document database
compound.compound. a type of computer storage that saves information as flexible files rather than in strict tables. It is useful for data that changes often or does not fit into a simple list.
compound. a non-relational database system that stores, retrieves, and manages semi-structured data as discrete documents, typically in formats like JSON or XML. Unlike traditional SQL databases, it allows for a flexible schema where each record can have a different structure.
The app uses a document database to store user profiles.
Because our product catalog changes frequently with new attributes, we migrated to a document database to avoid rigid table structures.
By utilizing a document database, the development team achieved horizontal scalability and the ability to ingest diverse data streams without the overhead of complex relational mapping.
A compound of the Middle English document, derived from the Latin documentum, and database, a twentieth-century coinage formed from the Latin data and the Old French base.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often contrasted with 'relational database' or 'SQL database'.
Last updated July 22, 2026