Amazon DynamoDB vs Amazon EBS: What are the differences?

Introduction

Amazon DynamoDB and Amazon EBS are both storage services provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform. However, they have several key differences that make them suitable for different use cases. This article will highlight the major differences between Amazon DynamoDB and Amazon EBS.

1. Scalability: Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database service that provides automatic scaling of resources to meet the demand of applications. It can handle massive workloads and scale up or down based on the traffic patterns. On the other hand, Amazon EBS is a block-level storage service that provides persistent storage volumes for EC2 instances. It allows you to provision storage volumes of different sizes, but it doesn't scale automatically like DynamoDB.

2. Data Model: Amazon DynamoDB is a NoSQL database service that uses a key-value store model. It allows you to store and retrieve any amount of data, and the data is organized based on primary key attributes. On the other hand, Amazon EBS provides block-level storage, which means it can store any type of data in blocks. It can be formatted with any file system and used like a physical hard drive.

3. Accessibility: Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed service that is accessed through an API. It is designed to be highly available and fault-tolerant, with data automatically replicated across multiple availability zones. On the other hand, Amazon EBS volumes are accessed directly by EC2 instances. They are not replicated by default, but you can create snapshots of volumes for backup and recovery.

4. Latency: Amazon DynamoDB is designed for low-latency access to data, with response times in single-digit milliseconds. It is optimized for fast and predictable performance, making it suitable for real-time applications. On the other hand, Amazon EBS performance can vary based on the type of volume and the workload. While it provides good performance for most use cases, it may not be as fast as DynamoDB in terms of latency.

5. Pricing Model: Amazon DynamoDB pricing is based on the provisioned throughput and the amount of data stored. You pay for the amount of read and write throughput you provision, along with the storage used. On the other hand, Amazon EBS pricing is based on the volume type and the size of the storage. You pay for the provisioned storage capacity, regardless of the amount of data stored in the volume.

6. Use Cases: Amazon DynamoDB is often used for applications that require high scalability and low-latency access to data, such as gaming, ad tech, and IoT. It is also suitable for applications that need a flexible schema and can benefit from a fully managed service. On the other hand, Amazon EBS is commonly used for persistent storage requirements of EC2 instances, such as databases, file systems, and log files.

In summary, Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database service that provides automatic scaling and low-latency access to data. It is optimized for high scalability and is suitable for applications that require fast and predictable performance. On the other hand, Amazon EBS is a block-level storage service that provides persistent storage for EC2 instances. It is suitable for applications that need a flexible storage solution and can benefit from direct access to block-level storage.