Are Cassandra's Super Columns Useful?

2
votes

I'm trying to figure out if Cassandra's super columns are useful.

If I understand how Cassandra works (which could be wrong), if I want to read or update a super column, I have to read or write everything in the super column. This means I need to write some mapping code between my object(s) and my super column(s).

Wouldn't it be more efficient for me to simply serialize my object into a regular Cassandra column? It sounds to me like that's exactly what Cassandra does with super columns but they require extra steps.

1
cassandra

1 Answers

3
votes

If I want to read or update a super column, I have to read or write everything in the super column

Not quite: supercolumns are read as a unit, but subcolumns may be updated independently.

So yes, they do have a use, but no, it is not a very common one and in many cases you can indeed just serialize an object into a standard column.