Editing Portal:Databases (section)

=== NoSQL, caches, and document databases ===

As the database world expanded beyond traditional SQL, Perl also gained modules for newer storage systems. Perl has clients for Redis, Elasticsearch, MongoDB, and other systems, though their quality and maintenance status vary by project.

'''Redis''' is a natural fit for Perl when used as a cache, queue, counter store, session store, or lightweight data structure server. The `Redis` module provides pure Perl bindings for Redis, while `Redis::Client` describes Redis as a key-value store supporting strings, lists, hashes, sets, and ordered sets.<ref>MetaCPAN, “Redis,” https://metacpan.org/pod/Redis, accessed July 3, 2026.</ref><ref>MetaCPAN, “Redis::Client,” https://metacpan.org/pod/Redis%3A%3AClient, accessed July 3, 2026.</ref>

'''Elasticsearch''' and similar search engines are important because many modern applications treat search indexes as a kind of data store. Perl’s `Search::Elasticsearch` module is described as the official Perl client for Elasticsearch, a distributed real-time search and analytics engine.<ref>MetaCPAN, “Search::Elasticsearch,” https://metacpan.org/pod/Search%3A%3AElasticsearch, accessed July 3, 2026.</ref> This connects Perl’s older strength in text processing with modern full-text search, log indexing, document search, and analytics.

'''MongoDB''' also had an official Perl driver, but its modern status is a cautionary example. The `MongoDB` module on MetaCPAN states that the MongoDB Perl driver and related libraries reached end of life on August 13, 2020, and are no longer supported by MongoDB.<ref>MetaCPAN, “MongoDB - Official MongoDB Driver for Perl,” https://metacpan.org/pod/MongoDB, accessed July 3, 2026.</ref> That does not mean no Perl code can talk to MongoDB, but it does mean new Perl/MongoDB projects need extra care, especially for security, compatibility, and long-term maintenance.