CST 363 Week 1

 

1. Relational database tables and spreadsheets look similar with both having rows and columns.  What are some important differences between the two?
1. Spreadsheets and relational databases may look alike, but they work very differently. A spreadsheet is basically a flat file where you can type anything into a cell, and it’s good for small, simple tasks. A relational database enforces structure with rules, keys, and relationships between tables, which helps keep data consistent and accurate. Databases also handle much larger amounts of data, allow multiple users to work at the same time, and make it easier to run complex searches and reports.
2. Installing and configuration a database and learning how to use it is more complicated that just reading and writing data to a file.  What are some important reasons that makes a database a useful investment of time?
1. Spreadsheets and databases both use rows and columns, but spreadsheets are flat and flexible while databases enforce rules and relationships to keep data accurate. Spreadsheets work fine for small tasks, but databases handle much larger amounts of data and multiple users at once. Databases take more effort to set up, but they’re worth it because they keep data reliable, secure, and easy to back up. They also scale as data grows and let you run complex searches and reports much more easily than a spreadsheet.
3. What do you want to learn in this course that you think will be useful in your future career? 
1. In this course I hope to learn more about how to use relational databases. I know how to create a very basic table in a database but when foreign keys are added I get a little bit confused. I am hoping that I can learn how to better understand databases and how to implement them in my future projects.