MongoDB 4.4 introduces several enhancements to its sharding capabilities, making it easier for developers to scale their databases without fear or friction. The new release allows developers to refine their shard keys at any time, providing a more flexible and adaptable data distribution strategy. Additionally, MongoDB 4.4 supports compound hashed shard keys, which enable higher database throughput by evenly distributing load across shards while maintaining data locality. The new feature also includes hedged reads for consistent low latencies, reducing the possibility of long-tail query latency outliers caused by node degradation. Other enhancements include streaming replication, hidden indexes, and simultaneous indexing, which improve performance and reduce latency in various scenarios. With these improvements, developers can scale their databases with confidence, knowing that MongoDB 4.4 provides a robust and performant solution for their applications.