Lesson Notes — Databases — Records, Fields, and Tables

Course 1: Computer Literacy / Unit 4: Digital Productivity Applications / Lesson 3: Databases — Records, Fields, and Tables

Lesson overview

A database is an organized collection of information that makes it easy to store, find, and update. Schools, stores, hospitals, and games all rely on databases. If you have ever searched your contacts list, you have used one.

The building blocks

• A table holds information about one kind of thing, such as students.
• A record is one row in the table, which describes one item or person.
• A field is one column, which holds one type of information, such as grade level.
• A primary key is a field whose value is unique for every record, like a student ID number. It makes sure two records can never be confused.

In this table, each row is a record, each column is a field, and Student ID is the primary key.

Working with the data

• Sorting puts records in order, such as alphabetically by name.
• Filtering shows only the records that match a rule, such as Grade equals 10.
• A query is a question you ask the database, such as which students are in the Chess club.
• A schema is the plan for how the database is built: its tables, fields, and the type of data each field holds.
• Data integrity means the information is accurate and consistent. Rules such as required fields and unique IDs help protect it.

Spreadsheet or database?

A spreadsheet is great for calculating and for small lists. A database is better when you have a lot of information, when many people use it, or when different tables connect to each other.

Check your understanding

1. In the table above, how many records and how many fields are there?
2. Why would a school not use a person’s name as the primary key?
3. Write a query in plain English to find all students in Grade 10.

Use this lesson’s Key Terms page to build your glossary.