What it is
A database built for analytics and large data volumes โ it computes aggregates over millions of rows quickly.
How we apply it
When you need reports and dashboards over large event volumes, not just record storage.
Databases
What is ClickHouse
Where it helps a business
- There are millions of events (page views, clicks, log records, device telemetry), and you need fast reports on them.
- Reports against the main database slow down its everyday work.
How we use it
We choose ClickHouse when reports and dashboards over large volumes of events are needed, not just record storage. In our cases analytics still fits in the main database: the finance assistant builds summaries, 12-month trends and a spending calendar from PostgreSQL, and the IT help desk builds reports on tickets, SLA breaches and risk hotspots from MariaDB.
Common problems
- Two databases instead of one. Data has to be delivered into the analytics database and kept consistent with the main one.
- Not for edits. ClickHouse is great for reading and counting, but not for frequent changes to individual records.
When you do not need it
As long as reports build in seconds on the main database, a separate analytics database is needless complexity.
Related services
Related terms
More in "Databases"
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