AWS Service
Amazon DynamoDB
DynamoDB is a managed NoSQL key-value and document database built around access patterns and partition keys.
What This Service Solves
DynamoDB is a managed NoSQL key-value and document database built around access patterns and partition keys.
- Use DynamoDB for high-scale key-value access, predictable single-table access patterns, TTL, streams, and low operational overhead.
When You Should Not Use It
- Avoid DynamoDB when ad hoc joins, relational constraints, or unknown query patterns dominate.
What AWS Manages and What You Manage
AWS manages server fleet and replication within a Region. You manage keys, indexes, capacity mode, item design, permissions, and hot-key avoidance.
Security Implications
Use IAM, encryption, VPC endpoints, fine-grained access where appropriate, and careful stream permissions.
Availability and Scaling
DynamoDB is highly available within a Region. Global tables are a deliberate multi-Region design.
On-demand capacity handles unpredictable traffic. Provisioned capacity and auto scaling can optimize predictable workloads.
Cost Behavior
Read/write capacity mode, storage, global tables, streams, backups, and indexes affect cost.
Common Integrations
- Lambda
- Streams
- Global Tables
- DAX
- CloudWatch
How AWS Might Present It
Certification-Specific Depth
Cloud Practitioner
Know what the service does and when it is the right family.
Solutions Architect Associate
Know configuration choices, integrations, failure modes, security, operations, and cost tradeoffs.
Developer Associate
Know configuration choices, integrations, failure modes, security, operations, and cost tradeoffs.
Data Engineer Associate
Know configuration choices, integrations, failure modes, security, operations, and cost tradeoffs.
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