What is Database Design?

An article by Jorge Reis    Comments Off on What is Database Design?

In simple terms, a database is your electronic data filing system that keeps all the records of your documents and files and helps you organize them as well for future use. A database is important in that it creates an organized system of keeping all your information in a single or multiple file which you can easily access whenever you need them.

However, there’s a lot more to consider than just deciding to get a program to manage your database system for you. You database design will determine whether your database system will work for your benefit or not. Nonetheless, there’s no need to be scared of the whole prospect of getting your database organized with all this talk of database designs and programs.

Understanding how it works is really very simple, and knowing what you really need will tremendously help in determining what kind of database design is right for you.

The Right Database Design

If you’re unsure about this one, you can always get the help of a database manager to work on your data filing system. But whether you’re planning to design your own or get someone else to do it for you, it will help if you know what you’re dealing with.

In a word, your database design should meet your requirements in such a way that your work will be made easier. You can easily access it, add data, remove data and simply manipulate it without breaking a sweat.

If you’re only looking at a single file database, you may want to try designing your own database. This way, you will know how it works inside and out. If you’re familiar with spreadsheets found in your usual office applications, then you can understand how a single file database works.

While you may be wondering why you should opt for a database system when, in fact, a spreadsheet already works for you, a database can do more for you. A database system can work on multiple data entries with one command. This alone cuts your workload by more than fifty percent.

Keys and Values

The way your database program works is through a combination of keys and values that you will input which, when typed, will give you the exact item that you want, based on your design.

Remember that these keys and values are very crucial in the output of your database and you may not always get the exact thing that you want on the first try, so what you can do is to perform a dry-run of what you’ve designed and key-in your commands.

Usually, the programs that you get to help you organize your files for single file databases already have templates and fixed programs for the tasks at hand. However, you can still create your own design according to your specifications. This way, you can modify and improve the design until you’re fully satisfied with it. The thing to remember with databases is that, when you breakdown your data into several categories, the design almost always becomes more accurate and easier to manipulate.