Database Sharding: How does it work and do you need it?

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Learn what database sharding is, how it works, how it differs from partitioning and replication, and what strategies you can use for sharding.

Jun 4, 2025  · 7 min read

Can I implement sharding incrementally, or does it require a full redesign?

What happens if a shard fails?

Do all shards need to be the same size?

Can I still run joins across shards?

How does sharding impact backups?


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