Introduction to Databases

This chapter covers the basic concepts of database design followed by implementation of a specific relational database to illustrate the concepts. It discusses what are databases and database programs? various approaches to developing a Database, and relational data model and entity‐relationship model. A modern day database is a structured collection of data stored in a computer. File processing system is a precursor of the integrated database approach. A better alternative to a file processing system is an integrated database approach. Database development process may follow a classical Systems Development Life Cycle. The chapter utilizes a sample database CSE_DEPT to illustrate some essential database concepts. After identifying tables, attributes, and relationships, the next logical step in database design is to make sure that the database structure is optimum. Optimum structure is achieved by eliminating redundancies, various inefficiencies, and update and deletion anomalies that usually occur in the unnormalized or partially normalized databases.