APPENDIX A
Databases 101
Let’s begin with some simple definitions. A databaseis a piece of software that governs the storage, retrieval, deletion, and integrity of data. Databases are organized into tables. Tables have columns (or if you prefer, fields), and data are stored in rows. If you’re familiar with spreadsheets, then the idea is fairly similar. Of course, databases blow spreadsheets out of the water in terms of power and performance.
Structured Query Language (SQL)is the standard way of communicating with databases. Using SQL, you can view column information, fetch a particular row or a set a rows, and search for rows containing certain ...
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