Mysql - Introduction: What Is A Database?
Mysql - Introduction: What Is A Database?
Mysql - Introduction: What Is A Database?
What is a Database?
A database is a separate application that stores a collection of data. Each database
has one or more distinct APIs for creating, accessing, managing, searching and
replicating the data it holds.
Other kinds of data stores can also be used, such as files on the file system or large
hash tables in memory but data fetching and writing would not be so fast and easy with
those type of systems.
RDBMS Terminology
Before we proceed to explain the MySQL database system, let us revise a few
definitions related to the database.
Table − A table is a matrix with data. A table in a database looks like a simple
spreadsheet.
Column − One column (data element) contains data of one and the same kind,
for example the column postcode.
Row − A row (= tuple, entry or record) is a group of related data, for example the
data of one subscription.
Foreign Key − A foreign key is the linking pin between two tables.
Referential Integrity − Referential Integrity makes sure that a foreign key value
always points to an existing row.
MySQL Database
MySQL is a fast, easy-to-use RDBMS being used for many small and big businesses.
MySQL is developed, marketed and supported by MySQL AB, which is a Swedish
company. MySQL is becoming so popular because of many good reasons −
MySQL is a very powerful program in its own right. It handles a large subset of
the functionality of the most expensive and powerful database packages.
MySQL works on many operating systems and with many languages including
PHP, PERL, C, C++, JAVA, etc.
MySQL works very quickly and works well even with large data sets.
MySQL is very friendly to PHP, the most appreciated language for web
development.
This tutorial focuses heavily on using MySQL in a PHP environment. Many examples
given in this tutorial will be useful for PHP Programmers.