GCSE Computing Databases Unit Objectives Learn about what

GCSE Computing Databases

Unit Objectives � Learn about what databases are. � Learn why databases are so important. � Learn about how relational databases are constructed and used.

Today’s Learning Outcomes: LO 1: Identify what a database is. LO 2: Be able to define some key features of a database. LO 3: Apply knowledge of databases to exam style questions

Starter What is a Database?

Definitions: �A database is a persistent organised store of data on a computer system. �A �A database is simply a container of information. database is a collection of information organized to provide efficient retrieval. The collected information could be in any number of formats (electronic, printed, graphic, audio, statistical, combinations). There are physical (paper/print) and electronic databases.

Examples of databases: Knowing what a database is can you think of some that people use in everyday life?

�A database can exist with just one table, or a database can have lots of tables. � The main idea here is that each table deals with one sort of item. � A company would have a separate table for their customers, a table of their products, a table of their suppliers, a table of their orders, and so on. � The database is really just a container that holds tables and manages how they can be used.

Key Features

Field: a single piece of data eg- name, D. O. B, telephone. Record: one complete set of fields eg one pupil’s school File: a collection of records eg a school database. Table: can store many records, from a few dozen for a small database up to millions for a large company database.

Activity What’s an entity? - something that we store data about in a database. Eg Video shop may keep track of customers, invoices, DVD’s, Rents. What’s an attribute? -A characteristic of an entity. It becomes a field in a data table. � List the entities you would expect to find on the school database

Key Database terms Entity Draw a table that looks like this in your word document: Fields Member Details Name Birthdate Address Contact. Number Ben Smith 26/06/89 27 Horseshoe Lane 555666 Rebecca Hill 07/02/91 45 Key Street 234542 Harry Jones 14/12/90 1 Grove Street 987567 Items Record Value

CRUD A Database is handled by Software. Database software has to be able to: CREATE RETRIEVE UPDATE DELETE

� Have the definition of a database � Examples of databases � Entities you would expect to find in a school database. � Have the table drawn showing key features. � Have definitions of key terms

Plenary Write your own exam questions and Mark Scheme for what you have learnt today.