1.3.2: databases

• What is a relational database?


  A database which recognises the difference between entities and uses different tables for each entity.
• What is an entity?

  An item of interest about which information is stored.
• What is a flat file


  A database that consists of a single file, usually about one entity.
• What is a primary key?


  A unique identifier for each record in a table.
• What is a foreign key


  The attribute which links two tables together.
• What is a secondary key?

  An index other than the primary key used to search and sort through the database with more convenience and speed.
• What does capturing data mean?

  The process of getting the information that will be stored in the database.
• What method do banks use to capture data from cheques?

  Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) is used for all of the details apart from the amount which must be entered manually.
• What does selecting data mean

  Selecting data is the process of removing excess information to extract only the data you require
• What does managing the data mean?

  To manipulate the information collected in any type of way such as through sorting through it or selecting certain parts using SQL.
• What is the most common language used to manipulate data in databases

  SQL (Structured Query Language)