What is the difference between data partitioning and sharding?

What is the difference between data partitioning and sharding?

Data partitioning involves dividing a database into smaller, more manageable pieces, while sharding is a specific type of partitioning that distributes data across multiple servers.

Can you explain how sharding works in a distributed database?

Sure! Sharding splits data into smaller chunks called shards, which are stored on different database servers. This allows for horizontal scaling and improved performance.

What are the benefits of using sharding over traditional data partitioning?

Sharding offers better scalability, improved performance, and fault tolerance by distributing the load across multiple servers, unlike traditional partitioning which may still rely on a single server.

Are there any downsides to sharding?

Yes, sharding can introduce complexity in data management, require more sophisticated queries, and may lead to challenges in maintaining data consistency.