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Databases Note

Basics about Database for beginners

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15 views

Databases Note

Basics about Database for beginners

Uploaded by

kikonya50
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Databases are systems used to store, manage, and retrieve data.

They are crucial for


applications where structured information needs to be efficiently accessed, manipulated,
and analyzed. Here's an overview of key concepts in databases:

1. Types of Databases

• Relational Databases (RDBMS): Store data in tables with rows and columns.
They use SQL (Structured Query Language) for data manipulation. Examples:
MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server.
• NoSQL Databases: Designed for specific data models and have flexible
schemas. Types include document stores (e.g., MongoDB), key-value stores
(e.g., Redis), column-family stores (e.g., Cassandra), and graph databases (e.g.,
Neo4j).
• In-Memory Databases: Store data in RAM for faster access. Example: Redis.
• NewSQL Databases: Combine the scalability of NoSQL with the ACID
guarantees of traditional SQL databases. Example: Google Spanner.

2. Core Concepts

• Tables (RDBMS): A collection of related data entries consisting of rows (records)


and columns (fields).
• Primary Key: A unique identifier for a row in a table.
• Foreign Key: A field in a table that links to the primary key of another table.
• Indexes: Data structures that improve the speed of data retrieval.
• Normalization: The process of organizing data to reduce redundancy and
improve data integrity.
• Transactions: A sequence of operations performed as a single logical unit of
work. They follow ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability).

3. SQL Basics

• SELECT: Retrieve data from a database.


• INSERT: Add new data to a table.
• UPDATE: Modify existing data in a table.
• DELETE: Remove data from a table.
• JOIN: Combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column.
• WHERE: Filter records based on specified conditions.

4. Database Design Principles

• Data Integrity: Ensure accuracy and consistency of data.


• Scalability: Ability to handle an increasing amount of data and users.
• Security: Protect data from unauthorized access and breaches.
• Backup and Recovery: Regularly save data and have a plan for data
restoration.
5. Common Uses of Databases

• E-commerce: Managing product inventories, customer information, and


transactions.
• Content Management Systems (CMS): Storing and organizing content like
articles, images, and videos.
• Social Media: Handling user profiles, posts, likes, and comments.
• Financial Services: Managing accounts, transactions, and financial records.

1. SQL (Structured Query Language)


SQL is the standard language used to communicate with relational databases. Here are
some key SQL commands:

Basic SQL Commands


- SELECT: Used to retrieve data from one or more tables.
```sql
SELECT column1, column2 FROM table_name WHERE condition;
```
Example:
```sql
SELECT name, age FROM students WHERE age > 12;
```

- INSERT: Used to add new records to a table.


```sql
INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2) VALUES (value1, value2);
```
Example:
```sql
INSERT INTO students (name, age) VALUES ('Alice', 14);
```
- UPDATE: Used to modify existing records.
```sql
UPDATE table_name SET column1 = value1 WHERE condition;
```
Example:
```sql
UPDATE students SET age = 15 WHERE name = 'Alice';
```

- DELETE: Used to remove records from a table.


```sql
DELETE FROM table_name WHERE condition;
```
Example:
```sql
DELETE FROM students WHERE name = 'Alice';
```

Advanced SQL Concepts


- JOINS: Used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column.
- INNER JOIN: Returns records that have matching values in both tables.
```sql
SELECT students.name, courses.course_name
FROM students
INNER JOIN enrollments ON students.id = enrollments.student_id
INNER JOIN courses ON enrollments.course_id = courses.id;
```
- LEFT JOIN (or LEFT OUTER JOIN): Returns all records from the left table and the
matched records from the right table.
- RIGHT JOIN (or RIGHT OUTER JOIN): Returns all records from the right table and
the matched records from the left table.
- FULL JOIN (or FULL OUTER JOIN): Returns records when there is a match in one of
the tables.

- GROUP BY: Groups rows that have the same values in specified columns into
aggregated data.
```sql
SELECT age, COUNT() FROM students GROUP BY age;
```

- ORDER BY: Sorts the result set of a query by one or more columns.
```sql
SELECT name, age FROM students ORDER BY age DESC;
```

- INDEXES: Improve the speed of data retrieval operations on a table.


```sql
CREATE INDEX idx_name ON students (name);
```

2. Database Design
Database design is crucial for creating an efficient and scalable system. It involves:

Normalization
Normalization is the process of structuring a database to reduce redundancy and
improve data integrity. It involves dividing large tables into smaller, related tables.
Normal Forms:
- First Normal Form (1NF): Ensures that each column contains atomic (indivisible)
values and that each column contains values of a single type.
- Second Normal Form (2NF): Achieved when a table is in 1NF and all non-key columns
are fully dependent on the primary key.
- Third Normal Form (3NF): Achieved when a table is in 2NF and all columns are
dependent only on the primary key.

Entity-Relationship Model (ER Model)


The ER model helps visualize the relationships between different entities in the
database. It includes:
- Entities: Objects or things that have a distinct existence (e.g., Students, Courses).
- Attributes: Characteristics or properties of an entity (e.g., Student Name, Course Title).
- Relationships: Associations between entities (e.g., Students enroll in Courses).

3. Types of Databases
Let's explore a bit more about different types of databases:

Relational Databases (RDBMS)


- MySQL: Popular open-source RDBMS, widely used in web applications.
- PostgreSQL: Known for its advanced features and compliance with SQL standards.
- Oracle: Offers a wide range of features and is widely used in enterprise environments.
- SQL Server: Developed by Microsoft, it's commonly used in business applications.

NoSQL Databases
- Document Stores: Store data in documents, often using JSON or BSON format.
Example: MongoDB.
- Key-Value Stores: Store data as a collection of key-value pairs. Example: Redis.
- Column-Family Stores: Store data in columns rather than rows. Example: Apache
Cassandra.
- Graph Databases: Designed to represent and store data with complex relationships.
Example: Neo4j.

4. Practical Considerations
When working with databases, consider the following:

- Scalability: How well the database can handle increasing amounts of data and users.
- Security: Implement access controls, encryption, and regular audits to protect sensitive
data.
- Backup and Recovery: Regularly back up data and have a recovery plan in place to
prevent data loss.
- Performance Tuning: Optimize queries, use indexing effectively, and monitor database
performance.

Would you like to delve deeper into any of these topics, or do you have specific
questions about databases?

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