Term
|
Definition
A database is a collection of related information.
Examples of a database include - address book, phone book, family tree, diary, report card, score card or any other information that is presented in a list of items. |
|
|
Term
| What does a computer database do? |
|
Definition
| A computer database organizes stored data in a meaningful way and allows you to pull out just the information you need. |
|
|
Term
| What is a collection of rows and columns? |
|
Definition
| In SQL, a collection of rows and columns is a database table. |
|
|
Term
| What is the technical term for a row in a table? |
|
Definition
A row is technically a record.
|
|
|
Term
| What is another name for a column? |
|
Definition
| A column can also be known as a data field or just field. |
|
|
Term
| What is the value of NULL? |
|
Definition
NULL means 'nothing' or 'unassigned'.
Null does not mean zero or blank. It is a value used only in computer programming. |
|
|
Term
| What is an 'unpopulated' table? |
|
Definition
| An unpopulated table is a database table with no records. An empty table. |
|
|
Term
| Should records be unique in some fashion? |
|
Definition
| Yes. It is important that we can uniquely identify each record by one or more columns/fields of data. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A constraint is a way to limit the information or ability of the data, table or database.
It is something you cannot do - think of it as boundaries. |
|
|
Term
| What is another name for the data within a field or column? |
|
Definition
| Data within a field or column is known as the column or field value. |
|
|
Term
| What does RDBMS stand for? |
|
Definition
| Relational Database Management System |
|
|
Term
| What is a Relational Database Management System? |
|
Definition
An RDBMS (relational database management system) is type of database system that lets you have more then one table and create 'relationships' between the tables.
Relationships are much like members of a family for humans. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A datatype, or variable type, declares the type of data that is held in a field in a table. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A question you ask of the database through a computer language. |
|
|
Term
| What is a record or result set? |
|
Definition
The records returned by the database in answer to your query.
"What day is it?" = query
"Thursday!" = result |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
"S"tructured "Q"uery "L"anguage
Pronounced S-Q-L or sequel |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| SQL is a computer language that is used to manipulate data in a computer database. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A command is an instruction or order you give to the computer. |
|
|
Term
| Can you use SQL to write non-database programs? |
|
Definition
| No. SQL can only be used to interact, control, manage a database. |
|
|
Term
| What is the difference between information and data? |
|
Definition
| Data is the "raw" values or 'data' stored in the database and information is what you make of the data. |
|
|
