Database Design for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design

Topics Covered in This Chapter

Types of Databases

Early Database Models

The Relational Database Model

Relational Database Management System

Beyond the Relational Model

What the Future Holds

Summary

Review Questions

The relational database has been in existence for over 25 years . It has spawned a multi-billion dollar industry, is the most widely used type of database in the world today, and is an essential part of our everyday lives. It is very likely that you are using a relational database every time you purchase goods at a store, make travel plans with your travel agent, check out a book at the library, or make a purchase on the Internet.

Before we delve into the design process, let's take a look at a brief history of the relational databasewhere it has come from, where it is now, and where it's going in the future.