Horizontal Partitioning
A partitioning strategy that divides rows of a logical data set across partitions or nodes according to a partition key.
Database Context
Horizontal partitioning can reduce working-set size and distribute write/read load, but the partition key determines skew, cross-partition queries, rebalancing cost, and hotspot risk. Sharding is a distributed form of horizontal partitioning, not a synonym for every partitioned table.
Related Database Concepts
- sharding
- partition key
- data skew
- rebalance