The document discusses the differences between relational database management systems (RDBMS) and NoSQL databases. RDBMS uses ACID properties and SQL but does not scale well horizontally. NoSQL databases sacrifice ACID compliance for improved scalability and can handle massive loads. Common NoSQL database types include key-value stores, document databases, wide column stores, and graph databases. NoSQL databases have flexible, schema-less data models and eventually consistent designs that prioritize availability over strong consistency.