An intro to column-based storage

Опубликовано: 26 Июль 2026
на канале: ClickHouse
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In this video, we explore column storage, the backbone of column stores or column databases like ClickHouse. We compare the concept to the more familiar row-based storage used in many relational databases, using a practical example of weather data to illustrate the differences.

Column storage isn't just a different way to organize data; it's a game-changer for analytical queries and data compression. We'll explore why this approach is particularly well-suited for modern data analysis needs and how it aligns with current CPU architectures.

Key points covered:
🔸 Comparison of row-based vs. column-based storage layouts
🔸 Advantages of column storage for data compression and efficient querying
🔸 Examples of compression techniques like dictionary encoding and delta encoding
🔸 How column storage enables faster analytical queries and aggregations
🔸 The benefits of column storage for CPU cache usage and SIMD operations