Relational Databases: Core Concepts, Terminologies, and Integrity Rules

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental database concepts, relational table components, six relational properties, and relationship integrity rules (Candidate, Primary, Foreign keys, Entity Integrity, and Referential Integrity).

Database

A collection of inter-related data linked together by some mechanism.

Database Management System (DBMS)

A collection of programs used to manage (update, insert, delete, select), protect, and control access to the database.

Relation

A 2-dimensional table in a relational database.

Cell

The intersection between a row and a column in a relation.

Tuple (Record)

An individual row in a table that represents a single object in the relation.

Attribute

A column name of a table that defines the characteristics of the object.

NULL

A special value allowed in a relational database indicating that the attribute value is UNKNOWN or NOT APPLICABLE.

Attribute Domain

The set of allowable values or description of possible values for a given attribute.

Relational Database

A collection of inter-related, proper form relations.

Candidate Key

An attribute (column) or a minimal group of attributes that can uniquely IDENTIFY a tuple in a relation.

Primary Key

The official identifier of a relation, selected from the most suitable candidate key.

Composite Primary Key

A primary key formed when the chosen candidate key consists of a group of multiple attributes.

Foreign Key

An attribute (column) or a group of attributes (2 or more columns) within a relation that matches the value of the primary key or candidate key of the home or another relation.

Entity Integrity Rule

An integrity rule stating that the attribute or combination of attributes of a primary key cannot be NULL, and no two records can have duplicate primary key values.

Referential Integrity Rule

An integrity rule specifying that the value of a foreign key in one table must either match the value of the primary key in another table, or be NULL.

Six Properties of a Relation

The mandatory conditions of a table: unique relation name, single-valued cells, unique attribute names, attribute values from the same domain, order of tuples/attributes does not matter, and unique tuples (no duplicates).