Sams Teach Yourself MySQL in 21 Days, Second Edition

Introduction

Since the idea of a relational database management system (RDBMS) was conceived in the early 1970s, databases have evolved from being ways to store data electronically to cornerstones of many business operations.

Whether an RDBMS is used as a data warehouse or as a means of accessing key information rapidly, so useful are these systems that they are now integrated into the workflow of almost every organization. In many cases, an RDBMS is an organization's most valuable intangible asset.

The proliferation of Internet usage by organizations and individuals has made databases more important—and powerful—than ever before. When a database is accessible over the Internet or a company intranet, things become possible that never were before. ...