AQA GCSE Computer Science
Databases and SQL (3.7)
1 Relational Databases (3.7.1)
1.1 Concept of a Database
• A database is an organized collection of data that can be easily accessed, managed, and updated.
• Databases allow data to be stored in a structured way, enabling efficient retrieval and management.
• Examples: A library system storing information about books, authors, and borrowers.
1.2 Concept of a Relational Database
• A relational database organizes data into tables that are related to each other.
• Data is stored in tables, and relationships are established using keys.
• This structure helps maintain data consistency and reduces redundancy.
1.3 Key Database Concepts
• Table: A collection of related data organized in rows and columns.
• Record: A single row in a table, representing one item of data.
• Field: A single column in a table, representing one attribute of the data.
• Data Type: Defines the kind of data a field can store (e.g., INTEGER, TEXT, DATE).
• Primary Key: A unique identifier for each record in a table.
• Foreign Key: A field in one table that links to the primary key in another table.
1.4 Advantages of Relational Databases
• Data Consistency: Reduces data inconsistency by storing related data in linked tables.
• Data Redundancy: Minimizes duplicate data by linking tables through keys.
2 Structured Query Language (SQL) (3.7.2)
2.1 Retrieving Data from a Database
Basic Commands:
• SELECT: Specifies the columns to retrieve.
• FROM: Indicates the table to retrieve data from.
• WHERE: Filters data based on conditions.
• ORDER BY: Sorts data in ascending (ASC) or descending (DESC) order.
Examples:
1
1 SELECT * FROM students ;
2 SELECT first_name , last_name FROM students ;
3 SELECT * FROM students WHERE grade = 9;
4 SELECT * FROM students ORDER BY last_name ASC ;
5 SELECT * FROM students ORDER BY grade DESC ;
2.2 Inserting Data into a Database
INSERT INTO Command:
1 INSERT INTO students ( first_name , last_name , grade )
2 VALUES ( ’ Irene ’ , ’ Smith ’ , 9) ;
2.3 Editing Data in a Database
UPDATE Command:
1 UPDATE students
2 SET grade = 10
3 WHERE first_name = ’ Irene ’ AND last_name = ’ Smith ’;
2.4 Deleting Data from a Database
DELETE Command:
1 DELETE FROM students
2 WHERE grade < 5;
2.5 Working with Multiple Tables
1 SELECT students . first_name , classes . class_name
2 FROM students
3 JOIN classes ON students . class_id = classes . id
4 WHERE classes . class_name = ’ Math ’;