CST 363 Week 1

Relational database tables and spreadsheets look similar with both having rows and columns.  What are some important differences between the two?

Unlike spreadsheets, database tables can help constrain data types for each entry and allows references between tables, adding much more complexity into how data is accessed and manipulated. Spreadsheets are also more restricted to smaller databases that are shared between one or two users.

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? 

Some important reasons that making a database is a more useful investment of time is the fact that it can help minimize human error with the constraint of data. By being able to constrain rules to columns on how added data is to be handled, it also allows for more efficient automation. As databases grow larger and more complex, they have the advantage of being faster in response time and offers more security. It also allows for the recovery of most recent database before a failure. Finally, it also allows authorization only to individuals for specific data.  

What do you want to learn in this course that you think will be useful in your future career? 

I want to learn about databases overall. I only recently been introduced to database systems and some SQL commands recently. I had to utilize a simpler form of queries in my Software Design class, but it was minimal and doing it from what was shown by the professor. However, my understanding of it on a deeper level is still shallow. From what I have learned so far, the queries are not too complicated, but will take more work for it to become installed into my logic. 

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