMe, Kubernetes-readyYesYes

Storage and Performance Considerations

ArangoDB’s performance depends heavily on fast, reliable storage. Leveraging NVMe/TCP ensures low latency and efficient data access at scale.

Block Storage with NVMe/TCP

ArangoDB benefits significantly from high-performance block storage systems. NVMe over TCP enables sub-millisecond latency and high IOPS, making it suitable for real-time queries and graph traversals.

Using simplyblock’s™ NVMe over TCP infrastructure, ArangoDB deployments gain:

ArangoDB in Kubernetes and Hybrid Environments

ArangoDB is compatible with Kubernetes via its operator, enabling container-native deployments with persistent volume provisioning through the CSI interface.

When run on simplyblock’s™ storage platform, users benefit from:

Kubernetes CSI Drivers

What is NVMe over TCP?

Kubernetes Storage Concepts

Our Technology

What is TimescaleDB?

ArangoDB Official Site

What is ScyllaDB?

Wikipedia: ArangoDB

AQL Language Guide

Questions and Answers

What is ArangoDB used for?

ArangoDB is used for building applications that require flexible data modeling with high performance. It combines document, key-value, and graph databases in one engine, making it ideal for use cases like recommendation systems, knowledge graphs, and real-time analytics.

Is NVMe over TCP good for ArangoDB performance?

Yes, ArangoDB benefits significantly from NVMe over TCP. With lower latency and higher IOPS than iSCSI, NVMe/TCP helps ArangoDB handle concurrent queries, writes, and graph traversals more efficiently in both single-node and clustered environments.

Does ArangoDB support Kubernetes deployments?

ArangoDB can be deployed on Kubernetes and works well with persistent volumes. Using Simplyblock’s Kubernetes-native NVMe storage ensures high-performance block storage with advanced features like snapshots and encryption.

How do I secure ArangoDB storage at rest?

ArangoDB data at rest can be secured using storage-level encryption. Data-at-rest encryption (DARE) with Simplyblock ensures your database volumes are encrypted per tenant or per volume, which is crucial for compliance and multi-tenant security.

Why choose NVMe storage for databases like ArangoDB?

Databases like ArangoDB perform best with fast and low-latency storage. NVMe storage delivers superior performance compared to traditional SATA or iSCSI-based setups, especially for high-throughput or real-time workloads.