Understanding DB2: Learning Visually with Examples (2nd Edition)

7.18. Summary

This chapter discussed the concept of databases, database partitions, and the DB2 database objects. Among the DB2 database objects, it explained how to work with partition groups, table spaces, buffer pools, tables, views, indexes, schemas, stored procedures, and so on. Some of these objects are further explained in Chapter 8, The DB2 Storage Model.

The chapter also discussed the DB2 data types (DB2 built-in and user-defined types), which are used as ways to define the columns of a table or as parameters to stored procedures and functions.

There was a detailed explanation about table objects because there are many topics associated with tables, such as constraints, referential integrity, the use of NULLs, identity columns, and table compression.

It also described indexes and the different clauses of the CREATE INDEX statement such as INCLUDE and ALLOW REVERSE SCANS. More complex subjects, such as multidimensional clustering (MDC) tables, were also discussed. MDC tables allow for greater flexibility to cluster your data by several dimensions.

Views and their classification (deleteable, updatable, insertable, and read-only) were also explored.

The chapter also introduced application-related objects such as packages, triggers, stored procedures, user-defined functions, and sequences. Although this is not a DB2 application development book, this chapter provided you with the foundation to understand these objects.

Referring to the figures presented in the chapter should help you remember all the concepts introduced.