Introduction to
Databases
r
Clea
’s
IT
:
By
Minx Panda Bibiche Tigger
Database Definition
“A collection of related information
about a subject,
organised in a useful manner.”
(QUE Computer and Internet Dictionary)
Paper based Databases
• A database written on paper
• Does not involve a computer
• EG: an address book
Flat-file Databases
• All the data is stored in one large table
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Databases
vs
Spreadsheets
• Databases are far more powerful than spreadsheets
• Databases can store significantly more data
• Databases are more organised
• Databases can manage and manipulate the data in various ways
What is DBMS and RDBMS?
DBMS = DataBase Management System
RDBMS = Relational DBMS
Microsoft
Access
Why RDBMS’s?
DATA
• is easy to retrieve
• is easy to change and update
• can be used to draw conclusions
• can be used to make decisions
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Where are RDBMS’s used ?
• Shops
• Schools
• Businesses
• Airports
• And more
What about Social Media?
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Whatsapp
• And more…
Example: A school
Student Class Teacher Guardian
StudentID ClassID TeacherID GuardianID
FirstName Subject FirstName FirstName
LastName Year LastName LastName
DateOfBirth Position Address
House Address City
Year City Email
Email Phone
Phone
Student-Class Class-Teacher
Student-Guardian
StudentID ClassID
StudentID
ClassID TeacherID
GuardianID
Relationship
Tables
Student
StudentID • A set of data about one entity
FirstName • Entity = a thing with a distinct and independent existence
LastName
DateOfBirth
• Each table must have a unique name.
House
Year
Example: Student Table
FirstName LastName DateOfBirth House Year
Gill Cabill 8/7/2005 Gibran 10
Tremain Bastie 12/1/2004 Fihri 10
Ugo Staddon 11/5/2004 Fihri 10
Evan Greenstead 8/26/2003 Majid 11
Rayner Jendrassik 2/25/2005 Gibran 10
Nada McElwee 8/29/2002 Sina 12
Tables, Fields, Records
• A database can be made up of multiple tables
• Each field corresponds to a column or an attribute
• Each record corresponds to a single row
field
record
Fields and Records in Student Table
Field
FirstName LastName DateOfBirth House Year
Record Gill Cahill 8/7/2005 Gibran 10
Tremain Bastie 12/1/2004 Fihri 10
Ugo Staddon 11/5/2004 Fihri 10
Evan Greenstead 8/26/2003 Majid 11
Rayner Jendrassik 2/25/2005 Gibran 10
Nada McElwee 8/29/2002 Sina 12
Terms you have learnt: Bye
Bye
Miaow
• Database Bye
• Flat file database
• Paper based database
• RDBMS
• Entity
• Relationships
• Table Minx Panda Bibiche Tigger
• Field
• Record
Bye, IT’s Clear