Azure Cosmos DB is considered a NoSQL database service because it supports multiple data models, including document, key-value, graph, and column-family, making it suitable for various types of data and applications. Here are key aspects and features of Azure Cosmos DB:

1. Global Distribution:

   • Azure Cosmos DB allows you to distribute data across multiple Azure regions globally, ensuring low-latency data access for users and applications, regardless of their location.

2. Multi-Model Support:

   • It supports multiple data models, including document (JSON), key-value, graph (Gremlin), and column-family (Cassandra), allowing you to choose the data model that best suits your application’s requirements.

3. Auto-Scaling:

   • Azure Cosmos DB provides automatic and instantaneous scaling of throughput and storage to handle variable workloads without manual intervention.

4. Multi-API Support:

   • Azure Cosmos DB supports multiple APIs, including SQL, MongoDB, Gremlin, Cassandra, and Table, enabling you to use the API that aligns with your existing application stack or preference.

5. Consistency Models:

   • It offers different consistency models, such as strong, bounded staleness, session, and eventual consistency, giving you control over data consistency based on your application’s requirements.

6. Low Latency:

   • Azure Cosmos DB is designed for low-latency data access, with single-digit millisecond response times for both reads and writes.

7. Automatic Failover:

   • Azure Cosmos DB provides automatic failover and disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance for your applications.

8. Security and Compliance:

   • Azure Cosmos DB includes robust security features such as data encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access control (RBAC), and compliance certifications to meet regulatory requirements.

9. Scalable Databases:

   • You can create multiple databases within a Cosmos DB account, each with its own dedicated resources and data models.

10. Global Distribution and Partitioning:

    • Cosmos DB automatically partitions and replicates data across regions, allowing you to distribute data close to your users and maintain data availability during regional failures.

11. Change Feed:

    • Azure Cosmos DB provides a change feed that enables you to capture and process real-time data changes, making it suitable for building event-driven applications.

12. Analytics Integration:

    • It can be integrated with Azure Synapse Analytics (formerly Azure SQL Data Warehouse) and Azure Databricks for advanced analytics and reporting.

13. Time to Live (TTL):

    • You can configure TTL for documents to automatically delete or expire data after a specified time, which can be useful for managing data retention.