What is a columnar database?

Question

I have been working with warehousing for a while now.

I am intrigued by Columnar Databases and the speed that they have to offer for data retrievals.

I have mul

Answer 1

Also, Columnar DBs have a built in affinity for data compression, and the loading process is unique. Here's an article I wrote in 2008 that explains a bit more.

You may also be interested in a new report from IDC's Carl Olofson on 3rd generation DBMS technology. It discusses columnar, et al. If you're not an IDC client you can get it free on our site. He's doing a webinar on June 16th, too (also on our site).

(BTW, one comment above lists asterdata but I don't think they are columnar.)