What is the primary purpose of the Data Modeling process in Cassandra?

The primary purpose of the Data Modeling process in Cassandra is to design an optimal schema based on specific query patterns. Unlike traditional relational databases, where the schema is typically designed first and then queries are crafted around it, Cassandra's architecture requires that data modeling be driven by the anticipated queries. This approach ensures that the data is stored in a way that allows for efficient read and write operations, minimizing latency and maximizing performance.

In Cassandra, the distribution of data and the design of the tables heavily depend on how the data will be accessed. By focusing on query patterns during the modeling phase, developers can ensure that the partitioning and clustering strategies align with the intended access patterns, providing a highly performant and scalable solution tailored to the application's needs. This means that every design decision aims to optimize the retrieval of data based on real use cases, which is essential for the performance benefits of Cassandra.