📚 Topic Summary
Database design best practices are a set of guidelines that help ensure a database is efficient, reliable, and easy to maintain. For high school computer science, this means focusing on organizing data logically, avoiding redundancy, and ensuring data integrity. A well-designed database makes it easier to store, retrieve, and update information, which is crucial for any application that relies on data management. Think of it like organizing your room – a good system makes everything easier to find and use!
🧠 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the term with its definition:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Primary Key |
A. A column that uniquely identifies each row in a table. |
| 2. Foreign Key |
B. A field in one table that refers to the primary key of another table. |
| 3. Normalization |
C. The process of organizing data to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity. |
| 4. Entity |
D. A real-world object or concept about which data is stored. |
| 5. Relationship |
E. An association between two or more entities. |
(Match the terms with their definitions. For example: 1-A, 2-B, etc.)
✏️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph with the correct words:
__________ is the process of organizing data in a database to minimize __________ and ensure data __________. Each table should have a __________ key to uniquely identify each record, and __________ keys are used to establish relationships between tables. Proper database design helps maintain __________ and efficiency.
(Word Bank: Redundancy, Normalization, Primary, Integrity, Foreign)
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Why is database design important, and how can poor database design impact an application's performance and reliability?