ArangoDB
ArangoDB is an open-source native multi-model database that supports graph, document, and key-value data models within a single storage engine, queried through its own AQL query language.
Definition
ArangoDB is an open-source native multi-model database that supports graph, document, and key-value data models within a single storage engine, queried through its own AQL query language.
Overview
ArangoDB's defining idea is storing and querying graph, document, and key-value data together rather than running separate specialized databases for each model. It was first released in the early 2010s by a team in Germany, aiming to reduce the operational overhead of stitching together multiple database technologies for related workloads. Queries are written in AQL (ArangoDB Query Language), which can combine document filtering, aggregation, and graph traversals in a single statement. This positions ArangoDB as an alternative to running a dedicated graph database like Neo4j alongside a document store like MongoDB — useful for applications such as recommendation engines or fraud detection where both relationship traversal and flexible document storage matter. Teams evaluating this space often compare it with Redis as part of the same shortlist.
Key Features
- Multi-model storage: documents, graphs, and key-value pairs in one engine
- AQL query language supporting joins, graph traversals, and aggregations
- ACID transactions across multiple collections
- Horizontal scaling via clustering and sharding
- Foxx microservices framework for running logic close to the data