PostgreSQL and Apache Age as a stand-alone Approach
Tags: postgres, database, postgrs, apacheage
Published: 2023-07-14 15:34:34

When your data contains complicated interrelationships and interdependence, switching from a relational data model to a graph data model might be useful. A stand-alone approach for this migration may be offered by Apache Age and PostgreSQL. Let's study in this blog how these approaches would communicate with one another.

**Graph Data:**
Data is represented by nodes and edges, where nodes stand for entities and edges for connections between those entities. Each node and edge may be associated with one or more characteristics. Social networks, fraud detection, algorithms for recommendations, and knowledge graphs are just a few examples of applications where this architecture performs exceptionally well.

**Apache AGE:**
Apache Age is a PostgreSQL extension which provides the property graph data model over the basis of PostgreSQL to offer graph functionality. It makes use of the well-known SQL language and PostgreSQL's built-in capabilities in addition to including support for operations and queries that are unique to graphs.
Some of the important characteristics offered by Apache AGE are as follows:

- It makes use of the relational database's underlying storage capabilities for storing graph data as tables in PostgreSQL.
- Apache Age adds a graph schema to specify how nodes and edges are organized, along with their characteristics and relationship variations.
- It is capable of performing a number of graph operations, including traversals, matching patterns, shortest routes, and graph algorithms.

**Unified Solution:**
You may have a unified solution for both relational and graph data models inside the same database system through the integration of Apache Age and PostgreSQL. This strategy has the following advantages:

- A single database can manage relational and graph data, which reduces complexities and maintenance costs.
- Without having to learn a new graph database, developers and database administrators who are already familiar with PostgreSQL may make use of their current expertise.
- You can preserve data integrity and coherence across relational and graph data with an identical solution. Both models update synchronously with changes to the data.

**Migration Procedure:**
You generally perform the following actions when utilizing Apache Age to switch from a relational model to a graph:

- Examine your current relational schema and take note of any entities and relations that might benefit from having nodes and edges representation.
- Create an Apache Age graph schema by determining the different nodes, edges and relationship types.
- Create PostgreSQL tables based on the specified graph schema for storing the graph data.
- Convert and bring in the current relational tables' data into the new graph tables.
- Make changes to your application's code and queries to make use of Apache Age's graph capabilities.

In the end, the combination of [Apache Age](https://age.apache.org/age-manual/master/intro/overview.html) and [PostgreSQL](https://www.postgresql.org/about/) offers a comprehensive approach for switching from a relational to a graph data model, allowing you to make use of graph features while also enjoying the stability and development of PostgreSQL as a relational database.