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(From the introduction)
IBM has introduced the ability to use the Informix and DB2 relational database management system (DBMS) to store NoSQL Javascript Object Notation (JSON) documents through the MongoDB clients. JSON has become the dominant format for information exchange in web and mobile applications, and MongoDB, which only exchanges information as JSON documents, has the largest market share of NoSQL document storage systems. Informix is more specifically an object-relational DBMS and has been since the mid-1990s. The existing ability to create new types and functions to work with them has made it possible to implement JSON and binary-JSON (BSON) types as first class citizens.
The domain of NoSQL database management systems is very broad. It encompasses NoSQL systems which do not manage relationships between sets of information at all and those not using the SQL language for such relationships (“no SQL” systems), and those with the capability to use both SQL and relational data, and non-relational functions for accessing structured information (“not-only SQL” systems). Informix is now one of the “not-only SQL” DBMS.
A large percentage of the NoSQL systems have been developed out of a need to work in the Web 2.0 environment. The JSON document format is a way to transfer object information in a way that is language neutral and is similar to XML in that respect. Language-neutral data transmission is crucial to being able to work in a web application environment, where it is common for an application to work with data from a variety of sources and pass data to and from software possibly written in different languages. The reduction in coordination required between application developers and database administrators enables more rapid development and deployment cycles.
Informix provides a unique platform where systems for engaging with customers can be easily integrated with systems for recording transactions.
