Database Terminology: Computer Science OCR: GCSE (9:1)

Database

An electronic, persistent and organised storage of related data

Relational Database

A database which contains multiple tables that could be linked using relationships.

Table Relationship

A method of linking two tables together in a relational database.

Table

Storing multiple records about the same topic.

Record

Storing multiple pieces of information about a single person or object.

Field

Storing a single piece of information about a person or object.

Primary Key

A unique piece of information stored about a person or object.

Foreign Key

A field in a table which will be the primary key in a different table.

Report

The results which are returned from a database query.

Query

A search conducted on a database, using specified criteria.

Form

Method used to capture and add data to a database.

One to One Relationship

When one record in table 1 can be linked to a single record in table 2 and vice versa. Eg. One person has one passport, and a passport is owned by one person

One to Many Relationship

When one record in a table 1 can be linked to multiple records in table 2, but the records in table 2 can only be linked to one record in table 1. Eg. 1 school has many pupils and many pupils have 1 school.

Many to Many Relationship

When many records in table one can be linked to many records in table 2 and vice versa. Eg. Many pupils have many classes and many classes have many students.