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Introduction to Data Management > Database Design for Mere Mortals Ch. 1-5 > Flashcards

Database Design for Mere Mortals Ch. 1-5 Flashcards

Database Design for Mere Mortals Ch. 1-5, AZ900 Module 1-3, DP900 Module 1-3

1
Q

What are the 2 type of databases in database management?

A

Operational and analytical databases

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2
Q

What database is primarily used in online transaction processing (OLTP) scenarios, and is dynamic (changes constantly and always reflects up-to-the-minute information?

A

Operational databases

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3
Q

What type of data does an analytical database store?

A

Static data

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4
Q

How do you retrieve data in a relational database?

A

By using SQL, Structured Query Language

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5
Q

Name one of the branches of mathematics on which the relational model is based.

A

— Set theory
— First-order predicate logic

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6
Q

How does a relational database store data?

A

Stores data in relations, which the user perceives as tables

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7
Q

Name the three types of relationships in a relational database.

A

— One-to-one
— One-to-many
— Many-to-many

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8
Q

State two advantages of a relational database.

A

— Guaranteed data consistency and accuracy
— Easy Data retrieval
— Built-in multilevel integrity
— Logical and physical data independence from database applications

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9
Q

A software application program you use to create, maintain, modify, and manipulate a relational database is called?

A

A relational database management system (RDBMS)

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10
Q

Why did some companies have a hard time implementing the relational database?

A

Multi-table queries were initially hard to implement. Building and displaying a given query could take up a lot of processing time if it was drawing data from a number of tables, especially if the tables had a great number of records

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11
Q

True or False: Mobile devices are limited to gigabytes of storage.

A

False

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12
Q

When is the best time to use an RDBMS program’s design tools?

A

After you design the logical structure of the database

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13
Q

True or False: Design is crucial to the consistency, integrity, and accuracy of data.

A

True

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14
Q

What is the most detrimental result of improper database design?

A

Inaccurate information

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15
Q

The relational database is based on what two branches of mathematics, which allows the relational database to guarantee accurate information?

A

Set theory and first-order predicate logic

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16
Q

What are some advantages from learning and using a good design methodology?

A
  • Gives you the skills you need to design a sound database structure
  • Provides you with an organized set of techniques that will guide you step by step through the design process
  • Helps you keep your missteps and design reiterations to a minimum
  • Makes the design process easier and reduces the amount of tie you spend designing the database
  • Helps you understand and use your RDBMS application program more fully and effectively
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17
Q

State two objectives of good design.

A

— The database supports both required and ad hoc information retrieval
— The tables are constructed properly and efficiently
— Data integrity is imposed at the field, table, and relationship levels
— The database supports business rules relevant to the organization
— The database lends itself to future growth

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18
Q

What helps to guarantee that data structures and their values are valid and accurate at all times?

A

Data integrity

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19
Q

True or False: You will use your RDBMS program more effectively if you understand database design.

A

True

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20
Q

State two benefits of applying good design techniques.

A

— Database structure is easy to modify and maintain
— Data is easy to modify
— Information is easy to retrieve
— End-user applications are easy to develop and build

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21
Q

True or False: You can take shortcuts through come of the design processes and still arrive at a good, sound design.

A

False

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22
Q

Why is terminology important?

A

— Used to express and define the special ideas and concepts of the relational database model
— Used to express and define the database design process itself
— Used anywhere a relational database or RDBMS is discussed

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23
Q

Name the 4 categories of terms.

A

— Value-related
— Structure-related
— Relationship-related
— Integrity-related

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24
Q

What is the difference between data and information?

A

The values you store in the database are data. Information is data that you process in a manner that makes it meaningful and useful to you when you work with it or view it.

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25
Q

What does null represent?

A

A missing or unknown value

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26
Q

What are the chief structures in the database?

A

Tables

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27
Q

A major disadvantage of null is?

A

It has an adverse effect on mathematical operations. An operation involving a null evaluates to null.

28
Q

Name three types of tables.

A

— Data tables
— Linking tables
— Validation tables

29
Q

What is a view?

A

A virtual table composed of fields from one or more base tables in the database

30
Q

State the difference between a key and an index.

