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Introduction To Database

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8 views3 pages

Introduction To Database

Uploaded by

michael moses
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction to Databases

A database is an organized data collection that can be easily accessed, managed, and updated. It
stores information in a structured way, usually in tables, to retrieve it quickly.

Key Database Terminologies

1. Data
o Definition: Information or facts that are collected and stored for analysis,
reference, or processing.
o Example: A list of students' names and their grades.
2. Database
o Definition: A system that stores and organizes data in a structured format.
o Example: A school's database containing students’ information, subjects, and
grades.
3. Table
o Definition: A table is a collection of data organized in rows and columns. Each
table represents a specific type of data.
o Example: A “Students” table that includes columns like Student ID, Name, Age,
and Grade.
4. Record
o Definition: A row in a table that contains data for a single entity (person, object,
etc.).
o Example: A single row in the “Students” table that contains the information for
one student.
5. Field
o Definition: A column in a table that represents a specific attribute of the data.
o Example: The “Name” or “Age” column in the "Students" table.
6. Primary Key
o Definition: A field (or a combination of fields) that uniquely identifies a record in
a table.
o Example: A “Student ID” in the "Students" table where each student has a unique
ID.
7. Foreign Key
o Definition: A field in one table that links to the primary key of another table. It is
used to establish a relationship between two tables.
o Example: In a "Grades" table, the "Student ID" field could be a foreign key
linking to the "Students" table.
8. Query
o Definition: A request for specific data from a database. Queries allow users to
retrieve or manipulate data from one or more tables.
o Example: A query to list all students who scored above 85% in mathematics.
9. Database Management System (DBMS)
o Definition: Software that allows users to create, manage, and interact with
databases.
o Example: MySQL, Microsoft Access, and Oracle are examples of DBMS
software.
10. Normalization
o Definition: The process of organizing data to reduce redundancy and improve
data integrity.
o Example: Breaking down a table with too much information into smaller, related
tables to avoid repeating the same data.
11. Index
o Definition: A database tool that improves the speed of data retrieval.
o Example: Indexing the "Student ID" field in the "Students" table for faster
searches.
12. Relational Database
o Definition: A type of database that stores data in tables and allows relationships
between different tables using foreign keys.
o Example: A school database where students' personal information is in one table,
and their grades are in another, with the two connected by the "Student ID".

Example of a Simple Database Structure:

Imagine a school database containing two tables: Students and Grades.

1. Students Table:

Student ID Name Age Class


001 Alice Brown 12 6A
002 Bob Green 11 6B

2. Grades Table:

Student ID Subject Grade


001 Math 95
002 Science 89

Here, Student ID is the primary key in the Students table and a foreign key in the Grades table,
connecting the two.

Key Takeaways

 Databases store information in a structured way for easy retrieval and management.
 Tables consist of fields (columns) and records (rows).
 Primary keys uniquely identify records, while foreign keys create relationships between
tables.
 Queries help retrieve and manipulate data in meaningful ways.

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