Cassandra Data Types include some very powerful and rich collection data types, built-in types, user-defined types, tuple types, etc. These kinds of data types are vital because they enable memory to be configured for storing data that matches the input type.
This prevents inaccuracies at both the compiler and programmer levels, while also improving the readability of input data. The dataset and values of a given column in a database are saved only if the data type for that column is defined. Let’s take a closer look at Cassandra’s important data types.
What is Apache Cassandra
Apache Cassandra is an open-source distributed database system that excels at handling large amounts of data deployed over numerous commodity servers. By establishing multi-node Cassandra clusters, it may rapidly grow to accommodate a rapid surge in demand and fulfill high availability needs without any failure. It is currently one of the most effective and widely-used NoSQL databases available.
A NoSQL database is a data processing system that is used solely to work with data that gets stored into the tabular format and thus doesn’t fulfill the criteria of relational databases. NoSQL databases have the ability to manage extraordinarily huge quantities of data with a simple API, could be quickly duplicated, and are essentially schema-free.
- Its elastic scalability feature enables the addition of extra hardware to handle more customers and data as needed.
- Cassandra’s always-on design means that it has no single point of failure and is always accessible for operating applications that can’t afford downtime.
- Cassandra offers linear scalability, which means that as the quantity of nodes in the cluster grows, so does the throughput. As a result, it ensures a rapid response time.
- Cassandra is a flexible data storage system that can handle all types of data, such as structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. It can constantly adapt to all the new changes in your data structures based on your requirements.
- Cassandra’s versatility allows you to deploy data anywhere you need it by duplicating data across different data centers.
- Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability (ACID) are all qualities that Cassandra provides.
- Cassandra was built from the ground up to run on low-cost desktop machines. It has lightning-fast write speeds and can save hundreds of huge amounts of data without compromising read speed.
Cassandra Data Types
The kind of objects assigned in programs is generally denoted by data types. Cassandra’s query language supports several data types including built-in, collection, and user-defined data types, as well as tuples. According to the program’s requirements, the user can choose any of these options.
1. Built-in data types
In Cassandra, this data type is largely pre-defined. Any of the variables can be referred to by the user. Cassandra data types have a lot of built-in data kinds. Here are a few examples:
| Data Type | Constants | Description |
| ascii | strings | A string of ASCII characters |
| bigint | bigint | 64-bit signed long |
| blob | blobs | Arbitrary bytes |
| Boolean | booleans | Verifying whether something is true or untrue |
| counter | integers | The counter column is represented by this symbol |
| decimal | integers, floats | Representing decimal with varying precision |
| double | integers | IEEE-754 floating-point data in 64 bits. |
| float | integers, floats | IEEE-754 32-bit floating-point |
| inet | strings | Used for representing IPv4 or IPv6 address |
| int | integers | Signed 32-bit integer |
| text | strings | Strings that have been encoded in UTF8 |
| timestamp | integers, strings | A timestamp is represented by this object |
| timeuuid | uuids | This is a type 1 UUID |
| uuid | uuids | Representing Type 1 or type 4 |
| varchar | strings | Represents a string encoded in uTF8 |
| varint | integers | Arbitrary-precision integers |
2. Boolean
Booleans make use of this Cassandra data type. True or false are the two values they represent. This is used for applications or variables with only two values.
1. Blob
The arbitrary bytes are represented by this Cassandra data type. Any type of variable can be used to express an arbitrary variable in these arbitrary bytes.
2. ASCII
Strings, such as words and phrases, are stored in this Cassandra data type. The ASCII code is essentially a character identifier. The value of the variable is stored as an ASCII code.
3. Bigint
For 64 bit signed large integers, this Cassandra data type is utilized. In comparison to int, this data type can contain a wider range of numbers. In this data format, 64 bit signed indicates a value ranging from about -(232) to +232.
4. Counter
This Cassandra data type is used for integers. It represents a counter column. These columns are a part of the rows, which in turn are part of the column family. These contain numeric values, containing the number of columns.
5. Decimal
Integers are stored in this data type. This is a fundamental data type that is utilized in almost all languages.
6. Double
It is used to represent integers. It’s a 64-bit floating-point number. A number with decimal points is also included.
7. float
It is used to represent numbers. It’s a 32-bit floating-point number. This has a smaller range of numbers than double. It is used to represent decimal numbers such as 4.333, 45.23523, and so on.
8. Inet
This data type is used for representing IP addresses. Any system’s IP address contains both numeric and character information. It will not be necessary to perform any mathematical operations on these integers. Therefore, this data type is for character strings.
9. Int
This Cassandra data type represents 64-bit long integers. It signifies the presence of a counter-columns, which are the components of the rows, while the rows are a member of the column family. These are numerical values that represent the number of columns.
11. Text
It indicates a string that has been encoded in UTF8. UTF 8 is a character encoding variable. This effectively encrypts all valid Uni-code points by utilizing one to four 8-bit types.
12. Timestamp
A timestamp is represented by this data type. It’s made up of both integer and string Cassandra collections. This timestamp is essentially the date and time of creation. It can be in a variety of forms such as date, year, month, time, and meridian position for a period of time are all included in this format. Following are the formats for the same:
yyyy-mm-dd HH:mm
yyyy-mm-dd HH:mm:ss
13. Varchar
This data type also indicates a string that has been encoded in UTF8. However, it is used to meet the UTF 8 specification, as explained in the data type timestamp section above.
14. Varint
The 19th CQL data type is a varint. It is described as an arbitrary-precision integer, and its equivalent constants are integers.
3. Collection Data Types
This data type is used to store all of the data in a single variable. The Cassandra Query Language supports the following three different forms of collecting data.
- Map: Map is an ordered collection of key-value pairs, in which the keys are all unique and the map is arranged by them.
- Sets: A group of one or more ordered elements within the tables is represented by this Cassandra data type.
- Lists: A list is an ordered group of non-unique data in which the members are arranged by their listing positions.
4. User-Defined Data Type
Cassandra allows users to construct their own data types based on their needs. After establishing a data type and fields inside it, the user may modify, validate, and even delete a field or the data type in bulk.
- CREATE TYPE: Builds a datatype that is defined by the user
- ALTER TYPE: Modifies a datatype that has been specified by the user
- DROP TYPE: Drops all the user-defined datatypes
- DESCRIBE TYPE: Describes a datatype that has been specified by the user
- DESCRIBE TYPES: User-defined datatypes are described here
5. Tuple Data Types
Tuple data types are also supported by Cassandra. Tuples of data are made up of different data components or attributes. Tuples can be anonymous user-defined data types or customized data types. Due to the fact that a tuple is always in an isolated infrastructure, it is impossible to change individual members without also changing the entire tuple.
Conclusion
In Cassandra Query Language, these data types are used to take input data, allocate memory for processing the data, and then compile the data for the user’s use. As a result, these data types provide information about the intended use of the data to the compiler. Additionally, it specifies the data operations that can be performed on it.
Thus, the blog has discussed four different data types in this Cassandra Data Types tutorial: Built-in, Collection, User-Defined, and Tuple Cassandra Data Types. In addition, we learned about various data types contained within built-in data types.