Unit 1- Understanding Database Systems Flashcards
What’s a database management system (DBMS)?
This is the
software that manages and controls access to the
database.
What’s a database?
A database is a collection of related data.
What’s a Character?
Collection of related bits (8-bits - byte)
What’s a – Fields (columns):?
single category of data to be
stored in a database
What’re a – Records (rows/tuples):
collection of related
fields in a database
What’s a table?
collection of related records
What’s a file?
a group of related records
What’s a primary key?
A primary key is a constraint in a table which uniquely
identifies each row record in a database
Characteristics of primary keys?
- There can be only one primary key in a table.
- Null or duplicate values are not allowed for the primary
key column - A primary key column must contain unique values
Characteristics of primary keys?
- There can be only one primary key in a table.
- Null or duplicate values are not allowed for the primary
key column - A primary key column must contain unique values
What’s a foreign key?
Foreign keys are the field of the table used to point to the
primary key of another table.
Characteristics of foreign keys
- Using a foreign key we can identify records from multiple
tables. - It accepts duplicate values as well as null values.
- The purpose of foreign keys is to maintain data integrity and
allow navigation between two different instances of an entity. - Foreign key also helps you to reduce data redundancy.
whats a candidate key?
A candidate key is a set of one or multiple columns in a
database table.
Characteristics of candidate keys
- It can identify a record uniquely just like a primary key.
- The Primary Key of a table is selected from one of the
candidate keys. - So, candidate keys have the same properties as the primary
keys.
– Candidate Key is a super key with no repeated attributes. - There can be more than one candidate keys in a table.
What’s a secondary key?
A secondary key shows the secondary value that is
unique for each record
Characteristics of secondary key
- In the event that a primary key is not enough to
distinguish the record, a secondary key can be used
to identify the record - It is also termed as Alternate Key
What’s a composite key?
Composite Key is a combination of two or more columns
that uniquely identify rows in a table.
Characteristics of composite key
The attributes in the set may not be unique when
considered separately.
* However, when taken all together, they will ensure
uniqueness.
– The combination of columns guarantees uniqueness,
though individual uniqueness is not guaranteed.
Whats a super key?
A super key is a group of single or multiple keys which
identifies rows in a table.
– Super Key is the set of all the keys which help to identify rows in a
table uniquely
Characteristics of Super key
- This means that all those columns of a table than capable of
identifying the other columns of that table uniquely will all
be considered super keys. - A Super key may have additional attributes not needed for
unique identification. - A super key is a superset of a candidate key
Whats An index key
An index key is a column, an ordered collection of columns, or an
expression on which you define an index.
What is Structural dependence?
This exists when changes in the database
structure affect DBMS ability to access data