Firebase.Io has developed a storage technology providing what I call Event Driven Data. Firebase.io is stored data as JSON objects in a key database. But, it doesn’t stop there. The Firebase.io infrastructure provides not only data storage, but other capabilities not generally associated with a data storage engine.
First off, it starts with a web infrastructure with APIs for REST, Ios, Android, etc., granting access to virtually any programming tool. Using just the data engine is powerful enough in itself. It has Elastic scalability, handling a massive volume of transactions.
With this basic engine in place, Firebase.io builds into the data storage an additional feature of Data Subscription. From your application you can subscribe to be notified when data is altered in the Firebase.io database. Your subscription is based on a Firebase query. When data to which you have subscribed is modified, you are notified with the new data. Your event handler takes over, and processes the change. No longer do you have to poll the database for modifications your client needs to know about.
Firebase.io doesn’t stop there. It is built with the expectation of disruption of the connection between the Client and the server. It has built in local storage that synchronizes with the central database whenever a connection is available.
Add encryption, authentication, and even forms of web hosting, and you have a very efficient platform on which to build your mobile, not always connected, application. For more information, or to take Firebase.io for a drive, you can find more at https://www.firebase.com.
Cheers,
Ben