A

A key is a logical structure that you use to identify records within a table, and an index is a physical structure that you use to optimize data processing

31
Q

What are the three types of relationships that can exist between a pair of tables?

A
  1. One-to-one
  2. One-to-many
  3. Many-to-many
32
Q

What are the three ways in which you can characterize a relationship?

A
  1. By the type of relationship that exists between the tables
  2. The manner in which each table participates
  3. The degree to which each table participates
33
Q

What is a field specification?

A

Represents all the elements of a field

34
Q

What three types of elements does a field specification incorporate?

A
  1. General
  2. Physical
  3. Logical
35
Q

What is data integrity?

A

Refers to the validity, consistency, and accuracy of the data in a database

36
Q

Name four types of data integrity.

A
  1. Field-level
  2. Table-level
  3. Relationship-level
  4. Business rules
37
Q

Why is it important to complete the design process thoroughly?

A

It helps you ensure a sound structure and data integrity

38
Q

True or False: The level of structural integrity is in direct proportion to how thoroughly you follow the design process.

A

True

39
Q

What is the purpose of a mission statement?

A

Identifies the purpose of your database

40
Q

What are mission objectives?

A

Statements that represent the general tasks your users can perform against the data in the database.

41
Q

What constitutes your organization’s fundamental data requirements?

A

The list of fields and calculations that you compile during the second phase of the design process

42
Q

How do you determine the various subjects that the tables will represent?

A

From the mission objectives you wrote during the first phase of the design process and the data requirements you gathered during the second phase

43
Q

True or False: You establish field specifications for each field in the database during the second phase of the database design process.

A

False

44
Q

How do you establish a logical connection between the tables in a relationship?

A

Either with primary keys and foreign keys, or with a linking table

45
Q

What determines a set of limitations and requirements that you must build into the database?

A

The manner in which your organization views and uses its data

46
Q

What can you design and implement to support certain business rules?

A

Validation tables

47
Q

How do you determine the types of views you need to build in the database?

A

By interviewing users and management and determining how they work with their respective data

48
Q

When can you implement your logical structure in an RDBMS program?

A

After you’ve completed the entire database design process

49
Q

Why are interviews important?

A

They provide a valuable communication link between you (the developer) and the people for whom you’re designing the database. They help ensure the success of your design efforts, and they provided critical information that can affect the design of the database structure.

50
Q

What problem can arise when you conduct an interview with a large number of people?

A

The intimidation level of some participants will rise in direct proportion to the number of participants taking part in the interview as a whole

51
Q

What is the primary reason for conducting separate interviews with users and management?

A

Each group has a different perspective on the organization as a whole and on how the organization uses its data on a daily basis.

52
Q

True or False: You’ll commonly use closed questions in your interviews

A

False

53
Q

What kind of responses should you try to evoke from the interview participants?

A

You should try to elicit complete, descriptive responses

54
Q

What is the single most important guideline for every interview you conduct?

A

Always to maintain control of the interview

55
Q

What is a mission statement?

A

A mission statement declares the specific purpose of the database in general terms

56
Q

State two characteristics of a well-written mission statement.

A

— Ambiguous
— Succinct and to the point
— Free of phrases or sentences that explicitly describe specific tasks

57
Q

True or False: You need not learn about the organization to compose a mission statement.

A

False

58
Q

When is your mission statement complete?

A

When you have a sentence that describes the specific purpose of the database and is understood and agreed on by everyone concerned.

59
Q

What is a mission objective?

A

A statement that represents a single, general task supported by the data maintained in the database

60
Q

State two characteristics of a well-written mission objective.

A

— A declarative sentence that clearly defines a general task and is free from unnecessary details
— Expressed in general terms
— Succinct and to the point
— Unambiguous

61
Q

True or False: You should interview users and management to help you define mission objectives

A

True

62
Q

How does the staff’s daily work relate to the mission objectives?

A

Many of the tasks they perform will become mission objectives

63
Q

True or False: A mission objective can describe more than one task

A

False

64
Q

State two ways that a mission objective can be derived from a response.

A

Either explicitly or implicitly

65
Q

When is a mission objective complete?

A

Mission objectives

Introduction to Data Management (8 decks)

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