What is a characteristic of document databases?

Document databases are designed to store, retrieve, and manage unstructured or semi-structured data. One of their defining characteristics is that they use a format similar to JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) for representing data. This allows the databases to handle a variety of data types and structures within a single document. Because documents can encapsulate complex data types, including nested objects and arrays, they provide flexibility that is particularly useful for applications needing to store diverse and evolving datasets.

This architecture contrasts with traditional relational databases which typically enforce a rigid schema. In the case of document databases, the structure of the data can vary from one document to another within the same collection, thus enabling a more agile data model that can adapt to the changing needs of applications.

The other characteristics mentioned do not apply to document databases. They do not strictly enforce a schema, allowing more flexibility in how data is organized, and they can accommodate unstructured data rather than only structured data. Additionally, the manipulation of data within document databases does not usually rely on complex SQL syntax; instead, they often use simpler querying methods tailored to the document format.