NoSQL Best Practices
Follow these best practices to get the most out of your NoSQL database and avoid common mistakes.
Data Modeling
✓ Model for Your Access Patterns
Design your schema based on how you'll query the data, not on normalized principles
✓ Embed Related Data When Appropriate
If data is always queried together, embed it in the same document
✓ Use References for Large or Frequently Updated Data
Avoid duplicating large datasets that change often
Performance Optimization
Index Strategically
Create indexes for frequent queries, but don't over-index (impacts write performance)
Monitor Query Performance
Use explain plans to identify slow queries and optimize them
Implement Caching
Use Redis or Memcached for frequently accessed data
Batch Operations
Group multiple writes together to reduce network overhead
Security
- Enable authentication and use strong passwords
- Implement role-based access control (RBAC)
- Encrypt data at rest and in transit
- Regularly update database software
- Use network firewalls and IP whitelisting
- Never expose your database directly to the internet
Backup & Recovery
Regular Backups
Automate daily backups with point-in-time recovery capabilities
Test Restoration
Regularly test your backup restoration process
Multi-Region Replication
For critical data, replicate across multiple regions
Scaling
Horizontal Scaling Tips:
- Choose appropriate shard keys (even distribution)
- Monitor shard balance and rebalance when needed
- Plan for future growth in your sharding strategy
- Consider geographic distribution for latency
Monitoring & Observability
- Track key metrics: query performance, connection counts, resource usage
- Set up alerts for anomalies
- Log slow queries for analysis
- Monitor replication lag in distributed systems
- Use profiling tools to identify bottlenecks
Development Practices
Schema Validation
Even without strict schemas, validate data at the application level
Version Control Your Schema Changes
Use migration scripts to manage schema evolution
Document Your Data Model
Maintain clear documentation of collections, fields, and relationships
Golden Rule
There's no one-size-fits-all approach. Choose patterns based on your specific use case, and be willing to adapt as requirements evolve.