1. Get(returns attributes for a specified row, Gets are executed via HTable.get)
2. put(Put either adds new rows to a table (if the key is new) or can update existing rows (if the key already exists). Puts are executed via HTable.put (writeBuffer) or HTable.batch (non-writeBuffer))
3. scan(Scan allow iteration over multiple rows for specified attributes)
4. Delete(Delete removes a row from a table. Deletes are executed via HTable.delete)
HBase does not modify data in place, and so deletes are handled by creating new markers called tombstones. These tombstones, along with the dead values, are cleaned up on major compaction