3.2.2

Databases

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Flat-File Databases

Flat-file databases are used to store records of information in order to be searched or queried at a later date.

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Structure of flat-file databases

  • A flat-file database is one that has a single table to store data about an 'entity'.
  • The table stores data in fields (columns) such as date of birth.
  • A record (row) of information is a complete set of fields put together.
    • This could be a person's details such as name, address, date of birth, telephone number.
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Redundancy

  • Redundant data is data that is repeated in a database.
  • A single table file is inefficient as it is full of redundant data
Illustrative background for Primary keyIllustrative background for Primary key ?? "content

Primary key

  • A primary key is a field used to uniquely identify a specific row of data in a table.
  • For example, each student in a college database will have a student ID number that is unique to each student that can be used as a primary key

Jump to other topics

1Components of a Computer

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.2Thinking Ahead

6.3Thinking Procedurally

6.4Thinking Logically

6.5Thinking Concurrently

7Problem Solving & Programming

8Algorithms

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