No, Elasticsearch is not intended to be a replacement for traditional database management systems (DBMS) such as MySQL, PostgreSQL or MongoDB. Elasticsearch is primarily designed for search and analysis on text or geographic data, and it lacks some crucial features that a proper database management system should possess.
Here are several reasons why Elasticsearch should not be used as a primary database management system:
Lack of ACID Properties
Elasticsearch does not support ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) like traditional database systems do. This means it's not suitable for storing critical data with high requirements for consistency and security.
No Support for Transactions
Elasticsearch does not support transactions, making it complex and challenging to handle concurrent changes to multiple pieces of data and could lead to consistency issues.
Inappropriate for Relational Data
Elasticsearch is not suitable for storing relational data or complex datasets with intricate relationships.
Not Centralized Storage
While Elasticsearch is designed for quick data retrieval and search, it can't replace traditional storage systems for long-term data storage.
No Support for BLOB Data
Elasticsearch is not a suitable solution for storing large binary data types like images, videos, or attachments.
In summary, Elasticsearch should be used as a search and data analysis tool within your application, complementing your primary database management system. You can integrate Elasticsearch with traditional database systems to provide more powerful search and analysis capabilities for your application.