Freedom251 › Key-Value Databases
TiKV
What TiKV is
TiKV is a distributed transactional key-value database designed to provide a unified storage layer across nodes. It offers a raw key-value API and a transactional key-value API with ACID semantics, but both APIs cannot be used on the same keyspace. The project says TiKV can support petabyte-scale deployments spanning trillions of rows. Raft groups replicate data across nodes for fault tolerance, while horizontal scaling and rebalancing support changes to the deployment. RawKV includes time-to-live expiration and compare-and-swap operations. TiKV is self-hosted and open source under the Apache 2.0 license. It is listed for Linux, macOS, Windows, and API use, with gRPC, RawKV API, and TxnKV API among its supported protocols. Documentation lists Java, Go, Rust, Python, and C++ clients; Java and Go are marked stable, while the other listed clients are unstable. Documentation describes TLS for network connections and configurable encryption at rest, including AES methods. TiKV was originally created by PingCAP and is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation graduate project.
Who it suits
TiKV suits teams building distributed storage systems that need raw or transactional key-value access. It may also fit self-hosted deployments that need horizontal scaling, replication, or TTL support.
What it does well
- Apache 2.0 licensed open-source software
- Raft replication supports fault tolerance
- Supports horizontal scaling and rebalancing
- RawKV includes TTL and compare-and-swap operations
- TLS and configurable encryption at rest are documented
What to know first
- The two APIs cannot share a keyspace
- Rust, Python, and C++ clients are marked unstable
- Self-hosted deployment requires teams to manage deployment
Limits
The raw and transactional APIs cannot both be used on the same keyspace. Java and Go clients are marked stable; Rust, Python, and C++ clients are marked unstable.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| TiKV open-source software | Apache 2.0 licensed; self-hosted distributed key-value store | Free |
As tikv.org lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://tikv.org/ and review the project documentation.
- Choose a listed deployment platform: Linux, macOS, Windows, or self-hosted.
- Select the raw key-value API or the transactional key-value API for each keyspace.
- Choose a client: Java, Go, Rust, Python, or C++; Java and Go are marked stable.
- Use the community Slack for general communication or the dedicated mailing list to report security vulnerabilities.
Verdict
TiKV provides distributed key-value storage with replication and both raw and transactional APIs. Its keyspace constraint and client stability labels are important considerations when selecting an API and client language.
Questions
Does TiKV cost money?
TiKV is free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license.
Where can TiKV run?
Its listed platforms are Linux, macOS, Windows, API, and self-hosted deployment.
Which APIs does TiKV provide?
It provides a raw key-value API and a transactional key-value API with ACID semantics. They cannot both be used on the same keyspace.
Which client languages are listed?
Java, Go, Rust, Python, and C++ clients are listed. Java and Go are marked stable; the others are marked unstable.
Who created TiKV?
The project says TiKV was originally created by PingCAP.
Which systems are listed as using or built with TiKV?
The maker lists TiDB, Zetta, Tidis, Titan, and JuiceFS.
Facts from TiKV's own pages
- API limitation
- The raw and transactional APIs cannot both be used on the same keyspace. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- APIs
- TiKV offers a raw key-value API and a transactional key-value API with ACID semantics. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Clients
- The documentation lists Java, Go, Rust, Python, and C++ clients; it marks Java and Go stable and Rust, Python, and C++ unstable. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2016 · tikv.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists TiDB, Zetta, Tidis, Titan, and JuiceFS among systems built with or using TiKV. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- License and governance
- TiKV is Apache 2.0 licensed and is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation graduate project. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The project page says TiKV was originally created by PingCAP; it does not state a headquarters or founding year for the maker. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- RawKV features
- RawKV supports time-to-live expiration and compare-and-swap operations. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Replication
- TiKV uses Raft groups to replicate data across nodes for fault tolerance and supports horizontal scaling and rebalancing. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Scale
- The maker says TiKV supports petabyte-scale deployments spanning trillions of rows. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- TiKV documentation describes TLS for network connections and configurable encryption at rest, including AES methods. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Support channel
- The community page recommends Slack for general communication and provides a dedicated mailing list for reporting security vulnerabilities. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
- What it does
- TiKV is a distributed transactional key-value database designed to serve as a unified distributed storage layer. · tikv.org, 4 Oct 2026
Where TiKV stands on Freedom251
- Key-Value Databases#15 of 31
- Transaction Data Store Software#19 of 29