CO2102 - Introduction to Databases Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, key definitions, and relational terminology from Introduction to Databases lecture notes.

File-Based Approach

An early method of data management consisting of a collection of application programs that perform services for end-users, where each program defines and manages its own data.

Database

A shared collection of logically related data and a description of this data, designed to be easily accessed, managed, updated, and meet the information needs of an organization.

Relational Database

A tabular database invented by E.F. Codd at IBM in 1970 in which data is defined so that it can be reorganized and accessed in a number of different ways.

Structured Query Language (SQL)

The standard user and application program interface for a relational database used for specifying queries and data operations.

Data Model

An integrated collection of concepts for describing data, relationships between data, and constraints on the data, comprising a structural part, integrity rules, and a manipulative part.

Entity

A thing, object, or concept in the real world that can be distinguished from other objects.

Attribute

A property or characteristic of an entity.

Relation

The formal term in the relational model for a table, representing a set of entities of the same type.

Tuple

The formal term in the relational model for a row in a table, representing a single entity instance.

Cell

An atomic place in a database table containing a single, indivisible value.

Degree

The total number of columns or attributes in a relation.

Cardinality

The total number of rows or tuples in a relation.

Superkey

A set of one or more attributes (or combination of columns) that uniquely identifies an entity or row within a relation.

Candidate Key

A superkey that has been reduced to the minimum number of columns required to uniquely identify each row in a relation.

Primary Key

The candidate key selected to uniquely identify rows or records within a relation.

Foreign Key

An attribute or set of attributes in a table that matches or references a candidate key of another table to maintain referential integrity.

Relation Schema

A specification of a relation consisting of a set of attribute names and their corresponding domains.

Relational Integrity

A set of rules (comprising domain constraints, entity integrity rules, and referential integrity rules) designed to ensure data accuracy.

Null

A special marker used in a database to represent an attribute value that is currently unknown or not applicable.

Entity Integrity Rule

A relational rule stating that no cell under a primary key column in a database table can contain a null value.

Referential Integrity Rule

A relational rule stating that if a foreign key exists in a table, its value must either match a candidate key value of a row in its home table or be null.

Query-by-Example (QBE)

A visual method for specifying queries to search for specific data in a database.

Relational Model Terminology Mapping

A comparison chart mapping key relational database concepts across User, Relational Model, and Programmer terminology.

Anatomy of a Relation

A labeled diagram illustrating key relational concepts, including Relation (table), Primary Key, Attributes (Degree), Tuples (Cardinality), and Domains.