Why Columnar Storage?#
By organizing data on disk by column rather than by row, analytical engines only read the specific metrics requested, compressing values heavily and leveraging vectorized CPU execution.
Everyday Analogy#
Opening a spreadsheet and reading only the single 'Total Price' column with a calculator rather than reading every customer name, address, and item line on every sheet.
Practical Applications#
- Real-time website visitor analytics and tracking platforms
- High-volume security event log aggregations