Wide-column databases are designed around access patterns rather than normalized entity models. The partition key controls placement, while clustering keys organize rows inside a partition.
Query-first design
Start from the queries your application must support and build tables to serve those patterns efficiently.
Partition sizing
Bounded partitions are important for predictable performance. Time-based bucketing is a common technique for high-volume event or time-series workloads.
Avoid production anti-patterns
Watch for unbounded partitions, tombstone-heavy queue patterns, excessive filtering and unsuitable secondary indexes.