Database What is a database A database is

Database

What is a database? • A database is a collection of organized tables. Each table is a collection of related records. • Each record gives information about one item and is made up of many fields. Each field is one specific piece of information.

• Our world depends on databases • Google basically IS a database (index) • Facebook is build around databases • So is e-Bay & Netflix and X-Box Live • Travel agents, schools, doctors and hospitals all rely on them • You get the idea!

• Databases are so useful because they’re so good at storing info • But they do it in a very structured way • That’s so the data can also be sorted • And so the data can also be searched • So overall, what makes databases so useful is how they store, sort & search • Let’s look at some examples…

Example Databases Store Search Sort

Database Tables • Databases store info in a structured way • Data in a database is stored in a table • Each row is called a record • Each column is called a field • A special field called the primary key holds a unique identifier for each record

‘Unique identifiers’ are everywhere!

A Database Tables Recap Table All this data is stored in a ? ? This is a ? ? Field name This is a ? ? Recordl This is the ? ? Primary Key This is a ? ? Field

Access Database

Data types

Plenary • What is a database? • Give some examples of databases • What are some benefits of using database? • Give some examples of data types • What is a field? • What is a row? • What is a primary key?