Relational Database Design [Published 08.2023]

An Introduction to Data Modeling

What you'll learn

• Explain what relational database is
• Understand how to avoid problems that can happen when we store data in tables
• Design a database model that meets business needs and avoid data storage problems
• Prepare your data model for actual database construction.

Requirements

No prior database experience is required. This course is designed for the beginner.

Description

In this foundational course, we begin by teaching you the basics of relational databases and how they work. You will then learn the process of data modeling–translating a set of business needs into a visual "entity relationship diagram" that can be used to create a database. You won't actually create the database in this course–this is primarily about the data modeling process.

What is most valuable about this course is the way that it will teach you to translate business requirements into data models using hands-on projects! We will work with two imaginary clients who will give us a set of business requirements. We'll create diagrams to serve their needs and modify the diagrams as their business needs grow and change. In short, you will learn data modeling skills by DOING data modeling.

An outline of the topics includes:

1. An Introduction to Relational Databases:

• Components of Relational Databases
• Tables
• Primary and Foreign Keys

2. Proper Database Design

• Data Anomalies and Avoiding Redundant Data
• Normalization (First - Third Normal Forms)
• Over-Normalization

3. Data Modeling

• Entity Relationship Diagrams: Entities and Attributes
• Entity Relationships and Cardinality
• Resolving Many-to-Many Relationships

4. Data Modeling Project 1: Downtown Floral

• Build the Initial Data Model Based on Business Requirements
• Update Model Based on Business Changes (Several Rounds)

4. Data Modeling Project 2: Best Tech U

• Build the Initial Data Model Based on Business Requirements
• Update Model Based on Business Changes (Several Rounds)

I look forward to guiding you through this course. Don't be intimidated by the terminology. We'll take this a step at a time and you'll do great!

Who this course is for:

• Current or developing technology professionals who need an introduction to database design.
• Anyone needing to design a database to solve a business problem.