What is a multi-model database?

A multi-model database is a database management system that meshes different kinds of database models into one integrated database engine. This provides a single back end database that can service a wider range of data processing and data retrieval tasks and use cases. This differs from most database management systems that are organized around a single data model (eg. relational, document, graph, et al) that decides how data is organized, stored and manipulated.

A multi-model database can accommodate object-oriented, key-value, relational, wide-column, document and graph models. Since multi-model databases typically don’t store all their data in tables like traditional relational databases, they can store structured, semi-structured and unstructured data types. This leads to consistency with no fragmentation.

A multi-model database can also do fundamental tasks like storing data, indexing and querying. Most multi-model databases are also ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) compliant and have frictionless integration with most of the latest database models. Data can be integrated from various sources and in many formats.