{
  "slug": "key-value-separation",
  "term": "Key-value separation",
  "aliases": [
    "KV separation"
  ],
  "definition": "Key-value separation stores values outside the main key index and retains references in that index.",
  "note": "Separating value movement from index sorting introduces a separate reclamation problem; it does not eliminate cleaning. [blobdb]",
  "status": "shipping",
  "advantages": [],
  "limitations": [],
  "related": [
    "lsm-tree",
    "value-log",
    "database-write-amplification"
  ],
  "supersedes": [],
  "supersededBy": [],
  "firstSeen": null,
  "lastSeen": null,
  "citations": [
    {
      "id": "blobdb",
      "title": "RocksDB project. BlobDB: integrated implementation, garbage collection and configuration. Documentation reviewed 12 October 2026; page displays revision date 22 September 2022.",
      "url": "https://github.com/facebook/rocksdb/wiki/BlobDB",
      "accessed": "2026-10-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "hesela-kv",
      "title": "Key-value separation: the cleaning bill moves elsewhere",
      "url": "https://hesela.com/analyses/key-value-separation-cleaning-cost/",
      "accessed": "2026-10-12"
    }
  ],
  "updated": "2026-10-12"
}