Movies: DynamoDB Single-Table Design Example

All single-table examples · Open interactive viewer

How this model is organized

Movies and their actors and directors. This reference model by Rafal Wilinski contains 3 entity types and 3 index definitions. Use the keys and access patterns below to understand how its records fit together before exploring the interactive viewer.

Entities and key templates

Each entity defines the attributes stored on its items. Key templates show how attribute values are combined; when no template is defined, the key value comes from the item itself.

• movie: type, pk, sk, year, budget, boxOffice, category, __id, gsi2pk, gsi2sk.
  • pk: Provided by the item
  • sk: Provided by the item
  • gsi2pk: ${category}
  • gsi2sk: ${year}
• character: type, pk, sk, __id, role, playedBy, nationality, name, gsi1pk, gsi1sk.
  • pk: Provided by the item
  • sk: Provided by the item
  • gsi1pk: Provided by the item
  • gsi1sk: Provided by the item
• director: type, pk, sk, name, gsi1pk, gsi1sk, __id.
  • pk: Provided by the item
  • sk: Provided by the item
  • gsi1pk: ${sk}
  • gsi1sk: ${pk}

Index keys

• primary: partition key pk; sort key sk.
• gsi1: partition key gsi1pk; sort key gsi1sk.
• gsi2: partition key gsi2pk; sort key gsi2sk.

Example access patterns

These named queries are included in the model. Open the viewer to inspect their sample values and any filters.

• Die Hard Characters: Query on primary (Begins with).
• Movies by John McTiernan: Query on gsi1 (Begins with).
• Get Die Hard 2 Director: Query on primary (Begins with).
• Action Movies before 1989: Query on gsi2 (Less than).
• Movies where John McClane was a protagonist: Query on gsi1 (Begins with).
• Details about Die Hard: Query on primary (Equal).
• All Action Movies: Query on gsi2 (Begins with).

Explore and adapt the example

Download the model JSON to inspect the full schema and sample records. Compare its access patterns with your application's requirements before adapting the design. For a guided editing workflow, see the single-table design tool.