Relational Database Theory

You do not have to be a relational-database design guru to administer and implement SQL Server 2008 servers and databases, but having a solid foundational understanding of relational database theory will help you make better decisions when creating databases. In this section, you will delve deeper into the concepts of data, information, tables, and table components. You'll also explore the common relationship types that exist between database tables.

Data

Data should not be confused with information. For example, the following list represents data:

  • 45908
  • Thomas
  • 43.27

When you look at this list, you cannot be certain what it represents. Is 43.27 a price, a percentage, or simply a precise value? Is the value 45908 a ...

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