What defines a columnar storage database?

A columnar storage database is characterized by its method of storing data in columns rather than rows. This approach is particularly advantageous for read-heavy queries, where operations often involve retrieving large volumes of data from specific columns. By organizing data this way, the database can optimize its storage and retrieval processes, significantly enhancing performance for analytical workloads and queries that aggregate and filter data across many rows but only a few columns.

This structure allows for efficient compression and faster access times because it minimizes the amount of data that needs to be scanned when only certain columns are of interest. As a result, columnar databases excel in scenarios such as business intelligence and data warehousing, where query performance and storage efficiency are paramount.

In contrast, options that suggest storing data in rows or optimizing for write-heavy queries do not align with the primary function and strengths of a columnar database. Additionally, using a relational database model does not specifically define a columnar storage approach, as relational databases can utilize either row-oriented or columnar structures, depending on their design.