Database Terms

Question 1

Data?

Answer 1

In terms of computing, data can be seen as quantities, characters or symbols
A computer is then able to perform operations on these items known as data
In a database, data refers to the values of which are stored within the database structure

Question 2

Field?

Answer 2

A field is the smallest unit of information that can be accessed from within a database
Fields can also be seen as columns, as the title of each field makes up the column’s name
Database tables are made up of columns and rows consisting of fields that hold a value

Question 3

Record?

Answer 3

A record is a group of fields in a database that are related to one entry
A record can also be seen as a row
Remember: records (or rows) follow a horizontal path

Question 4

Relation?

Answer 4

The word relation is used interchangeably with the word table
They both provide information about an entity in a database
Examples of these would be; customer, order, product,
It was created by E.F Codd the father of relational databases
It goes with tuples (rows), which have attributes (columns) to make up a relation (table).

Question 5

Atomicity

Answer 5

A system that allows you conduct a full transaction, or no transaction at all.
Atomicity is to ensure it all works, or it doesn’t work.
This a good thing, If you are transferring money to pay a bill or to give to someone. You don’t want to be stuck halfway wondering whether it went through or not.
It can do this by monitoring the transaction. Read > Copy > Update.
If a system crashes, it ignores incomplete transactions.