Database systems support applications in business, education, research, and government by organizing, storing, and retrieving structured data efficiently. Understanding database design is essential for students and professionals working in software development, information systems, and data management.
A solid grasp of data models, relational structures, normalization, and SQL enables learners to design reliable, scalable, and consistent database systems. Introductory database courses typically focus on these core principles, forming the basis for more advanced study in data engineering, analytics, and systems architecture.
About the book
Database Design – 2nd Edition by Adrienne Watt and Nelson Eng is an open textbook created to support most introductory database courses. The stated purpose of the text is to provide comprehensive coverage of fundamental database concepts in an accessible, open-source format.
The book presents foundational theory alongside practical database design techniques. It covers historical context, core concepts, relational modeling, entity-relationship modeling, normalization, integrity constraints, and SQL.
It is intended for learners in early-stage database courses, including students in computer science, information systems, and related fields. While the text is introductory, it systematically progresses from conceptual foundations to relational theory and SQL, suggesting that readers should have general familiarity with computing concepts but not necessarily prior experience with databases.
The book is part of the B.C. Open Textbook project and is openly licensed, allowing redistribution and adaptation with proper attribution.
What you will learn
Readers of this book will develop a structured understanding of database systems and design principles. The material covers:
- The historical development of database systems and the motivations behind their evolution
- Core database concepts and terminology
- Characteristics and benefits of database systems
- Different types of data models
- Data modeling techniques
- Classification of database management systems (DBMS)
- The relational data model
- The entity-relationship (ER) data model
- Integrity rules and constraints
- ER modeling techniques
- Functional dependencies
- Normalization principles
- The database development process
- Roles and types of database users
- SQL, including structured query language and data manipulation language
The appendices provide applied learning materials, including a university registration data model example, ERD exercises, and an SQL lab with solutions. These sections reinforce conceptual knowledge with practical modeling and query-writing exercises.
4. Table of contents
- Preface
- About the Book
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 Before the Advent of Database Systems
Chapter 2 Fundamental Concepts
Chapter 3 Characteristics and Benefits of a Database
Chapter 4 Types of Data Models
Chapter 5 Data Modelling
Chapter 6 Classification of Database Management Systems
Chapter 7 The Relational Data Model
Chapter 8 The Entity Relationship Data Model
Chapter 9 Integrity Rules and Constraints
Chapter 10 ER Modelling
Chapter 11 Functional Dependencies
Chapter 12 Normalization
Chapter 13 Database Development Process
Chapter 14 Database Users
Chapter 15 SQL Structured Query Language
Chapter 16 SQL Data Manipulation Language - Appendix A University Registration Data Model Example
Appendix B Sample ERD Exercises
Appendix C SQL Lab with Solution
About the Authors
Book details
- Title: Database Design – 2nd Edition
- Author(s): Adrienne Watt; Nelson Eng
- Main category: Databases
- Subcategory: SQL
- License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY); unless otherwise noted, released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY) allowing copying, redistribution, modification, and adaptation with proper attribution.
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