DB3M

DB3M is a fictional database management system created to illustrate the concepts and trade-offs involved in multi-model data platforms. Designed to handle relational, document, and graph data within a single system, DB3M is frequently used in educational and theoretical discussions of polyglot persistence and modern database architecture.

The system is described as modular and extensible. Its architecture centers on a pluggable storage engine layer, a unified query processor, and model-specific adapters. The relational component provides a SQL-compatible dialect, the document component stores JSON-like documents with flexible schemas and field-level indexing, and the graph component supports edge-based representations and traversal operations. This combination aims to enable cross-model queries and data transformations without moving data between separate services.

Key features attributed to DB3M include ACID-compliant transactions implemented via multi-version concurrency control, multi-model indexing with B-trees, full-text search, and JSON path indexes, and built-in replication and horizontal sharding for scalability. It is described as supporting role-based access control, secure authentication, and pluggable extensions for data connectors, custom functions, and alternative query strategies. The platform is envisaged for deployment on premises, in private clouds, or in public cloud environments, with capabilities for backups and disaster recovery.

In reception, DB3M serves as a thought experiment illustrating how a single system can simplify data management across diverse models while highlighting the complexity and performance considerations such designs entail. It is not a real product but a conceptual reference point in database design discussions.