Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Part B
The Relational Database
Model
The next seven chapters will focus on the relational database model. As pointed
out in chapter 1, there are other approaches to database design, but the relational
model reigns supreme: it is superior to other traditional approaches; it remains a
strong, viable alternative to or complement of (depending on your perspective)
the more contemporary object-oriented model. Even if your choice is to construct
an object database, a working knowledge of the relational model will still be
required. For these and other reasons, mastery of the relational model is essential
to good database administration and software engineering. The objectives of this
division are
•
to clearly define, describe and discuss the relational
database model;
•
to discuss how databases are planned, represented and
implemented;
•
to discuss the theory, rationale, and practical
ramifications of normalization;
•
to discuss important database integrity rules;
•
to discuss relational algebra and relational calculus as the
foundations to modern database languages;
•
to discuss the standards to which database management
systems ought to attain.
