GitHub user dosubot[bot] added a comment to the discussion: [Question] Why we use relational/SQL based backend storage in GraphDB?
<!-- Answer --> The core of HugeGraph's designation as a graph database lies not in its storage mechanism but in how it models, stores, and queries data. HugeGraph uses a graph data model, representing data as vertices (nodes) and edges (relationships), which fundamentally differs from the tabular model of relational databases. This model facilitates direct and efficient querying of relationships and patterns within the data, leveraging graph-specific operations and algorithms. HugeGraph supports various backends like MySQL, RocksDB, Cassandra, and HBase, not as a limitation to relational models but as a flexible foundation for storing graph data. On top of these storage systems, HugeGraph implements graph-specific features such as schema management, indexing strategies for efficient query processing, and graph traversal optimizations. These features enable HugeGraph to provide the advantages of graph databases, such as improved search speeds and efficient data relationship exploration, regardless of the underlying storage system. The use of traditional databases for storage allows HugeGraph to leverage their robustness, scalability, and persistence capabilities while abstracting their complexities away from the user. This abstraction is achieved through a unified graph processing interface that translates graph operations into database-specific queries and updates, ensuring that the graph model's benefits are fully realized. In essence, HugeGraph's ability to serve as a true graph database is derived from its implementation of graph-specific operations, optimizations, and its support for graph query languages, rather than the nature of its storage backend. This approach allows HugeGraph to offer the unique advantages of graph databases, including efficient handling of complex queries and relationships, which are central to the graph data model. ## Sources - [hugegraph-server/hugegraph-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hugegraph/structure/HugeFeatures.java](https://github.com/apache/incubator-hugegraph/blob/master/hugegraph-server/hugegraph-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hugegraph/structure/HugeFeatures.java) - [hugegraph-server/hugegraph-dist/src/main/resources/backend.properties](https://github.com/apache/incubator-hugegraph/blob/master/hugegraph-server/hugegraph-dist/src/main/resources/backend.properties) - [hugegraph-server/hugegraph-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hugegraph/HugeGraph.java](https://github.com/apache/incubator-hugegraph/blob/master/hugegraph-server/hugegraph-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hugegraph/HugeGraph.java) <!-- Dosu Comment Footer --> <details> <summary> #### About Dosu </summary> This response is meant to be useful and save you time. It is **not meant to be a precise solution**, but rather a starting point for your own research. Help me be more useful! Please leave a 👍 if this is helpful and 👎 if it is irrelevant. If you want to continue the conversation, start your reply with @dosu-bot. </details> GitHub link: https://github.com/apache/incubator-hugegraph/discussions/2531#discussioncomment-9186372 ---- This is an automatically sent email for [email protected]. To unsubscribe, please send an email to: [email protected]
