Relational database is a data storage method, which archives them in an organized way through a set of tables with different rows and columns. This mechanism allows implementing different functionalities and previously defining the relationships of the items that will be archived.
Check out what are the main features of relational database!
What is Relational Database?
Relational database or DBMS (Relational Database Management System) is a mechanism that stores and organizes data points in order to provide fast, flexible and efficient access, being one of the most common forms of storage today.
The mechanism works as a collection of data, which are stored in a table that has columns and rows, where the information is retained.
For example, each column stores a type of data called an attribute, which can have its name changed as needed, such as “suppliers”. While each line stores the attribute value, which would be the name of each vendor. This process is known as “normalization”, as it is responsible for creating and establishing the relationship between each table, in order to make the database more flexible and eliminate redundancy between the stored information.
RELATIONAL RB TABLE | ||
COLUMN | ATTRIBUTE | SUPPLIERS |
LINE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE | SUPPLIER'S NAME |
LINE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE | SUPPLIER'S NAME |
LINE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE | SUPPLIER'S NAME |
Access to the information contained in the relational database is performed through 2 keys: primary key and foreign key, they are the identifier responsible for helping to search for data in a simple way, since each column and row of a table has its own own key that never repeat.
Primary key/Primary Key (PK) – It is a rule imposed on the columns of a table, responsible for identifying the information in order to guarantee that the values are not repeated.
Example: In a customer identification table, the column with information that makes each customer unique cannot have repeated attributes, while the name, sex, age columns can. To avoid this duplication, the primary key is used.
Foreign Key (FK) – Rule that can define the behavior of columns and enables communication between different tables, causing the information contained in a primary key to be referenced. Through the foreign key, it is possible to establish relationships in a relational database.
Example: It associates a column of a table with information about “suppliers” with a column of a table of “orders”, in order to have a control over the requests that were made.
The Main Characteristics of the Relational Database
The relational database has some attributes that favor the organization, as it allows access to data in a structured and automated way. Its main features are called ACID.
Atomicity – Defines database transaction elements, maintains data accuracy, and ensures compliance with company rules, regulations, and policy.
Consistency – Protects data integrity by following the rules that have been established, thus allowing only operations that have passed database verification to be performed.
Isolation – Makes it possible to carry out several transactions within the database without interfering with each other.
Durability – Preserves data after operations, nullifying the risk of losing data in case of system failure, this factor guarantees the durability of the relational database.
The relational database was created to understand the commands of the SQL programming language (Structured Query Language), used to store, manipulate and retrieve data. These commands can be of several types, being subdivided by the type of operation being performed on the database.
Some of the main relational databases currently used are: MySQL, PostgresSQL and SQLServer.
The relational database stands out in its data constancy, as it guarantees that all its instances have the same content simultaneously. Therefore, it becomes an essential mechanism for operations that use real-time data, such as online shopping cart transactions, for example.
Other characteristics that make the relational database very popular are its flexibility – which allows data to be easily modeled, added, deleted or transformed – and the practicality of establishing relationships between its data points, due to its structure.
Differences between relational and non-relational databases
As seen earlier, the relational database is an intuitive model, which represents data in tables, columns and rows. The non-relational database does not have this same structure. In it, instead, the data is stored in a structure optimized for the specific requirements of the type of data to be stored.
The relational database offers a structured data store, which ensures consolidated transactional control.
While the non-relational database does not require the same rigidity to be able to store the data, it is more flexible, as it does not limit the fields and allows the definition of a personalized schema.
How to send data to a Relational Database?
Now that you know what a relational database is, discover the ideal tool to transfer your data: