Graph Database
A graph database is a type of NoSQL database that uses graph structures with nodes, edges, and properties to represent and store data. It is designed to handle highly connected data and complex relationships, making it efficient for queries that traverse connections between entities. Unlike relational databases, it excels at managing interconnected data without requiring complex joins.
Developers should use graph databases when building applications that involve complex relationships, such as social networks, recommendation engines, fraud detection systems, or knowledge graphs. They are ideal for scenarios where data connections are as important as the data itself, enabling fast traversal of relationships and pattern matching. This makes them suitable for real-time analytics and applications requiring deep relationship queries.