2Relational Overview
Recall the question posed in Chapter 1: What is a database? The answer given there was:
A database is a tool that stores data and lets you create, read, update, and delete the data in some manner.
This broad definition allows you to consider all sorts of odd things as databases, including notebooks, filing cabinets, and your brain. If you're flexible about what you consider data, then this definition includes even stranger objects like a chess set (which stores board positions) or a parking lot (which stores car types and positions, although it might be hard for you to update any given car's position without the owner's consent).
This chapter begins our move into the realm of computerized databases.
Relational databases are the most commonly used computerized databases today, and most of this book (and other database books) focus on them. Relational databases are useful in a huge number of situations, but they're not the only game in town. Sometimes, a different kind of database may make more sense for your particular problem, so I'll say more about nonrelational databases in the next chapter and later in the book. For now, though, let's focus on relational databases.
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