Exploring non-relational data concepts in Azure

When we start building a new application, we need to think about how to store data. This usually takes the form of a relational database, where data is organized in linked tables and managed using SQL. However, many applications don’t need the rigid structure of a relational database; we can use non-relational storage (commonly known as NoSQL).

Let’s explore some characteristics of non-relational data. Non-relational data doesn’t follow the rules of relational data. In its native form, data can be loaded quickly. If you have unknown data or queries, non-relational data will be more flexible and better than relational data, but it is less good for known data structures and known queries.

Entities have highly variable structures. For example, in a medical appointment database that stores information about patients, a patient can have more than a telephone number, landline, and mobile number. They can add multiple...