Relational Database Fundamentals Quiz

Why Business Professionals Need to Know Database Processing

• Business professionals need to have a minimum knowledge about database processing because they work frequently with databases in various aspects (use, purchase, design, etc.)

• In 2023, basic knowledge of database processing is a key skill for any business professional due to the complex nature of the field.

• The database is the center of an Information System (IS); it guides the IS development, and users play a critical role in its development.

What is a Database (DB)

• A database is an organized collection of data with definite elements stored in a computer.
• A database has three elements: tables, relationships, and data dictionary (metadata).
• A table is composed of fields (data type and format), cells (data), and records (data set).
• A primary key is a field that uniquely identifies each record in a table.
• A foreign key is a field that is a primary key of another table, linking tables together.

What is SQL

• SQL (Structured Query Language) is a language used to query a database by selecting data.
• SQL is used to manipulate data, modify the database schema, and grant user access to data.
• SQL is a simple language that allows users to create, process, and administer a database.

What is a Database Management System (DBMS)

• A DBMS is an application used to create, process, and administer a database.
• DBMS activities include memorization, security, concurrency, fault tolerance, and recovery.
• DBMS examples include commercial DBMS (e.g., Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server) and open-source DBMS (e.g., MySQL).

What is Database Processing

• Database processing is the process of retrieving information from data stored in a database.
• A database application system consists of a database, a DBMS, and a database application.
• A database application system is a distributed application that uses a 3-tier architecture.

How to Build a Database

• Building a database involves data modeling and database design.
• Data modeling describes the data to be stored in the database using an E-R diagram.
• Database design transforms entities into tables and relationships between entities into relationships using keys.

Why NoSQL DBMS is Becoming Important

• The increasing amount of data, its high velocity, and great variety (Big Data) require NoSQL DBMS.

• Big Data is characterized by the 4Vs: volume, velocity, variety, and veracity.

• NoSQL DBMS are becoming important due to their ability to handle large amounts of unstructured and semi-structured data.### Why Business Professionals Need to Know about Database Processing

• Business professionals need a minimum knowledge of database processing to work with data collected in databases.

• Acquiring this skill is useful for every career, as data is collected and stored in databases in every organization.

What is a Database (DB)?

• A database is an organized collection of data with definite elements stored in a computer.
• Data is useless without a way to extract information from it.
• Information is not the same as data; it is located inside a person, not a computer, and varies from person to person.
• The DIKW Pyramid is a hierarchical model that categorizes and simplifies the key concepts involved in cognitive processes to create information systems capable of managing large amounts of data.

Structure of a Database

• A database consists of tables, relationships, and a data dictionary.
• A table is a collection of data with columns (fields) and rows (records).
• A field defines a data type and content, and a value defines a data in a specific format.
• A primary key is a field that uniquely identifies the records in a table.
• A foreign key is a field that is a primary key of a different table.
• Relationships between tables are used to eliminate redundant data.
• The data dictionary holds metadata, which is data about the database schema and data.

Relational Databases

• A relational database is obtained using tables, relationships, and a data dictionary.
• The name "relational" comes from the process of dividing tables into smaller tables and recombining them using relationships.
• Relational databases are the most popular type of database, and SQL is used to extract information from them.

What is SQL?

• SQL (Structured Query Language) is a language used to query a database.
• SQL is not only used to select data but also to manipulate data, modify the database schema, and define user access.
• SQL is a powerful and simple language that can be used to create, process, and administer a database.

What is a Database Management System (DBMS)?

• A DBMS is an application used to create, process, and administer a database.
• A DBMS is used to manage the database structure, store and retrieve data, and provide user access.
• DBMS activities include memorization, security, concurrency, fault tolerance, and recovery.
• Examples of DBMS include commercial and open-source options.

What is Database Processing?

• Database processing is the process of retrieving information from data stored in a database.
• Database processing needs a DBMS and a database application.
• A database application system is the sum of a database, a DBMS, and a database application.
• A database application system is a distributed application that uses a 3-tier architecture.

Building a Database

• The building of a database consists of two main activities: data modeling and database design.
• Data modeling creates a logical representation of the database using entities and relationships.
• The E-R model is a tool used for data modeling, which uses boxes for entities and lines for relationships.
• Database design transforms entities into tables and relationships into relationships using keys.
• The result of database design is a database schema.