Splitting a database into several pieces, usually to improve the speed and reliability of your application.
Sharding strictly speaking is a synonym for "horizontal partitioning" or dividing up a database table by its rows.
In common use, sharding refers to having some data for an app on one database server, and other data in another. Often this is done by having specific tables hosted on specific servers, with a function determining which server contains the information being requested.
Sharding is frequently discussed with regard to large web based applications, but is not limited to any particular industry.
As a practical example, a WordPress MultiSite installation hosting several hundred thousand blogs could have the tables for sites 1-100,000 running on one database server 100,001-200,000 on another or 200,001+ on a third. An alternative sharding implementation could be to have the 50 busiest blogs' tables split between the first two servers all remaining blog data on the third server. Likewise, data could be partitioned based upon the geographic location of the web servers delivering each blog.
Sharding strictly speaking is a synonym for "horizontal partitioning" or dividing up a database table by its rows.
In common use, sharding refers to having some data for an app on one database server, and other data in another. Often this is done by having specific tables hosted on specific servers, with a function determining which server contains the information being requested.
Sharding is frequently discussed with regard to large web based applications, but is not limited to any particular industry.
As a practical example, a WordPress MultiSite installation hosting several hundred thousand blogs could have the tables for sites 1-100,000 running on one database server 100,001-200,000 on another or 200,001+ on a third. An alternative sharding implementation could be to have the 50 busiest blogs' tables split between the first two servers all remaining blog data on the third server. Likewise, data could be partitioned based upon the geographic location of the web servers delivering each blog.
When our site became so popular it kept overwhelming our database servers, we looked into sharding the database between five different data centers.
by Brian Layman June 20, 2011
Get the sharding mug.by MSG February 19, 2007
Get the Britney Shears mug.Related Words
Sheard
• shearding
• Timo sheard
• Karen Clark sheard
• shards
• shardul
• shardae
• sharded
• shearing
• shard barbie
by Tyler Durden January 31, 2004
Get the sharded mug.Taking a dump in a friend's toilet and closing the lid without flushing, similar to a sardine in a can.
by JermBoy May 31, 2010
Get the Shardine mug.by Lanarson June 26, 2009
Get the shardtarded mug.A resilient and beautifully made female that has endured many trials and tribulations,but overcomes all, sometimes abusive , at first she is stand offish but when your friends with her, she is always there for you. Unfortunately, she's not a big family person, she rather be around folks that can't judge her based off her past. If she has children, they are her strength and focus.
by Shardanae December 18, 2017
Get the shardanae mug.Last night old school was the shardgent at arms for the majority of the evening at the shardashians shardanay party while he was wearing his shardegain.
Todays featured shardist is Shardgent Old School.
Todays featured shardist is Shardgent Old School.
by Shardgent Old Schoolio August 7, 2012
Get the shardgent mug.