Key Terms

access control

security-driven restriction of access to ensure that only authenticated users are able to interact with specific resources

ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability)

characteristics that ensure transactions are fully completed or not executed (atomicity), the database remains accurate and follows its rules (consistency), transactions do not interfere with each other (isolation), and a transaction stays saved even if the system crashes (durability)

B-tree index

most common type of index; maintains a balanced tree structure, providing efficient insertion, deletion, and lookup operations

back end

part of a software application that handles data, logic, and operations, supporting what users interact with on the front end

bitmap index

type of index that uses 0s and 1s to show where a value is in a database

check constraint

rule that specifies the value that can be entered into a column

conceptual design

creation of a simple model of data for database design, focusing on what is needed and how it is connected

data cleanliness

accuracy and consistency of data and the lack of duplicated or missing information

data consistency

data remain consistent and accurate across the database

data independence

data can be restructured without affecting the programs that use it

data lake

type of database that stores large amounts of raw data in their original format until the data are needed

data life cycle

stages that data undergo from creation to deletion, ensuring data remain accurate, accessible, and valuable throughout their life cycle

data redundancy

duplication of data

data retrieval

process of obtaining specific information from a database or storage system

data warehouse

type of database that integrates data from various sources and stores them in a combined manner

database access tool

provides graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to facilitate database interaction without writing extensive code

database management system (DBMS)

software system that manages, stores, and process data, ensuring it is organized, accessible, and secure

database schema

structure of tables, including columns and data types

denormalization

addition of redundant data for the purpose of making things run faster and meeting specific requirements

foreign key

column or set of columns in one table that establishes a relationship with the primary key in another table

front end

part of a software application that users interact with, including the design and user interface

functional dependency

how one piece of data relates to another within a table

hash index

type of index that uses a hash function to map data to a fixed-size table

indexing

technique used to improve the speed of data retrieval operations in a database

integration test

test to check the interaction between modules

logical design

detailed database model that defines tables, columns, primary keys, and foreign keys

normalization

technique in the design process where data are organized and stored only once, to eliminate the duplication of data

NoSQL database (Not Only SQL)

database that does not use the traditional table structure of SQL databases

NoSQL database management system

type of database that provides a mechanism for storing and retrieving data that is not based on the traditional relational database model

object-oriented database management system (OODBMS)

database management system that stores data in the form of objects, similar to the way data are represented in object-oriented programming

orphaned record

record that references another record that no longer exists

physical design

creation of a physical structure from a logical design via actual implementation in the database

primary key

unique identifier for each data entry in a database table

referential constraint

maintains relationship between tables, making sure that a foreign key in one table matches a primary key in another table

relational database

stores data in tables with rows and columns, making it ideal for structured data

relational database management system (RDBMS)

database management system that stores and organizes data in a structured way using tables

requirements analysis

studying how a business operates to determine what data should be stored and how the data should be used

semistructured data

data that have some organization but do not fit neatly into tables

structured data

data that are highly organized and easily searchable

Structured Query Language (SQL)

standard language used to query and manage data in relational databases

system test

test to evaluate the overall functionality

unit test

test to verify individual functions

unstructured data

data that lack predefined structure and require advanced techniques for analysis

user acceptance testing

test to ensure the system meets the needs of end users