Azure Table Storage

Updated Nov 16, 2020 ·

NOTES

This is not an exhaustive documentation of all the existing Azure Services. These are summarized notes for the Azure Certifications.

To see the complete documentation, please go to: Azure documentation

Overview

Azure Table Storage is a NoSQL datastore, providing a schema-less and flexible approach to storing structured non-relational data.

• Ideal for storing structured non-relational data.
• Key/attribute store with a schema-less design, allowing flexibility in data storage without rigid schema requirements.
• Commonly used for flexible databases, such as user data in web applications, address books, or device information.
• Suited for scenarios with large amounts of structured data, especially when complex joins, foreign keys, or stored procedures are not necessary.
• Useful for scenarios involving large datasets that require fast access without the need for complex relational features.

Components

1. URL Format for Access:
   • Format: http://<storage account>.table.core.windows.net/<table>
   • Unique URL with storage account name and table name.
2. Storage Account:
   • All access to Azure storage, including table storage, is via a storage account.
3. Table:
   • A collection of entities; unlike relational databases, tables do not enforce a strict schema.
4. Entity:
   • Comparable to a traditional database row.
   • Essentially, a set of properties.
   • Each entity can be up to 1 MB in size.
5. Properties:
   • Name-value pairs.
   • Up to 252 properties per entity.
   • Three system properties:
     • partition key
     • row key
     • timestamp

Key Relationships

• Hierarchy: Storage account > Tables > Entities > Properties.

• Access: The URL serves as the means to access the entire structure.